(This list has been updated in 2024; see Excellent CEO LinkedIn Profiles)
With virtually all of your business interactions now virtual, your online presence has gone from a nice-to-have to absolutely essential. Whether you love social media, or only reluctantly log on, in 2020 CEOs wield their powerful, social media personas as critical business tools.
You can learn what works from these CEOs. They use LinkedIn’s newest features, engage with both internal and external stakeholders, and define their personal brand. Let’s take a closer look at these social CEOs, and see what they do so well.
CEO of EDO & Chair of great non-profit
Kevin uses his headline to not only talk about his career, but his passion as the chair of a non-profit. His About section covers his expertise, but more importantly, it highlights his leadership philosophy.
Chief Executive Officer at Delos Capital Advisors
Cody makes a strong statement with his About section, as he immediately positions his firm as unique and creative. His polished profile also exudes stability — a subtle and reassuring sign to current and potential investors.
Co-Founder and CEO at ZorroSign, Inc. | Advisory Board Member at ADCG
With a well-rounded profile that includes certifications, membership in professional organizations, and keyword-rich copy, Shamsh clearly has impeccable CEO credentials.
Founder & CEO of project44
Jett is an accomplished executive, as evidenced by his thoughtfully crafted Work Experience section. The descriptions of his roles prior to CEO reflect on the skills and accomplishments that contribute to his success today.
CEO of Provider Pool (Techstars ’20)
Janna opts for an About section written in the third person, yet it still conveys the personal story about the need she saw in nursing and how she set out to fill it. As CEO of a startup, she includes the name of the business accelerator promoting her company.
CEO at Beliv Company
Carlos highlights his ability to speak three languages by having his profile available in all of them: English, Spanish, and Portuguese. If you aren’t sure how to find this feature, it’s visible on the right side of a personal profile.
Co-founder & CEO at Flywheel
CEOs like Dusty know prospective employees research companies before joining a new team, so his profile is dedicated to drawing top talent to his firm. He shares information about company culture, as well as venture capital funding, to lure new hires.
Founder & CEO of SPANX
LinkedIn designates Sara as an Influencer — a leader in her field who demonstrates thought leadership on social media. She’s unabashedly proud of her personal story and uses her virtual platform on LinkedIn to promote issues that empower women.
CEO & Co-Founder of Phenom
Mahe’s warm smile invites you to explore his profile. His business uses artificial intelligence to connect employers and employees, yet there is nothing automated or cookie cutter about his About, which emphasizes his personal, professional philosophy.
CEO at Mobomo
Brian uses LinkedIn’s Featured section, which allows him to showcase links, documents, photos, and other media, at the top of his profile. It serves as an online portfolio of his accomplishments leading Mobomo.
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CEO of Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute
As CEO of a non-profit, Mary Ann uses her profile to promote her organization’s upcoming events, and the media in her Featured section provide an overview of what she and her organization believe in.
President and CEO of EWI
Henry uses LinkedIn’s long-form publishing platform to share articles with his followers. A frequent blogger, he explores a variety of topics that his clients care about.
Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft
Satya’s profile doesn’t detail his work experience, yet once you get to a certain level, you don’t necessarily need the detail. But until you arrive, make it easy for people to appreciate the traction you’ve achieved, and remember: keywords here increase findability.
Chief Executive Officer of Accelya Group
Sam’s profile is clean and crisp. He reaches a broad audience because he talks about his company’s complex software without being too technical or watering it down.
Founder, President and CEO at Fable
Who says you can’t have it all? Padmasree’s profile hits all the high points: engaging graphics, recent media in the Featured section, posts about recruitment, and a robust Interests section that fills her news feed with relevant material.
Founder and CEO of MyCode
Parker Morse balances his achievements and awards with humility — for a profile that shares not only where he’s been, but where he plans on going next.
CEO at Copytalk LLC
Maree wants to connect with her customers first, so she dives right in with an About section that addresses the challenges her clients face and how she can help solve those problems.
CEO of Benjamin Manufacturing LLC
Peter’s profile is the gold standard for CEOs. His engaging headline includes the verticals his company works in, he uses a custom URL and his Featured section contains his latest blog along with other company news.
CEO & Co-Founder at Encantos
Most businesspeople would agree that emojis are for texting, not LinkedIn. But Steven isn’t most people. He works in a creative industry, where a lightning bolt next to his name just seems right.
Chief Executive Officer of Traverse Jobs
LinkedIn is so much more than a jobs site, and that’s something employment database CEO Fraser understands. Her online commentary centers around skill building, as well as practical advice for employees and employers alike.
That’s quite a list, isn’t it? But while we were searching for excellent examples of CEO profiles, we were surprised by how many incomplete profiles we found.
Does your profile have any holes? Check out our eBook below.