Pioneering Tech Influencers to Keep Tabs on in 2024

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Technology, Startup

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Tech Influencers | TurnKey

Want to stay ahead in the ever-changing tech landscape in 2024? Well, you’re in luck! As a self-proclaimed tech nerd, I’ve scoured the digital universe to bring you the top tech influencers who are sparking powerful discussions and revolutionizing the way we perceive the digital world.

Trust me, these tech wizards are the real deal and following them will guide you on a remarkable journey into a future defined by cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking ideas.

From algorithms to artificial intelligence, join me as I unveil the top tech influencers pushing the boundaries of possibility and transforming our lives through technology.

5 Visionary Tech Influencers of 2024

OK, let’s start with the “must haves” if you want to join the water cooler tech banter, I mean, even my grandma is following these guys:

  • Sam Altman: CEO of OpenAI, a leading figure of AI boom and former president of a startup accelerator Y Combinator.
  • Satya Nadella: As the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella has spearheaded the company's growth and expansion into new areas like cloud services, AI, and mixed reality.
  • Scott Galloway: The serial entrepreneur, famed NYU professor and ridiculously popular podcast host is one of the leading opinions on technology, especially in regards to predictions and trends. (More on Scott later in this article.)
  • Dr. Fei-Fei Li: An AI expert and computer science professor at Stanford University, Dr. Fei-Fei Li is also the co-founder of AI4ALL, a nonprofit aimed at increasing diversity in the AI field.
  • Marques Brownlee: A popular tech reviewer and YouTuber, Marques Brownlee (also known as MKBHD) offers engaging and informative content on the latest gadgets, trends, and innovations.

Thriving in a Fast-Paced Tech Landscape: Why Staying Updated Matters

As a member of the tech industry, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and breakthroughs is essential for success.  Tech influencers are leading experts in their field and inspire us with their insights and innovations. By following their feeds, you can gain a better understanding of emerging technologies, best practices for development and management, and innovation in the industry.

Furthermore, these influencers have extensive experience working with different companies and industries, allowing them to provide diverse perspectives and ideas. This can be especially valuable when looking for solutions to unique problems or challenges within your own organization.

So now that you have the top tech influencers who are inspiring millions with their insights and innovations in your feed, let’s scope out some of the specialized sweet spots that may hold the key for you to stay informed in your constantly changing world.

List of Top CTO Influencers to Follow

LinkedIn Influencers

List of Top CTO Influencers to Follow 1

Following these Top CTO influencers on LinkedIn will be crucial if you want to stay at the forefront of the tech industry and gain valuable insights that can help propel your company forward. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest minds in the field.

  1. Werner Vogels – VP & CTO at Amazon Web Services. Vogels is an expert in cloud computing and shares his insights on emerging tech trends and leadership. He has over 424,000 subscribers.
  2. Satya Nadella – Chairman and CEO at Microsoft. Nadella is a transformational leader in the tech industry and shares his thoughts on innovation, AI, and the future of work. He has over 15 million subscribers.
  3. Todd Park – Co-founder  & Executive Chairman at Devoted Health. Park is a healthcare entrepreneur and former United States CTO for the  White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He shares his insights on innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthcare technology. 
  4. Naomi Simson – Co-Founder Big Red Group and founder of RedBalloon. Boasting experience at renowned companies such as Google, Apple, and KPMG, Naomi Simson is a woman with immense expertise and wisdom. As a LinkedIn influencer with nearly 880K followers, she exemplifies leadership through her continuous drive to learn and grow. 
  5. Boris Glants – Subject-matter expert, co-founder and CTO of TurnKey. Boris helps software product companies build high performing offshore development teams in Latin America and Eastern Europe. He posts insights about life, entrepreneurship, and building great offshore development teams on his LinkedIn page and on TurnKey’s website.

Female Influencers

Top Female Influencers

These female pioneers are breaking barriers and showcasing fearless leadership in a male-dominated industry.  Following some of them may provide a fresh perspective on the tech industry.

