Influencer marketing can help you supercharge your integrated communications strategy. Whether B2B or B2C, the established trust and connection that influencers have with their audiences give brands the opportunity to reach people with authenticity, interactivity and personality.
At Highwire, we use best-in-class technology to manage influencer partnerships, and the specialist nature of our relationships means we achieve meaningful messaging and measurable impact.
Learn about key influencers in your industry:
Economic uncertainty, geopolitical cyber tensions and the rise of generative AI have only added to the rising complexity that businesses are tackling every day. From large corporations to small startups, no business is immune from cyberattack, and the game is changing. New cyberattacks are hitting headlines daily following a 38% increase in global attacks over the past year— and business leaders are forced to look critically at where their own infrastructure needs the most protection.
As businesses grapple with uncertainty when it comes to IT budgets, security remains a top priority, with Gartner predicting global spending on security to rise by more than 11% this year. Business leaders are looking for solutions that are going to maximize their budgets and get to the heart of what really needs protecting to keep themselves out of the headlines and keep their customers secure.
Staying ahead of the changing cybersecurity landscape
From the white hat hackers doing the ‘dirty work’ of uncovering what’s happening on the dark web, to the reporters breaking the news on the latest attacks, aligning yourself with the most respected voices in the industry can ensure your executives are joining the evolving conversation at the right time.
With every company under the sun shouting from the rooftops that their product is the silver bullet that will solve the cybersecurity problem, it can be challenging to know who to trust. With many companies grappling with hundreds of cyber tools, partnering with influential experts who have true credibility in the industry can make or break your cyber comms strategy.
These five influencers have earned respect from the cybersecurity community, and are worth connecting with to ensure you’re on their radar.
Influencers are listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Focus Areas: cybercrime investigations, data breaches, online security journalism
Brian Krebs is a renowned cybersecurity journalist and investigator, known for his deep dives into cybercrime activities and illuminating pieces on data breaches. With a background in investigative journalism Krebs brings a unique perspective to the field, unraveling the tactics of cybercriminals and dissecting the vulnerabilities that lead to data breaches.
The why
As the creator of the KrebsOnSecurity blog, Brian shares insightful articles and analysis that resonate with both cybersecurity professionals and the general public. His no-nonsense, fact-driven approach has gained his audience’s trust, making his content a reliable source for individuals seeking to understand the intricate world of cyber threats. Brands aiming to establish credibility and position themselves as cybersecurity authorities would benefit from collaborating with Brian Krebs, leveraging his reputation for thorough research and unbiased reporting.
Focus Areas: security education, technology trends, industry commentary
Graham Cluley is a cybersecurity influencer known for his educational efforts in the field. With a background in programming and computer science, he transforms complex security concepts into digestible content for a wide audience. Through his blog, podcasts and social presence, Cluley strives to bridge the knowledge gap by translating intricate cybersecurity topics into easily understandable insights.
The why
Graham's content style is approachable and engaging, often combining humor with informative explanations. His knack for breaking down complex subjects makes him an excellent partner for brands seeking to demystify cybersecurity for their customers. By collaborating with Graham Cluley, companies can tap into his ability to connect with both technical experts and everyday users, fostering a sense of security literacy among their target audience.
Focus Areas: cloud security, privacy regulations, emerging technologies
Mark Lynd is known for his insights into the evolving landscape of cloud security and privacy regulations. With a background in technology and law, he offers a unique perspective on the intersection of emerging technologies and the legal frameworks that govern them. His work centers on guiding organizations through the complexities of cloud adoption while ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
The why
Through his thought leadership articles, speaking engagements and advisory roles, Mark educates audiences on the challenges and opportunities presented by cloud technologies. Brands seeking to navigate the intricate world of cloud security and data privacy can collaborate with Lynd to leverage his expertise in crafting strategies that balance innovation with regulatory compliance.
Focus Areas: social engineering, phishing awareness, ethical hacking
Rachel Tobac specializes in the intriguing realm of social engineering. With a background in competitive hacking and experience in winning social engineering competitions, she sheds light on the vulnerabilities that arise from human interactions in the digital realm. Her work revolves around raising awareness about phishing attacks, training individuals and organizations to recognize and resist manipulation attempts.
The why
Rachel's content style is dynamic and engaging, often combining real-world anecdotes with practical security advice. Brands aiming to bolster their customers' defenses against social engineering attacks can collaborate with Tobac to deliver interactive workshops, educational materials and engaging content that empowers users to make more informed decisions in the face of cyber threats.
