Voices That Shape How We Lead: 10 People to Follow on LinkedIn That Make You a Better Leader

Cosmic Centaurs
Jul 17
5 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Influential voices bring clarity, integrity, and purpose. They shift perspectives, surface essential insights, and shape the conversations that matter. Whether you call them reference authors, thought leaders, or influencers, their ideas spark real change, across industries, teams, and mindsets. For leaders, turning to these voices is more than staying informed; it's a way to stay anchored while navigating complexity with vision and intention.

Recent research by Edelman and LinkedIn highlights the growing influence of thought leadership:

Over 50% of decision-makers and C-level executives spend more than an hour per week engaging with it.
More than 30% have removed a company from consideration after encountering poor-quality thought leadership.
Over 80% say it has increased their trust in a vendor or organization.

The 2024 Global Thought Leadership Benchmark further shows that 80% of marketers report a positive impact on their organization's "Three Rs" (reputation, relationships, and revenue). In short, leaders rely on thought leadership.

We talk a lot about building organizations that deliver, but behind every high-performing team is a leader who’s still learning, listening, questioning, and evolving. So we turned inward and asked our team:

Who are the voices that help you think better, lead better, or just see things more clearly?

The answers ranged from the poetic to the practical, but each one reflected the kind of insight that makes you pause mid-scroll. Some voices motivate. Others offer frameworks, questions, or quiet clarity. We’ve grouped them into themes that reflect the different roles they play in our growth.

🧭 Voices That Anchor Us in Purpose

Robin Sharma is a globally renowned leadership expert and bestselling author whose work inspires me to lead with purpose and pursue personal mastery. Through books like The 5AM Club and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, he blends timeless wisdom with practical tools to help people rise to their best selves. His insights are a constant reminder that true leadership starts within—and that excellence is a daily choice. - Aya

Rawan Albina is someone with an extraordinary story and journey as a leader who has dedicated her energy to bringing more compassion, spirituality, and intentionality into leadership development in the region. She speaks to my heart and is a truly human voice on a platform that can often feel guarded - Marilyn

🧠 Voices That Help Us Rethink the Way We Work

Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist and bestselling author whose expertise lies in rethinking human behavior at work: how we collaborate, lead, give, grow, and adapt. He combines rigorous research with genuine human insight to help reframe our thinking and challenge assumptions. His name is one I pay close attention to whenever it appears in my feed. - Faten

Jim Collins stands out for his data-driven approach to understanding what separates great companies from merely good ones. His research-backed concepts like "Level 5 Leadership," "The Flywheel Effect," and Good to Great have provided me with practical frameworks for thinking about organizational excellence. He combines rigorous research with accessible

storytelling, making complex business principles both memorable and applicable. - Mounia

I really enjoy following Liz Wiseman on LinkedIn. Her work around leadership—especially the concept of Multipliers—has been incredibly useful in thinking about how we build capability within teams. What I appreciate about her content is that it’s not just theory; it’s practical, grounded, and often makes me reflect on my own habits as a leader. She shares real stories, simple frameworks, and thoughtful questions that are easy to apply but also challenge you to do better. She has a way of making leadership feel human and actionable, which is what makes her such a valuable voice in the space. - Tala

🌱 Voices That Remind Us to Lead Sustainably

Ziad Abi Chaker is an environmental activist and engineer in Lebanon who, despite the heavy challenges related to environmental health and pollution, comes up with creative and affordable ways to reduce waste and create a healthier environment for us to live in. Others in his field may spread extremely relevant information and be subject matter experts, but none inspire me and fill me with hope as Ziad does when he talks so passionately about how simple solutions can create fundamental change. - Isabelle

💪 Voices That Champion Inclusion and Impact

I truly admire Leila Serhan – SVP at Visa (NALP). She stepped into male-dominated tech and finance spaces, took on regional leadership roles, and became a visible advocate for women’s empowerment across the Middle East. When I saw Visa’s “She’s Next” campaign, it demonstrated for me her role and a leadership beyond profit: toward purpose. – Nadine

Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi is a pioneer in leadership and women’s empowerment. Her groundbreaking achievements are a source of inspiration for me. Especially her ability to become the first woman in the UAE to hold a ministerial post: it shows her dedication to breaking barriers and advancing progress. Her work in education, economic development, and global trade, combined with her active role in philanthropy, makes her a remarkable figure who has influenced countless lives, especially women, in the UAE and beyond – Zeinab

🌍 Voices That Bring It Back to the Region

I really appreciate Said Baaghil for how he champions brand strategy through a local lens. His work goes beyond global best practices to spotlight regional case studies and challenge brands to root themselves in their own context. As someone passionate about adapting and localizing frameworks, tools, and content for our region, I see his work as a powerful example. – Hadeel

🛠️ Voices That Make Expertise Accessible

Luk Smeyers – I truly admire how openly Luk shares his consultancy knowledge—no gatekeeping, no fluff, just honest, practical advice. Through his LinkedIn page, he consistently gives valuable content that helps consultants like me learn, grow, and show up with more clarity and confidence. It's rare to find someone so generous with their expertise. - Marie

Learning From the Experts We Admire

At Cosmic Centaurs, we believe thought leadership isn’t just about influence, it’s about sparking meaningful change through insight. That’s why we regularly invite subject matter experts to share their perspectives in our webinars and internal sessions.

One of our recurring collaborators is Dr. Constance Noonan Hadley, an organizational psychologist and researcher. Together, we’ve led a three-year research project on team rituals. In her latest webinar with our CEO, Marilyn Zakhour, they unpacked together the key findings of this work, now featured in the Harvard Business Review.

We invite you to read the article and watch the webinar to explore how thoughtful practices can transform team dynamics and strengthen connection.

And, be sure to follow Marilyn Zakhour, a recognized voice in leadership and organizational development, for valuable insights and perspectives on Leadership and Organizational development that can inspire your own approach.