LinkedIn Top Voices 2019: Global Influencers

Today we’re unveiling our 5th annual Top Voices list, highlighting professionals in more than two dozen industries and regions who are building communities and starting thoughtful conversations through their articles, posts, videos and comments. These are people worth following to get inspired and stay informed. 

To find standout voices, we used a combination of quantitative and qualitative signals, starting with an algorithm developed by LinkedIn’s data scientists and layering on curation by LinkedIn Editors. We then cut that data and analysis to find the top people in various regions and industries, as well as cuts to determine who among the Influencers — including those in the US, UK, France, Brazil and Germany/Austria/Switzerland — excelled at lighting up professional conversations in their regions. (You can learn more about how we compiled the lists at the end of this article.)

We also look at who among the Influencers have had the biggest global impact. Each of the 10 Influencers below have built a following on the platform made up of members from all over the world, and at least half of their followers are from countries other than the one in which they are based. The result is a group of world leaders and heads of multinational organizations, all talking about universally relevant issues from inequality to international trade.

Here are this year’s 10 top Influencers around the world.

What he talks about: Whether he’s posting updates from the G20 Summit or sharing his platform for the campaign that resulted in his re-election, the now two-term Canadian Prime Minister talks about policies and proposals that get even non-Canadians talking. 

Best conversation starter: He shared a Washington Post article about putting a cost on pollution, which he has since done in Canada, and sparked a lively debate in the comments. Over 500 people shared their thoughts on a carbon tax and what else needs to be done to fight global warming.

Follow Justin Trudeau

What she talks about: Lagarde talks about topics from international taxation and social spending to the importance of empowering women globally. This past year, the French native also shared updates on the cross-border career change that took her from the International Monetary Fund to the European Central Bank. 

Her thoughts on climate change: “Greener economic policies could help address this existential threat,” Lagarde writes in her letter to the next generation. “To put it differently, if you do not have a plan for the environment, you do not have a plan for the economy.”

Follow Christine Lagarde

What he talks about: To say Branson posts about a wide array of topics would be a huge understatement. He's posted about everything from mid-flight magic tricks, doing pilates on the beach and riding a baggage carousel like a giant piece of sushi to entirely more serious topics such as being dyslexic and ending the death penalty.

Where he finds inspiration: “I’m most often inspired by the people around me – what is motivating them, what is frustrating them and what can we do differently together to make things better? There’s always another idea on the way,” he tells LinkedIn.

Follow Richard Branson

What she talks about: Since becoming Prime Minister of New Zealand just over two years ago, Ardern has posted videos talking directly to her audience about a range of topics important to her and her administration, from climate change to mental health.

What she’ll remember about 2019: “It would be difficult to look back on 2019 without acknowledging the terrorist attack in Christchurch, and the huge impact this had on our communities here in New Zealand and globally,” Ardern says. In the months following the tragedy, the Prime Minister has kept her audience updated on how she’s working with other governments and tech companies to fight hate and violence online.

Follow Jacinda Ardern

What she talks about: The businesswoman and philanthropist regularly shares posts, articles and videos on topics related to women’s empowerment. In 2019, she published a book on what happens when you lift women up, pledged $1 billion to accelerating gender equality in the United States, shared stories that inspire her and started tough conversations that resonated with thousands of people.

Her best career advice: “When I was younger, my mom gave me a piece of advice that I've carried in my heart ever since. She said, ‘If you don't set your own agenda, someone else will,’” Gates tells LinkedIn. “Her advice has helped me remember to stay true to myself as I've navigated the unexpected throughout my life.”

Follow Melinda Gates

What he talks about: Macron, who’s held office since 2017, uses the platform to share his policies and spur action locally and globally. From government measures to fight climate change to a call for European renewal in the wake of Brexit, Macron is cementing France’s role on the world stage when it comes to today’s biggest economic and geopolitical issues.

His best conversation starter: "Our house is burning," wrote Macron in English and French. With these words, Macron called for action against the fires that ravaged the Amazon this summer two days before the opening of the G7 in Biarritz, France. The post has generated more than 94,000 likes and over 5,600 comments.

Follow Emmanuel Macron

What he talks about: Narasimhan runs a global $205 billion company, but he started out as a public health physician. It’s that foundation that drives his passion for improving health outcomes and reimagining medicine, whether it’s delivering medicine by drone or launching an AI innovation lab. He also shares about his own leadership journey and strategies, often sparking valuable conversations among members.

Trend he’s watching in 2020: “The digital transformation in health is something I’ll continue following closely,” he says. “Data science and technology can accelerate our efforts as a species to improve and extend life, but when it comes to using data and tech alone to find and develop the next wave of medicines, I don’t think we’re there, despite the hype that’s building.”

Follow Vas Narasimhan

What he talks about: Brodin believes the world needs optimists who are ready to act. He brings that ethos to his work as he builds a sustainable, affordable and accessible mindset inside Ikea. He also shares behind the scenes of projects like a new refugee-produced line as well as how Ikea is becoming “climate positive” by 2030.

His best career advice: “I learned the hard way to kind of ignore my ambitions for the future and focus on what I do now — and try to do that well,” he says. “I realized that life is a bit of a pursuit of trying to figure out what you're good at. And then if you can find the nexus between that and what you love to do, then that's happiness, right?”

Follow Jesper Brodin

What she talks about: Beyond discussing Banco Santander’s work around the world, Botín shares what she calls “big think pieces,” from why banks can’t ignore climate change to the future of women in the workplace and insights about the economy. “I am speaking out on big issues, from climate change to feminism,” she says. “And those topics are unsurprisingly the ones that generate intense reactions.”

The book that inspired her this year: Shoshana Zuboff’s “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism,” which exposes the business model that is the foundation of some of today’s biggest technology companies — and what that means for our future.

Follow Ana Botín

What she talks about: Byanyima’s roots in human rights advocacy run deep, from her role in Uganda’s parliament to overseeing Oxfam International. She shares her thoughts on big humanitarian issues like inequality and the HIV epidemic as well as glimpses of interviews for her new “Equals” podcast with women like U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and economist Joseph Stiglitz.

Her viral conversation starter: Byanyima announced she would become the executive director for UNAIDS and shared the deep personal connection for her decision, leading to more than 1,900 responses: “I lost my brother Bernard to AIDS as well as many comrades, friends and relatives,” she wrote. “I’m guardian to children who are HIV/AIDS orphans. Like most other Ugandans, HIV/AIDS has been part of my life and ending it is an extremely important social justice issue.”

Follow Winnie Byanyima

You’ve caught up on the top Influencers around the world in 2019. Now, check out the top Influencers in the U.S., the UK, Brazil, France and D-A-CH. 

Reporting by Ashley Peterson, Laura Lorenzetti, Emily Spaven and Marie Malzac.

How we compiled the Top Voices list

First, our editors partnered with the LinkedIn Data Science team to measure the actions a member is able to generate when they engage on the platform. Specifically, we looked at the volume of responses a person’s contributions sparked and the secondary spread of those responses. These signals are proxies for conversation and community development. That said, engagement metrics aren’t enough. Our next filter was qualitative. Editors refined the list by looking at the member’s body of work: Are the contributions insightful, conversational and timely? Do they seek to give and get help vs being self-promotional? Finally, does this list reflect the world we work in today? 

All sharing activity measured took place over a 12-month period, from September 2018 to September 2019. As with all LinkedIn Lists, we exclude LinkedIn and Microsoft employees from consideration.