Focus Areas: women in cybersecurity, cybersecurity awareness, human-centric security
Shira Rubinoff is a cybersecurity influencer with a focus on building a more inclusive and secure digital world. With a background in psychology and technology, she emphasizes the importance of human-centric security solutions that account for the psychological and behavioral aspects of cyber threats. As a thought leader, Rubinoff advocates for increased diversity in the cybersecurity field and promotes cybersecurity awareness among all demographics.
The why
Through her speaking engagements, articles and social media presence, Shira fosters discussions on the intersection of technology, psychology and cybersecurity. Brands looking to align with a message of inclusivity and holistic security can collaborate with Rubinoff to amplify their efforts and promote cyber awareness across a broad spectrum of audiences.
The financial services industry is evolving faster than ever before – emerging technologies like generative AI, DeFi (decentralized finance), and crypto pose new challenges to everything from security and privacy to heightened consumer expectations. As business and go-to-market strategies shift, it’s up to marketers and communicators to navigate educating audiences, driving awareness and ultimately fueling engagement and conversion.
To overcome these challenges and reach audiences effectively, financial services brands can leverage influencers to help tell their story. Influencers bring trust, credibility and reach to the table in ways that brands often aren’t able to achieve on their own. More than half of Gen Z and Millennial populations alone “intentionally seek out financial advice online or through social media.” Influencers can educate and raise awareness about emerging technologies, provide social proof, and engage directly on a human level with their audience.
While there are many prominent finance influencers, the standouts offer valuable insights, unique perspectives and practical advice. Below we'll introduce you to a selection of finance influencers and highlight a few ways you can incorporate influencers into your communications strategy. Whether your brand targets young consumers or CFOs, leveraging influencers can help you reach highly targeted and niche audiences to drive business impact.
Want to learn more about how Highwire PR can elevate your digital strategy through our integrated services, including influencer marketing? Contact us today — we'd love to chat about your brand and influencer marketing opportunities!
Influencers are listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Focus Areas: personal finance, investing
Andrew Lokenauth is a seasoned finance professional and publisher of Fluent in Finance, a Substack newsletter with an audience of more than 25k investors and finance enthusiasts. With a background in investment banking and portfolio management, he shares practical tips and strategies to help individuals build sustainable wealth and make informed investment decisions.
Andrew's ability to simplify complex financial concepts and his focus on empowering audiences to take control of their finances have garnered him a dedicated following.
Influencer Creds
Andrew's clear communication style makes his content easy for audiences to digest and engage. We often see Andrew cross-promoting his Twitter content, which boasts his highest follower counts and engagement, to audiences on Instagram and TikTok. This creative style and publishing strategy is something to keep in mind when thinking about co-branded content opportunities. Partnering with influencers with a diverse channel mix can expand your potential audience reach and give you an opportunity to test creative formats and content types throughout your campaign.
Highwire’s digital team consists of expert communicators who leverage a deep understanding of clients’ businesses and markets to develop audience-first integrated campaigns that deliver.
Focus Areas: managing debt, wealth, taxes
Anthony O’Neal is a financial expert, best-selling author and speaker dedicated to helping his audiences on the path to a debt-free life. With a background in personal finance, Anthony offers guidance on budgeting, student loans, and building a solid financial future. His dynamic speaking style and ability to connect with young audiences have made him a popular figure in the personal finance space.
Influencer Creds
Anthony's content is highly appealing to Gen Z and millennials as he addresses financial challenges that overlap generations and ones that are specific to each. He’s also garnered a sizable YouTube following by sharing financial advice through long-form video content (10-55mins), while his Instagram and TikTok accounts show short-form versions of that same content (<1min), directing users back to his YouTube channel for the full video. Given his long-form content, brands that have more complex messages and offerings can align very effectively and the interview-style of his content provides an opportunity for executive visibility.
Focus Areas: Stock market, investing
Delyanne Barros is a financial advisor and content creator who specializes in personal finance and wealth management, known especially for her blog, Delyanne the Money Coach. Her content focuses on teaching everyday investors how to master the stock market. Her expertise in personal finance management and ability to break down financial concepts into easily understandable terms have garnered her a loyal following across a wide range of audiences.
