Can You Become a Thought Leader While Working Full-Time? Yes, by Leading with Authenticity and Sharing Your Unique Stories

 

As we navigate the complexities of the modern professional landscape, the concept of thought leadership has taken on new dimensions. No longer just for those in academia or executive roles, becoming a thought leader is now a tangible goal for professionals in various industries aiming to influence and inspire within their digital communities.

Amidst the demands of a full-time job, how can one establish themselves as a thought leader?

DisruptED,” a series by Ron Stefanski now on LinkedIn Live, aims to demystify the process of building and sustaining thought leadership in the digital age. With a backdrop of a rapidly evolving digital landscape, where an estimated 70% of professionals believe thought leadership is critical to their career growth, this episode couldn’t be timelier. This episode features guest Tim Maitland, co-founder of MarketScale where the discussion ventures into the balancing act of nurturing thought leadership alongside managing career responsibilities.

The dialogue traverses through several focal points, including:

  • Leveraging personal stories and experiences to connect with and grow your audience.
  • Practical tactics for integrating thought leadership pursuits with day-to-day job demands.
  • The significance of authenticity and personal connection in digital engagement.

Tim Maitland’s background in co-creating MarketScale, a platform dedicated to empowering digital marketing and community building, adds depth to the episode. His journey from advertising professional to entrepreneur and thought leader provides a blueprint for listeners aspiring to make their mark.

Recent Episodes

Workplace flexibility has shifted from a culture debate to a retention lever—especially as more professionals are becoming parents later, right when they’re stepping into mid-management and executive-track roles. Childcare and caregiving logistics don’t just strain families; they strain talent pipelines, and the companies that treat parenting as a “personal issue” are often the same…

The modern workplace is at a crossroads, shaped by the rapid rise of AI, shifting cultural expectations, and increasing pressure on leaders to balance efficiency with humanity. Organizations are being forced to make intentional choices about how they operate, how they lead, and how they invest in their people — choices that will define…

As AI adoption accelerates across industries, leaders are under growing pressure to “do something” with data—often before they’re sure what meaningful action looks like. Research shows that while a majority of executives believe AI will transform their business, far fewer feel confident in their organization’s data readiness or governance to support it responsibly. This gap…