30 Small Business IT Influencers to Follow in 2020
The pandemic and the subsequent shift to remote work has fundamentally altered the way that we work. Having distributed workforces has accelerated many existing trends in IT, pushing organizations to speed up their digital transformation efforts to continue producing. This is particularly the case for small businesses, which may have planned on having more time to dive into their digital journeys. Many small businesses also have had to make these unexpected changes with limited resources.
The organizations that were more prepared for this sudden shift were the ones that kept up with the latest IT trends in small business. Keeping up with industry technologies can help small businesses not only sustain operations during unprecedented times, but also build a lasting organization. They don’t have to do this on their own — there are plenty of writers, speakers and podcasters to help small businesses stay up to date with the tools that can be most valuable to them. These are the 30 small business IT influencers to follow in 2020.
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For small businesses, technology can be key to changing the way employees work for the better. That is the central topic covered by the a16z Podcast, which discusses technology, innovation and the changes they can bring to our daily lives. The podcast covers everything small businesses need to know, from company-building to tech trends and culture.
Anita Campbell is an authoritative voice when it comes to small business. She's the founder and CEO of Small Business Trends, which details the latest in IT along with practical ways for organizations to make the most of it. Campbell's industry leadership is backed by a following in the hundreds of thousands.
Digital transformation has skyrocketed on the priority list for many small businesses during the pandemic, and the Techaisle Blog is a great source on the topic. The blog's author, Anurag Agrawal, is a market analyst specializing in small business with years of data experience. He has cultivated a strong following, helping IT suppliers connect the dots across emerging trends.
Daniel Newman is a digital transformation expert who contributes to the likes of Forbes and Market Watch. A tech analyst and speaker, Newman tweets about how businesses can use data, software and digital media — all tools that have become infinitely more important during remote work.
An author, co-founder and CTO, David Heinemeier Hansson covers the intersection of technology and business. He's the creator of Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework, as well as the co-founder and CTO of Basecamp. His Twitter feed covers everything from workplace productivity to the latest IT trends.
Founded by tech pioneer Kathryn Finney, digitalundivided (DID) is a social enterprise that empowers Black and Latina women to start their own businesses with a focus on tech. The group, whose partners include Google and Microsoft, provides mentorship and programs for aspiring entrepreneurs. Follow them for insights into growing your business with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
Eric Vanderburg is an author and speaker who writes about IT security issues. His tweets cover everything from data breaches to privacy issues, things all small businesses owners should be well versed in.
Cybersecurity is always a hot-button IT topic, especially now that the way small businesses work has turned upside down. Keynote speaker and writer Graham Cluley is co-host of Smashin' Security, one of the most popular security podcasts out there. With nearly three decades of experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table that small businesses can use to protect their organizations.
Weird Trick Mafia podcast co-host Jessie Frazelle is a prolific tweeter and a writer on IT topics such as open-source firmware. She's also an independent contractor who has worked as an engineer at GitHub, Microsoft, Google, Docker and several startups.
For a small business looking to scale, few things would be more exciting than a helping hand from Google. Extending that hand is the job of Jewel Burks Solomon, head of Google for Startups in the U.S. Follow her for advice on using tech to grow a business as well as the latest news from Google's program.
IT optimization, cloud computing and cybersecurity are among the topics that Jo Peterson covers on a regular basis. The Air Force veteran focuses on tech through the lens of business as part of her work on the Forbes Technology Council. Peterson is also a staunch advocate for the advancement of women in tech.
Judith Hurwitz is an author and industry analyst focusing on Big Data, analytics and the cloud. A frequent speaker and roundtable participant, Hurwitz discusses how businesses can use things like artificial intelligence and machine learning to streamline their operations and encourage growth.
Karen Kerrigan is a strong advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurship. As the CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, she helps cultivate an ecosystem of growth for organizations through tech, providing resources to help those businesses succeed. Her Twitter feed is full of practical advice for those looking to use IT to help achieve business goals.