Influencer Creds
Much of her recent content is focused on comparing U.S. and international financial customs, due to her recent move to Portugal. This is certainly something to consider when looking to partner with Delyanne as she may have greater credibility with specific audiences, such as expats, and when it comes to relevant topics, such as traveling and moving abroad. While Delyanne’s emphasis on financial education and practical tips can help users from all types of backgrounds, she is uniquely positioned to work with brands that have an international focus.
Focus Areas: personal finance, credit cards, real estate investing
Humphrey Yang is a former financial advisor turned personal finance influencer, known for his expertise in real estate investing and entrepreneurship. He provides practical tips for beginners and seasoned investors alike, helping them navigate the intricacies of the market. Humphrey's content stands out due to his transparent approach and his ability to demystify the real estate investment process.
Influencer Creds
Humphrey’s content is invaluable for audiences looking to grow their wealth through strategic investments. He’s amassed over 3M followers on TikTok and over 1M on YouTube, thanks to his affinity for breaking down financial topics that apply to people across all spectrums of age, income, career, etc. From products to processes, he’s a great influencer to consider partnering with when it comes to explaining complex ideas in simple terms.
Focus Areas: personal finance, money management, investing
Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista, is a financial educator, author, and motivational speaker. She specializes in budgeting, saving and debt management, offering strategies to help individuals achieve financial freedom. Her impactful content revolves around empowering individuals to take control of their finances and build a solid foundation for wealth creation.
Influencer Creds
Tiffany's step-by-step budgeting techniques, debt reduction strategies and inspiring success stories have made her a leading figure in the personal finance space. So much so, that she was a coach on a Netflix documentary called Get Smart with Money. Tiffany’s most consistently active account is Instagram, where you’ll find a combination of quote cards, images, videos and podcast snippets, all typically accompanied by extensive captions where she shares more in depth information and really gets the message across. While many successful influencers in this space lean heavily into visuals, Tiffany’s use of text can offer a different angle that appeals to audiences seeking a less visual or surface-level style.
Meet the Influencers Modernizing the Diffusion of Healthcare Information
Health is a key component to overall happiness and fulfillment, but healthcare costs and gaps in medical knowledge present significant barriers. It doesn’t help that the US has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, with spending reaching $4.3 trillion in 2021. Alongside that, a 2019 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that only 48% of respondents knew what their medical doctors do.
How are patients circumventing these issues? For Gen Z and Millennial consumers, they turn to digital resources. Gen Z and millennials approach their healthcare vastly differently from previous generations, with many foregoing costly and lengthy hospital visits for telehealth services. Above all, they’re most likely to do extensive research about their health online, which is where disruptive health influencers come in.
Making healthcare information accessible for all
Influencers are bridging the information gap between healthcare providers and consumers by providing resources breaking down today’s modern healthcare innovations. The best part is, these influencers have extensive backgrounds and knowledge in the healthcare industry, giving them a level of credibility that consumers can trust. In fact, 33% of Gen Z trust TikTok more than their doctors about medical advice.
When it comes to sound, credible and current information about healthcare innovations, we’ve identified five standout influencers who utilize their wealth of knowledge to inform digital users about new trends in the space. Read on to see how these influencers would be a great fit for your company’s strategic comms strategy.
Influencers are listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Focus Areas: digital health, molecular medicine, biotechnology
Atanas is a digital health influencer who regularly shares the latest innovations in health, medicine and biotechnology. He currently serves as the Principle Investigator of Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety at Medical University of Vienna. Atanas extensive background in health and biotechnology gives him a high amount of fact-based credibility.
Influencer Creds
His content revolves around posting research articles relating to physical and mental health, ensuring that his audience has a constant stream of credible information that they can take into account as they look after their own health. These articles are available on all of his social channels, giving his audience ease of access via desktop or mobile. He also takes a cross-platform approach to his content where he shares screenshots of his colleagues’ LinkedIn articles and shares them on Instagram. Atanas cuts out all the fluff and provides information for his audience that is to the point, which makes him a top consideration for partnership with companies using a direct and fact-based approach to reaching consumers.
Focus Areas: AI, technology and healthcare, digital health, medical futuristic studies
Bertalan Meskó is an author and keynote speaker with a PhD in genomics. He is one of Linkedin's top voices in healthcare. His newsletter, The Medical Futurist℠, has 38,500 subscribers. He is a member of Mensa International and has been selected by the Huffington Post as one of the 30 biotech thinkers with the biggest global impact. Bertalan is focused on highlighting the disruptive technologies that are reshaping the healthcare landscape
Influencer Creds
Bertalan combines his clear communication style with his heavily-researched content to engage with his audience. While he does post long-form content, what really shines is his YouTube content, where he posts well-produced videos that never exceed 10 minutes. In these videos, he breaks down new trends and products that are making an impact on the healthcare industry, such as AI and wearables. Brands who work with him can leverage his YouTube channel to highlight trends in the healthcare space that are digestible to a wider audience or have him review a new product and explain its benefits.
