When you think of a “thought leader”, who comes to mind? It’s usually someone who’s considered to be a leader in the field, a subject matter expert on a particular skill or topic.
Denise Brosseau is a creator of thought leaders with her company Thought Leadership Lab and she defines a thought leader as follows:
Thought leaders are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. They are trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and know and show how to replicate their success. Over time, they create a dedicated group of friends, fans, and followers to help them replicate and scale their ideas into sustainable change not just in one company but in an industry, niche or across an entire ecosystem.
Over the years I have tried to hone my personal brand to be considered a voice that is “leading the discussion for everyday women in tech.” Whether that is a discussion about advancement, diversity, bias or mentoring, the conversations I would hope we are having are moving the needle for equality for women in tech.
Having your voice heard in the clutter of today’s overcommunicated social media world is a daily challenge. Imagine my surprise and delight when I was approached for a conversation about becoming a thought leader.
Yitzi Weiner asked 99 thought leaders to share their five tips for those who want to become thought leaders in their field.
Here are three of my ideas:
#1 Be curious about the problems you encounter
As a woman in tech, I recognized challenges and pitfalls firsthand. I wanted to learn more about the research and experiences to understand better how and why most women were in mid-level roles or lower in the Org. Chart.
#2 Align your findings
Over time, I started to identify trends and similarities in stories, examples, and research.
#3 Share data (old and new alike)
While collecting data, I’d ask for input, advice, and share ideas on what to read or who to invite into a conversation. This situation created a nice following of people interested in the same topics. When I found strategies to overcome known obstacles, I’d a developed audience ready to engage in the data.
Back to You
I encourage you to check out the article and read through the other 98 thought leaders. All of these individuals come from diverse backgrounds and countless different industries to offer their advice. Thank you to Yitzi Weiner for compiling these great ideas.
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JJ DiGeronimo — the president of Tech Savvy Women — is a speaker, author, and thought leader for women in tech and girls and STEM. Through her work, JJ empowers professional women and consults with senior executives on strategies to retain and attract women in technology to increase thought and leadership diversity within organizations.
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