  1. Susie Wee – former CTO at Cisco DevNet, former VP at Google, Board Member at Analog Devices. Under her leadership, Cisco DevNet  grew into a thriving community, enabling businesses to build more efficient and scalable solutions. Susie is well-known in the tech industry for her expertise in cloud computing, networking, and software development. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to technology and innovation, including being named as one of the “Most Powerful Women Engineers” by Business Insider. Online, Susie maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. She shares her insights on technology trends, best practices, and the future of networking, as well as her experiences leading Cisco DevNet. Susie also engages with her followers, providing valuable advice and support to those looking to learn more about the world of networking and software development.
  2. Marissa Mayer – former President & CEO at Yahoo, cofounder at Sunshine, and Board of Directors at Walmart. Starting at Google as their first female engineer in 1999, Marissa played a key role in developing many iconic products such as Google Search, Google Maps, and Gmail. Her tenure at Google spanned over a decade, during which she held various leadership positions, including Vice President of Search Products and User Experience. In 2012, Marissa was appointed CEO of Yahoo, becoming one of the few women to lead a major technology company. During her time at Yahoo, she focused on reviving the company by acquiring several startups, redesigning its services, and emphasizing mobile-first strategies. Marissa’s accomplishments as a woman in tech make her an inspiring role model for aspiring professionals, particularly women seeking to break barriers in the male-dominated tech industry. By following Marissa Mayer, you can gain insights into her innovative mindset, leadership approach, and learn from her vast experience in driving technology companies towards success. 
  3. Reshma Saujani. Reshma Saujani is best known as the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization that gives young women the skills and the courage to become “tech superstars” and succeed in the realm of computer science. As the author of an international bestseller, “Brave Not Perfect,” she encourages women to fear less and fail more, and to be brave in a way that she believes our culture typically doesn’t teach them. Follow her on Twitter for daily inspiration and do not forget to also subscribe to her award-winning podcast: Brave, Not Perfect.
  4. Susan Wojcicki – former YouTube CEO. Before joining YouTube, Susan was already an influential figure at Google, where she started as their first marketing manager in 1999. She played a crucial role in the development and success of various products such as AdSense, Google Analytics, and Google Books. Susan’s accomplishments as a woman in tech make her an inspiring role model for aspiring professionals, particularly women aiming to thrive in a male-dominated industry. By following Susan Wojcicki, you can gain valuable insights into her innovative thinking, leadership style, and learn from her extensive experience in driving technology companies to new heights. She maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, where she shares her thoughts on the latest technology trends, industry news, and updates on YouTube’s initiatives and features.

Twitter Influencers

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If you prefer navigating the technology frontier on Twitter, I gathered this list of influencers with  pizzazz for you to consider:

  • Scott Galloway – Scott Galloway is a renowned entrepreneur, professor, and author who has made significant contributions to the world of digital marketing, technology, and business strategy. With his extensive knowledge and experience in these areas, he has become a prominent thought leader and influencer. Tech enthusiasts should follow Scott Galloway for several reasons: 
    • Expertise: As a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, Galloway has an in-depth understanding of various aspects of technology, business, and marketing. His insights can help tech professionals stay ahead in their respective fields.
    • Entrepreneurial experience: Galloway founded several successful companies, including L2 Inc., Red Envelope, and Prophet Brand Strategy. His entrepreneurial background provides valuable lessons and inspiration for those looking to start or grow their own tech ventures.
    • Authenticity: Galloway is known for his candid and often provocative opinions on various subjects, including the impact of Big Tech on society, privacy issues, and corporate responsibility. Following him allows tech professionals to gain a fresh perspective and engage in stimulating discussions.
    • Content: Galloway regularly shares his thoughts through various channels, such as his blog, podcast (Pivot), and books like “The Four” and “Post Corona: From Crisis to Opportunity”. By following him, tech enthusiasts can access a wealth of information and analysis on current trends and future predictions.
  • Jason Goldman – former Twitter CTO and VP of Product. Jason Goldman is a prominent social media influencer and highly sought-after public speaker. He has over 900,000 followers on Twitter and is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in the space. His tweets are consistently informative, entertaining, insightful and often humorous.
  • Greg Brockman – President and Co-founder at OpenAI since 2015, a company committed to developing secure and advantageous AGI (artificial general intelligence). Prior to immersing himself in the AI realm, he was the CTO of Stripe, an online platform designed for processing and managing digital payments. He maintains a strong presence on Twitter, and his profile is highly recommended for those intrigued by Artificial Intelligence.
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  • Chris Aniszczyk – VP of Developer Relations @ Linux, CTO at Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Chris works with some of the largest open source projects around the world such as Docker, Kubernetes and many others; leading technology initiatives that shape our changing world today. He has spoken at industry events, such as OSCON and CloudNativeCon, as well as published articles in trade publications like Linux Magazine and Communications of the ACM (CACM). Aniszczyk’s Twitter feed is full of helpful advice for open source developers, including articles on best practices and the latest trends in the industry. He also shares news about new projects released by CNCF members, such as Kubernetes and Prometheus. Additionally, Aniszczyk often retweets interesting content from other industry experts.
  • David Talby – CTO at John Snow Labs & CTO of Pacific AI. Boasting an impressive background, he was also previously the CTO of Atigeo and has worked with major corporations like Amazon and Microsoft. A genuine thought leader, David excels in areas such as large-scale distributed systems, machine learning, natural language processing, and Agile methodologies. He frequently collaborates with O’Reilly to deliver talks and publish numerous articles. Stay updated on the latest AI developments by following his Twitter account. 
  • David Heinemeier Hansson – Co-owner & CTO at 37signals, creator of Ruby on Rails. David, commonly referred to as DHH, is a co-leader at Basecamp, a service designed to streamline and coordinate communication within expanding businesses. But his talents extend far beyond that. David is a versatile individual: he developed Ruby on Rails, is a New York Times best-selling author (familiar with “Remote” or “Rework”?), and even boasts an impressive racing career! As a prominent expert in various domains, David frequently engages with his Twitter followers and shares his unique articles.
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Youtube Influencers