Karl Palachuk is an author, business owner, and the founder and co-president of the Sacramento SMB IT Professionals Group. In addition to cultivating a following in the thousands across Twitter and YouTube, Palachuk runs his own managed services business. His books include The Network Documentation Workbook and Managed Services in a Month.
2020 has brought a renewed focus to diversity and inclusion, and the tech industry is no different. Kimberly Bryant is the founder of Black Girls Code, an organization whose goal is to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by teaching girls about computer science and technology. The group's programs include cybersecurity and business development events to encourage entrepreneurship.
CEO of the chat marketing platform MobileMonkey, Larry Kim specializes in helping businesses use tech to reach their customers. His Twitter feed ranges from Microsoft Windows shortcuts to the various uses of augmented reality.
An experienced IT professional, Laurie McCabe continues to be a leader in tech trends that affect small businesses. She is the co-founder and partner at SMB group, and her sizable following and thoughtful insight keep her at the forefront of the small business tech conversation.
Those looking for technology reviews and advice with some lighthearted banter should be following Linus Sebastian. His Linus Media Group covers emerging tech news, unboxings and education across its YouTube channels, which have a combined reach in the tens of millions. Small business leaders can also learn from Sebastian's Twitter feed, which covers the latest in applications and devices, among other things.
Maribel Lopez is a speaker, writer and analyst who tracks the latest in topics such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Lopez's Twitter feed is full of insights into the ethics of AI, the challenges of cybersecurity in remote work, and the potential of cloud computing.
A technology leader with a soft spot for public service, Matt Cutts is currently the administrator of the U.S. Digital Service, a role he came to after many years as the head of Google's webspam team. Cutts tweets frequently about the role of technology in both society and business, and shares resources his follower can use to become more knowledgeable about topics such as data science and computer engineering.
As data science exploded in recent years, businesses have been pushed to re-examine their use of data through an ethical lens. As the director of the University of San Francisco Center for Applied Data Ethics, this is Rachel Thomas' area of expertise. Thomas is a researcher and thought leader on the consequences of data, both intentional and unintentional.
Ramon Ray is a speaker and author who focuses on helping so-called "main street" small businesses capitalize on the latest IT trends. The Small Business Technology editor aims to educate organizations that may have limited IT knowledge and resources, empowering them to harness technology for growth.
If you're looking for insightful content about everything from in-the-weeds networking to the latest in DevOps, then you should follow Richard Campbell. He is the software developer behind the RunAsRadio podcast series, which is aimed at IT professionals working with Microsoft products. His following is in the tens of thousands.
Robert Scoble is an author and technology strategist with an eye on future trends. His latest book, The Infinite Retina, is about how spatial computing will affect different industries. His Twitter feed is wide-reaching, covering everything from consumer technology to artificial intelligence.
For all things artificial intelligence and machine learning, look no further than Sam Charrington. He is the host of the AI-centered TWIML AI Podcast, and his Twitter feed tackles topics from bias in analytics to worker wellness. Follow him for the latest in all things data.
A collaborative community of like-minded entrepreneurs has formed over at Small Business Bonfire. The forum, started by Alyssa Gregory, includes actionable advice geared toward helping small businesses navigate the latest in tech. Followers enjoy daily tips on how to use technology to grow their bottom line.
When it comes to government resources for small businesses, the Small Business Technology Coalition has a little bit of everything. The Small Business Administration subsidiary focuses on how technology can help SMBs launch, grow and manage their operations. Its resources cover areas like cybersecurity awareness and preparedness for the holidays.
A must-read for small businesses, SmallBizDaily provides insights on how organizations can grow through technology and innovation. It's led by Rieva Lesonsky, CEO of GrowBiz Media, who has nearly 30 years of experience working with small businesses.
Those looking for a wide-scope IT podcast have found it in The Cloudcast. The award-winning show, co-hosted by Brian Gracely and Aaron Delp, covers everything from cloud computing and DevOps to Software as a Service and IoT, with a combined reach that stretches into the tens of thousands.
With two decades of IT industry experience, Tom Hollingsworth brings a healthy dose of humor to his website, The Networking Nerd. His unique perspective, paired with a side of snark, offers a fresh, digestible analysis of the latest tech trends.
