Thought leadership: Why do YOUR thoughts matter?

Thought leadership means elevating your reputation and influence in the public sphere.

It's about creating and sharing content that demonstrates your expertise and passion in your field.

This establishes credibility and trust, leading to more opportunities for you and/or your company.

You are your most valuable asset.

The Evolution of Thought Leadership in the Digital Age

Before we take a look at examples and best practices of thought leadership, let’s take a quick step back to understand how thought leadership has changed throughout the years.

LATE 20TH CENTURY: OLD SCHOOL TO NEW COOL

• Quick Shifts: Remember when insights were mostly from journals and conferences? Now, a clever tweet or a compelling blog can spark big conversations instantly.

EARLY 2000S: RISE OF PLATFORM DIVERSITY

• Where to Speak Up: LinkedIn is great for professional deep dives, Instagram tops for visual story-telling. Choose where you share based on what you want to say.

2010S: STAYING REAL IN A BUSY WORLD

• The New Challenges: With everyone able to post their thoughts, it's tricky to stay genuine and get noticed. Keeping it real is key.

2020S: KEEP UP OR GET LEFT BEHIND:

• Staying Fresh: Use new tools like podcasts for storytelling or AI to customize content. Stay interesting, and your audience will stick around.

WHAT’S NEXT?:

• Keep Your Edge: The digital scene keeps evolving, and so should you. Stay curious, keep learning, and always deliver value.

Thought Leadership In Action: Insights from Different Industries

Can everyone be a thought leader? Absolutely. See how different professionals do it:

• ​Chris Reilly, Financial Modeling Education Founder: Chris shows a "Due Diligence Roadmap" to streamline complex financial transactions, emphasizing strategic planning from initial assessments to post-merger integrations.

​Chris Davis, Brand President & CMO: Chris discusses New Balance’s iconic campaign that celebrated "Dads," showcasing the power of embracing a brand’s true identity and engaging consumers with authenticity and fun.

​Andrew Gazdecki, Startup Founder: Andrew shares the importance of self-care and humor in the stressful startup environment, advocating for balance and enjoyment in the entrepreneurial journey.

​Jason Vana, Founder of SHFT Agency: Jason redefines authenticity in branding, saying true authenticity comes from aligning actions with core values, not just sharing personal stories.

Measuring the Impact of Thought Leadership

Here's how you can see if your thought leadership is really making waves:

Metrics of Success:

• Engagement: Track likes, shares, comments, and mentions to measure audience interaction.

• Authority: Check the quality of your comments. Does your audience resonate, did you add value, and do they mention you in their own posts?

• Lead Conversion: Monitor downloads and sign-ups to see if your insights are generating business interest.

Tools for Measurement:

Analytics Platforms: Tools like, Shield, and Hootsuite give you Insights on what works and what doesn’t.