The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space

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The tech space is extremely competitive and making a mark can be a tough task for any new brand. You need to keep up with the latest happenings and change your strategy accordingly.

This is where IT influencers can be helpful. They are authority figures in the niche and can highlight the most recent and future industry trends.

With their insights, you can stay at the top of your game and get an edge over your competitors. At the same time, collaborating with them can help you gain tremendous exposure and improve brand trust too.

To help you out, we have compiled a list of the top IT influencers who are dominating the tech space now.

1. Graham Cluley

Graham Cluley portrait
Image via Wikipedia

Graham Cluley is a prominent personality in the computer security space. He’s a security analyst and a public speaker. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, he’s one of the most popular IT influencers out there.

He wrote the first version of, “Dr. Solomon’s Antivirus Toolkit for Windows.” Additionally, he’s worked at senior positions in Sophos and McAfee. Due to his contributions, he was inducted into the Infosecurity Europe Hall of Fame in 2011.

2. Kara Swisher

The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space 1
Image via Wikipedia

Kara Swisher is an American journalist and the founder of Recode. She writes about progressive technology and has previously written for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She also served as the co-executive director of All Things Digital.

Additionally, she’s authored popular books such as, “aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web.”

3. Paul Asadoorian

Paul Asadoorian talking into a mic
Image via LinkedIn

Paul is the founder and CEO of Security Weekly and is one of the most famous IT influencers out there. He hosts their flagship show titled, “Paul’s Security Weekly,” since 2005. Additionally, he hosts various other shows which provide the latest security news.

He has also authored, “Offensive CounterMeasures,” a book that can help defenders fight back against hackers. If there’s anything you wish to learn about the virtual security industry, he’s the person you should go to.

4. Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk photo
Image via Wikipedia

Gary Vaynerchuk is one of the most popular names in the IT industry, so it’s no surprise that he’s on this list of top IT influencers. He shot to fame when he took his family’s wine business from $4 to $60 million in sales through his ecommerce website, WineLibrary.

He’s also the co-founder and CEO of VaynerMedia, which serves various Fortune 500 clients across the world. A New York Times bestselling author, Gary was also an early investor in popular companies like Uber and Twitter. It is thus no surprise that he’s one of the best IT influencers out there. If he vouches for your brand, you may experience an immediate boost in your brand trust.

5. Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki speaking onstage
Image via Guy Kawasaki

Guy is the Chief Evangelist at Canva and is one of the key people who popularized the word, “evangelist,” as a job title. He was one of the few Apple employees who were in charge of marketing the Macintosh in 1984.

He’s authored various books such as The Macintosh Way and Wise Guy: Lessons From a Life. Additionally, he was one of the members of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. Also, he’s one of the leading speakers in the industry, and no list of IT influencers can be complete without his mention.

6. Larry Kim

Larry Kim portrait
Image via MobileMonkey

Larry is the founder of WordStream, Inc. and manages a team of over 200 people. His company provides a variety of tools for AdWords, keyword research, and Facebook. Additionally, he’s one of the top columnists at Search Engine Land, Inc. Magazine, and Social Media Today.

He also serves as the CEO of MobileMonkey and is a 4-time winner of Search Marketer of the Year from PPC Hero. His expertise in Facebook Messenger chatbot marketing and Facebook Ads makes him one of the best IT influencers out there.

7. Dr. Mike Rucker

Michael Rucker
Image via Michael Rucker

Dr. Mike Rucker is a technology strategist and has been in the industry since the 1990s. In a span of a few years, he’s become a leader in the health technology space. A member of the International Positive Psychology Association, he concentrates on how technology can help in overall well-being.

You may see him frequently speaking about workplace wellness and digital health at popular events. It is due to his depth of experience and knowledge that he’s one of the best IT influencers in the health technology space.

8. Tim O’Reilly

The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space 2
Image via O’Reilly

No list of IT influencers can be complete without the mention of Tim O’Reilly. He’s the founder of O’Reilly Media and has nearly 2 million followers on Twitter. The popular terms, “open source,” and “Web 2.0” were also crafted by him.

He frequently posts his insights about current practices and the future of the tech industry on Twitter. Additionally, he sits on the board of directors of PeerJ, Maker Media, and Safari Books Online. IT influencers like him can help you build your brand.

9. Matt Cutts

Matt Cutts portrait
Image via LinkedIn

If you’ve been following SEO for some time now, there’s no way that you’d have missed a mention of Matt Cutts. He served as the head of webspam at Google and was the go-to guy for learning about Google’s algorithms and updates.

He’s also known for introducing SafeSearch and Google’s family filter. He now serves as the Administrator of the United States Digital Service. With a sizeable following of over 537K on Twitter, it’s safe to say that he’s still one of the top IT influencers in the world.

10. Chris Skinner

The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space 3
Image via Chris Skinner

Chris is one of the most well-known IT influencers in the FinTech industry. He frequently comments on financial markets and the industry on his blog, Finanser.com. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the Financial Services Club, a European networking forum.

A bestselling author, Chris Skinner is on the advisory boards of companies such as Moven Meniga. He was also voted as one of the most influential personalities in banking by Nextbank. Lastly, he was added to FinTech Top 40 by Financial News.

11. David Heinemeier Hansson

The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space 4
Image via David Henemeier Hansson

David is one of the most famous faces in the IT industry. He’s the creator of Ruby on Rails and boasts over 300k followers on Twitter. Additionally, he’s the founder and CTO of Basecamp, a web-based software development company.

He’s co-authored books like, “The Facets of Ruby Series,” and “Getting Real: The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Build a Successful Web Application.” Lastly, he’s very vocal and critical of the tech industry, which makes him popular too.

12. Christina Warren

The Top 12 IT Influencers Dominating the Tech Space 5
Image via Wikipedia

Christina Warren works as a Senior Cloud Developer Advocate for Microsoft. She’s appeared on major media channels such as CNN, CNBC, and Bloomberg as an expert guest. Additionally, she’s written extensively about technology and entertainment for numerous publications, and she’s co-host of many podcasts covering technology and popular culture.

From mobile technology to web trends, she covers everything in her speeches at conferences and universities. With substantial experience in the field, she’s definitely one of the best IT influencers you should follow.

Final Thoughts

If you want to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the tech space, you can follow the top IT influencers mentioned above. Their insights about the industry will help you keep pace and rise above your competition. You may even approach them for collaborations or book reviews to grow your brand.

Are you ready to stake your claim in the creator economy? Discover more helpful tips and resources from the experts at GRIN: Creator Management Learning Center

Updated: July 2023

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Written by GRIN Contributor

GRIN is the pioneer behind the world’s first Creator Management platform built to support every brand’s journey to connecting with consumers through authentic creator relationships. Thousands of the world’s fastest-growing brands—including SKIMS, Warby Parker, Allbirds, Mejuri, and MVMT—use GRIN to make creators feel like trusted, empowered partners and work with them to build their brands into household names.

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