One of the best ways to get ahead in the business world is to surround yourself with people who are also looking to succeed or already have succeeded. Whether the connection is direct or just a blip on your news feed, having that contact will help you build and succeed in your own life.
The following is a list of 20 experts on entrepreneurship you definitely should follow if you are looking to turn your business into from a dream into a reality.
- Alyson Shontell: Alyson Shontell has made national television appearances on ABC, CNN, MSNBC and Al Jazeera. She’s currently the Deputy Editor for Business Insider, so if there is anyone more highly qualified to talk on entrepreneurship, they would be difficult to find. Not only does Alyson understand the basics regarding entrepreneurship, she also understands how to succeed in the business world.
- Danny Crichton: Danny Crichton is an award-winning researcher and writer who contributes for TechCrunch, the premier tech-based business publication online. He has a passion for building businesses from scratch, establishing international connections with businesses, and is currently pursuing his doctorate at the Harvard Kennedy School. This gives Danny a unique perspective as both a student and businessman.
- Gregory Ferenstein: Gregory Ferenstein also works for TechCrunch as a contributing writer, and he previously wrote for Mashable and Fast Company. Gregory’s main focus is in education, he does design communication curricula for college students, which makes his content and posts on Twitter and various other online publications more accessible than most of his peers.
- Christina Farr: Christina Farr was previously a technology writer for Thompson Reuters. She is a graduate of Stanford University, and cofounder of LadiesWho Vino. She has both the work experience and the education behind her to land herself at the forefront of entrepreneurship writing and expertise.
- Emma McGowan: Emma McGowan is what you would call a juggler of many jobs in many different, but related, niches. Emma offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship since she works on covering online startups and startups of a more adult nature on publications like KillerStartups and The Bold Italic. This gives her a window into two different worlds of business and allows us to learn from both. If you have any tough personnel or client issues Emma will help you deal with them.
- Angela Shah: Angela Shah is the current editor of Xconomy Texas who has covered a wide range of startups over the years. Angela can add a foreign perspective to entrepreneurs since she spent time in Dubai as a foreign correspondent. Her work has been featured in the The New York TImes, TIME, Newsweek/Daily Beast, and Forbes Asia.
- Rob Day: Rob Day is one of the best people to keep in touch with, since he has a pulse on and in the small business world. Rob is a venture capitalist, works as a partner at Black Coral Capital, and focuses on investing in sustainable energy options in the Boston area, such as Cleantech Investing.
- Iris Dorbian: If you need a perspective on marketing and advertising, then look no further than Iris Dorbian. Iris is a distinguished business journalist who is a writer for Buyout Insider’s peHUB. Her work has also been seen in the Wall Street Journal and Bank of America’s Small Business site.
- Kirti Sharma: Kirti Sharma is a senior talent acquisition expert and assistant professor. While she understands the importance of finding the right employee, her forte is in IT and E-Commerce. Kirti also has experience with the gaming industry.
- Sramana Mitra: With over ten years of experience in business strategy in the Silicon Valley, Sramana Mitra has a perspectiveyou simply can’t afford to ignore in today’s economy. She has worked in industries as varied as semiconductors to fashion and is the founder of the 1M/1M global virtual incubator.
- Nour Jane Kachico: Nour Jane Kachio is a media enthusiast who lives in Beirut. She’s currently employed with Eastline Marketing and has extensive experience in showing entrepreneurs how to shake up their social media strategy.
- Lauren Sauser: One of the most important things any entrepreneur can learn about how to manage communities on social networks to maximize engagement. Following the content and work of Lauren Sauser will help with building and managing your communities. She’ll teach you step by step. Sauser is the community manager for “UP Global,” and was previously the social media manager for Cheezburger, Inc.
- Kyle Alspach: Kyle Alspach is currently the Tech Editor for Streetwise, a publication that covers everything from startups to the latest restaurant openings in Boston, D.C., and Chicago. Previously, Kyle was the Senior staff writer at BostonBeta and Startups & Venture Capital Editor for the Boston Business Journal. If you need to stay updated on the latest tech advancements and startups, Kyle is an excellent resource.
- Janet Tu: Is your business heavily tied to Microsoft? Are you trying to compete with a Microsoft product? Are you just simply in the tech field? If you answered “yes,” to any of these questions, then you absolutely need to follow Janet Tu. She is a technology reporter for the Seattle times, specifically Microsoft Pri0, who will help you in getting the most out Microsoft for both your professional and personal lives.
- Brian Feldt: If your business is involved in either the tech or real estate fields, then Brian Feldt’s perspective should be included in your life. He currently works for the St. Louis Business Journal and focuses on tech, startups, and real estate. It is surprising how the tips for real estate bring a unique perspective to a huge variety of industries.
- Sarah Schmid: As the editor for Xconomy Detroit, Sarah Schmid has the task of covering an area with a recovering economy which offers plenty of room for opportunity. Following her will let you look to break into an emerging market that is fairly open, or she’ll simply help you distinguish yourself from your competition.
- Megan Bannister: Megan Bannister previously worked with Silicon Prairie, which is an entrepreneurial community located in Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines, as an editor. Currently, Megan is the Social Media Manager for the Des Moines Art Center. With her experience helping startups tell their stories, as well as being a skilled wordsmith, Megan is great resource for learning how tell your entrepreneurial story.
- Juliana Reyes: After growing up in North Jersey and the Philippines, Juliana Reyes now calls West Philadelphia home. Since 2012, she has been the lead reporter at Technical.ly Philly. Juliana is also the Vice President of the Asian American Journalists Association Philadelphia Chapter. Her tech and global experience make her an extremely valuable reference.
- Troy Hawks: Using his knowledge and experience as a ski instructor, he became the communications manager for the National Ski Areas Association and editor of the NSAA Journal. Troy now focuses on public relations, consultation, and content development for the leading companies involved in the ski industry. He’s a great example of using personal experiences and using it to reach a niche market.
- Jessica Schimm: Jessica Schimm is an ambitious woman who was previously an intern at 7×7, founder of Her Campus San Francisco, and Digital Audience Engagement Lead for the media company Women 2.0. With her drive and experience in founding and managing a company, Jessica is another expert whose advice is priceless.
These experts are sure to add a new, expanding perspective to your lives. Their content will inspire you to innovate when running your startup to make it the best that it can be. You will run into ideas that will freshen your old take on your current business. Following these incredible experts of entrepreneurship ensure you do not miss out on some important, varied, and valid perspectives!