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And finally, if you prefer visually captivating content with richer narrative that entertains, educates, or inspires, then check out these tech YouTubers:

  1. Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) – Marques is a popular tech influencer known for his reviews on smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets. He has a YouTube channel with over 14 million subscribers, where he shares product reviews and discussions. Link to his personal YouTube channel. 
  2. Linus Sebastian – Linus is the founder of Linus Media Group and a popular tech influencer known for his reviews on hardware, gaming, and custom builds. He has a YouTube channel with over 12 million subscribers, where he shares product reviews, unboxings, and more. Link to his personal YouTube channel: Youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips
  3. Justine Ezarik (iJustine) – Justine is a popular tech influencer known for her videos on Apple products, gaming, and tech accessories. She has a YouTube channel with over 6 million subscribers, where she shares product reviews, unboxings, and vlogs. Link to her personal YouTube channel: YouTube.com/user/ijustine
  4. Austin Evans – Austin is a popular tech influencer known for his reviews on smartphones, laptops, and gaming. He has a YouTube channel with over 5 million subscribers, where he shares product reviews, tutorials, and more. Link to his personal YouTube: Youtube.com/user/duncan33303
  5. Sara Dietschy – Sara is a popular tech influencer known for her videos on vlogging, photography, and entrepreneurship. She has a YouTube channel with over 1 million subscribers, where she shares product reviews, tutorials, and more. Link to her channel: Youtube.com/user/saradietschy

Following these tech influencers on YouTube can provide valuable insights on product reviews, technology trends, and innovation. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share and can be valuable resources for anyone in the tech industry looking to stay informed and competitive.

How to Choose the Right Tech Influencers to Follow

How to Choose the Right Tech Influencers to Follow scaled

Selecting suitable thought leaders to follow can be a challenging endeavor, particularly for CEOs and non-technical leaders who might not be well-versed in tech but hold prominent positions within the industry.  Here are my suggestions on selecting highly effective influencers for optimal results:

  • Identify your goals: Before you start following influencers, identify what you hope to achieve from following them. Are you looking to gain insights on emerging technologies, stay up-to-date on industry trends, or learn about best practices for IT management? Knowing your goals can help you narrow down your list of potential influencers.
  • Look for expertise: Look for influencers who have expertise in areas that align with your goals. For example, if you're interested in cloud computing, look for influencers who specialize in cloud technologies.
  • Check their followers: Take a look at the influencer's followers. Are they other industry experts or thought leaders? If so, this is a good indication that the influencer has valuable insights to offer.
  • Evaluate their content: Take a look at the influencer's content. Do they share valuable insights and trends, or do they mostly share promotional material? You want to follow influencers who share valuable and engaging content.
  • Consider their engagement: Look at how engaged the influencer is with their followers. Do they respond to comments and engage in conversations? This is a good indication that they take the time to connect with their audience and provide value.

By following these tips, CEOs and non-tech executives can choose the best influencers to follow and gain valuable insights that can help drive innovation and growth within their organizations.

Key takeaways

I highlighted various influential figures within the technology industry in this post. Although each of them offers a unique perspective on the tech industry, they made the list as they tick the box in one or more of these three main categories:

  • Diversity of expertise: The list features tech influencers with diverse areas of expertise, ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to virtual reality and green technology. This diversity reflects the rapid growth and expansion of the tech sector, emphasizing the importance of staying informed across multiple disciplines.
  • Thought leadership: The influencers featured in the article are not only experts in their respective fields but also visionaries who actively shape the future of technology. They frequently share their insights through blogs, podcasts, social media, and speaking engagements, making them valuable sources of information and inspiration for tech enthusiasts.
  • Collaboration and networking: The article highlights the importance of connecting with and learning from tech influencers, as they often collaborate with other industry leaders and participate in various events and conferences. Engaging with these influencers can help readers expand their professional networks, stay updated on the latest advancements, and potentially uncover new opportunities within the tech sector.
#CTO#technology#TOP
January 3, 2024

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