Issue 43: One Year. 10,000 Connections. Here’s What I Learned.

ISSUE 43

28 MAY 2025 | READ ONLINE

Hi Reader,

Almost exactly one year ago, I decided to take LinkedIn seriously.

Not in the 'post more memes' kind of way. But in the real way, where I shared stories, strived to be of service, and build trust in a space I’d mostly ignored.

A couple of days ago, I reached 10,000 followers.

Not because I cracked the algorithm. Not because I posted every day (though consistency helped). But because I shifted how I thought about influence.

I Stopped Waiting for Permission

I used to tell myself I needed to read a new book, get a better title, or ask an 'expert' before I felt ready to take action. But when I finally questioned those beliefs, I realized they weren’t true, and they were just delaying my growth.

You don’t build influence by being 'ready'. You build it by being honest, helpful, and consistent.

So, I started showing up:

With stories from my career in global safety and leadership.
With hard truths about burnout, invisibility, and purpose.
With insight, not noise.
And yes, with a little bit of sass, graphs, and 20 hashtags.

It wasn’t always polished. Much of it involved experimentation to determine what would work and what wouldn't. But by not asking for permission and just building day after day, it led to something quite magical.

What Actually Worked

Here's what moved the needle over the past year:

1. Consistency
I posted almost daily for 12 months. Even through launches, illness, and days when I didn't feel like it.

2. A Clear Format
My most engaged posts paired a bold visual hook (often a photo, sometimes a tweet-style quote image) with deep, thought-led content. But even more so, posts that tagged others led to comments and conversations that were fun and informative.

3. Connection over Perfection
I stopped trying to sound 'executive' and started sounding like me. That’s when the DMs started. That’s when the invitations came.

4. Value First
Every post answered a question: “How can I serve someone today?” That’s the real algorithm.

What I Didn’t Expect

I reflected on this over the Memorial Day weekend as I compiled my top 20 LinkedIn posts from the past year. If you'd like to read the free e-book, click here to grab a copy.

And here's the most wonderful part of posting and building this community.

The messages from women saying:

“I’ve never seen someone talk about safety like this.”

The leaders saying:

“Thank you for putting words to what I’ve felt but couldn’t say.”

The clarity in my own voice that came from showing up day after day. It turns out that building influence in public shapes you while you’re shaping your message.