Thought Leadership Isn’t Just for TED Speakers
Why you already have insight worth sharing — and how it can transform how opportunities find you
This is the first piece of the series on Why thought leadership matters and why STEM professionals, Scientists, consultants, entrepreneurs, academics and alike should start today.
If you’ve been feeling like you’ve got more to offer — or maybe you’re not even sure what that “more” is — either way, you’re right.
The truth is, as a STEM professional — whether you’re a lab scientist, academic, entrepreneur, or in consulting — you’re sitting on a ton of insights.
What I call: an informed opinion.
And if you’re not sharing it — not just your expertise, but also what you stand for and the impact you want to make — then there’s a whole ocean of opportunities you’re not seeing.
Because great work doesn’t happen in isolation.
And it doesn’t live on your resume, in your performance review, or inside a research paper.
It lives in conversation.
That’s what this article (and the podcast series it came from) is about:
Thought leadership — and how it can shift the way opportunities find you.
No more feeling boxed in, underutilised, or pigeonholed.
What is thought leadership, really?
When you hear “thought leadership,” what comes to mind?
Simon Sinek? Brené Brown? Nelson Mandela? A TED speaker? Maybe even the Kardashians or Joe Rogan?
But here’s the thing — once upon a time, you needed a platform to share insight.
You needed to be invited to a conference, to the TED stage, publish in a journal…
Now? Insight can be shared in a post, a meeting, a comment, or a 1:1 conversation.
We’ve democratized access to audiences.
What we haven’t done yet is democratize belief in ourselves.
So let’s clarify something:
An opinion is often unstructured and personal. It may not be actionable.
A scientific paper is heavily detailed, rigorous, but often inaccessible.
Thought leadership sits in between — it connects experience and expertise with identity and purpose. And it’s made digestible and actionable.
In other words, it's:
“Here’s what I care about, why I care, what I believe is important to consider — and what we could do about it.
And here’s how you can contribute.”
“Thought Leadership is not self-promotion. It is value, offered with clarity and intention.
It can shape how opportunities find you”
Why does this matter?
Because being good at your job is no longer enough.
Good work is the ticket to play.
But visibility is what shapes what you get invited into next.
If only your manager or your direct team knows what you do (and even then, only part of it), that’s a very limited field of opportunity.
Let’s be honest:
Who knows what you really want to work on?
Who sees your unique blend of skills and perspective?
Who could confidently recommend you for something aligned with your purpose?
If the answer is “just me... maybe my partner or my manager,” then you’re invisible to the rest of the ecosystem.
And that’s a missed opportunity — not just for you, but for the people who need to hear your thinking.
But I’m not a thought leader… am I?
Most people I work with don’t see themselves that way at first.
They say things like:
“I’m not confident enough.”
“I dont have anything special to share”
“Isn’t everyone already saying this?”
Let me reframe it for you.
If you’ve ever thought, “This doesn’t sit right with me — we need a different conversation,”
That’s thought leadership.
If you’ve ever helped someone reframe a problem…
If you’ve ever asked a question that changed the tone of a meeting…
That’s thought leadership.
You don’t need a podium.
You need a point of view.
And the willingness to share it.
Let’s bust a few myths while we’re here
Myth 1: Thought leadership is for experts and influencers
Truth: It’s for people who bring value in their own context — their team, field, or sector.
💭 Try this: List 3 times you shared a perspective that helped someone think differently.
Myth 2: I don’t want to be an influencer
Truth: One clear insight, shared well, can change how people see you. We’re not chasing quantity or virality.
It’s about starting conversations and inviting people to contribute
💭 Try this: What’s something you believe but rarely say out loud?
Myth 3: You need to have all the answers
Truth: Thought leadership is about thoughtfulness, not perfection.
You can share what you’re exploring and invite others in.
💭 Try this: Share a question you’re sitting with right now — and ask for input.
Myth 4: It’s self-promotion
Truth: When it’s rooted in values, sharing insight is generous.
It helps others see possibilities, avoid mistakes, and think differently.
💭 Try this: What’s something you learned the hard way — that you wish someone had told you sooner?
Where to start?
Start small.
Start from what you see that others may not.
From the friction you’ve noticed. The pattern. The “I wish more people talked about this…” moment.
Write a short post. Leave a thoughtful comment. Say something in the next meeting.
You don’t need to be everywhere — just somewhere.
Want help taking the first step?
If this resonates and you’re ready to find your message, I’ve created two simple tools that can help:
📄 Thought Leadership Myth-Busting Guide
📄 5-Minute Thought Leadership Framework
👉 DM me “thought leadership” on LinkedIn and I’ll send them your way.
And if you're curious about what your version of this could look like, keep listening to the podcast or explore the free resources on my site.
You already have what it takes — the only thing missing might be sharing it.
