Would you describe yourself as (or do you strive to be) a “thought leader” in your field? If so, how do you approach building that reputation, and what real-world benefits have you seen from it?

Found my way into 'Thought Leadership' by following my curiosity in Podcasting in 2016. The benefits was it open many doors that otherwise would have been closed to me at the time because of  the level of career I was at. The negative is as the space become flooded, the noise and echo chamber became very strong which is why I excited. 

The influence my contribution had on individuals with their careers and the industry at large was amazing. I regularly get to meet people who have shared with me the now have a career because of the guidance offered to them in the podcast. Very rewarding personally.

Follow your curiosity and add value to others. Being a though leader for thought leader sake is rather empty, what can you bring uniquely to the world that no one else can, this will be rewarded.

I do strive to be a thought leader with an openness to give and receive. Approaching thought leadership through openness means embracing a mindset of generosity and curiosity—freely sharing your insights while remaining eager to learn from others. It’s not just about broadcasting expertise, but about creating a dialogue that invites collaboration and deeper understanding. By openly offering your knowledge, you establish trust and credibility, which in turn encourages others to contribute their perspectives. These shared exchanges often spark new ideas and connections that expand and refine your own thinking. In this way, thought leadership becomes a dynamic, evolving process—rooted in connection, enriched by diversity, and driven by a commitment to collective growth.

I do strive to be a "thought leader", how have I approached building that reputation.  I do so by staying on top of relevant certifications and knowledge for my chosen career path.  I have also chosen to present myself as a career mentor to those looking to enter the IT/IS arena.  I have done a few LinkedIn articles as well as created an internal to my organization blog, that discusses resiliency topics in a way that all levels of staffing should be able to understand.  I have joined a local/national career related organization, and from there managed to be asked to teach at the industry and local college levels.

Benefits, not everyone has an outgoing personality, I don't consider myself to be outgoing, and some of what I do, even for me can be scary, right up to the moment I am doing it.  Doing these things will advance your career, especially if you network, internally and externally to your organization.  Find your passion and leverage your passion to be a "thought leader."

I would be remiss if I didn't highlight mentoring as one of the best ways to building your reputation.  Everyone needs a mentor, and everyone with a passion to be a mentor should become one.  Being a mentee to individuals you someday want to be working their role is extremely important to building your reputation.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn.

I strive to be a thought leader by sharing my experiences and learnings in a way that others can relate to and apply. I do this through writing blogs, speaking at meetups, and hosting informal brown bag sessions. I’m always curious and open to learning from others — thought leadership, to me, is as much about listening and growing as it is about sharing. Along the way, this approach has helped me build genuine connections, open new opportunities, and contribute to conversations that are shaping how data and AI can be used in a responsible and meaningful way.