Focus Areas: healthcare information technology, behavioral health, women's health
Christina Farr is a San Francisco-based health-tech investor; she's a principal at OMERS Ventures. Previously, she was a health-tech reporter and on-air contributor for CNBC, Fast Company and Reuters News. Raised in London, UK, she’s earned graduate degrees from University College London and Stanford University. She also has her own Substack newsletter called the Second Opinion, where she discusses many topics including digital healthcare trends, industry news and women’s health.
Influencer Creds
Christina’s background in journalism allows her to follow the ever-evolving landscape of modern health from a different perspective, which has given her an overarching view of news and trends within the digital healthcare landscape. Her background also enables her to conduct interviews with other leaders in the space, such as Sami Inkinen, the CEO and Founder of Virta Health.
Her content and tone of voice is approachable and conversational, with her Twitter account showcasing more of her personal thoughts and opinions. The personable element to her brand, as well as her passion for highlighting women’s health, are key to her connection with her audience. Brands who work with her can tap into an audience that trusts in and relates to her thoughts and opinions, especially women. Her audience, content focus and variety, make her a great choice to partner with for companies at the intersection of technology and women’s health.
Focus Areas: cardiology, genetics, genomics, digital medicine
Eric Topol is the Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute and a practicing cardiologist. He’s a best selling writer, with his most recent book, Deep Medicine, focusing on AI's impact on modern day medicine. Eric has also published over 1,300 peer-reviewed articles and is one of the top 10 most cited researchers in the field of medicine. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine, his principal scientific focus is how genomic and digital data and AI can individualize medicine.
Influencer Creds
Eric’s medical background and knowledge of AI make him well-equipped to speak about new trends in the digital health space as well as health crises that are impacting the world, such as COVID. He also publishes his own research on his social profiles and Substack. Overall, he is incredibly knowledgeable about health and medicine, and how modern technology is becoming integrated into medicine, giving him a robust perspective on how healthcare will continue to evolve in the 21st century. He’s a great influencer to work with for brands looking to establish more trust with consumers as it pertains to technology in health, as he is able to provide credible reviews and insights via his own research and expertise.
Focus Areas: digital health, health technology, primary care
Kevin is a physician and host of The Podcast by KevinMD, where he shares the untold stories of people who intersect with the US healthcare system. He also has his own website, which is a platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students and patients can share their insights and tell their stories. Kevin has been on various media outlets speaking on topics like health policy and technological innovations that are changing healthcare today. His commentary regularly appears in CNN, New York Times and USA Today, where he is a member of its editorial Board of Contributors.
Influencer Creds
Kevin’s content focuses on highlighting individuals within the healthcare space, creating a closer-knit environment. While his YouTube channel features long-form videos, he also posts clips of those same videos on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. These videos work well because of how they tell true stories that doctors and patients go through, shedding a light on aspects of the healthcare system that most consumers wouldn’t know about. Given his background and content style, brands looking to work with Kevin should consider doing so with a focus on increasing executive visibility.
Meet the Trailblazers Shaping the AI Landscape
The future of digital technology holds immense power that could reshape the world in unforeseen ways. In 2021 alone a massive $1.5 trillion was spent on digital transformation globally and is expected to reach $6.8 trillion by the end of 2023. With the rapid advancements in emerging areas like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), virtual reality and more – it's clear that we’re entering a new era of the digital age.
AI is at the forefront of digital innovation, seemingly more capable of solving complex problems every day. AI has captured the attention of every industry and the AI market is very promising, with an expected $407 billion in revenue by 2027. While it is still early and little is known about the future impacts of AI technology, many worry about the implications it could have on society as we know it.
With so much still ahead, coupled with the legitimate concerns being raised regarding the impact of AI in businesses and society, organizations need to build trust on how the technology is being developed, its capabilities and overall approach.
Therefore, when it comes to tackling the AI landscape, leveraging influencers is even more relevant. Despite its growth in popularity, 43% of businesses are concerned about dependence on AI technology and 75% of consumers are concerned about AI misinformation. Leveraging experts in AI and other disruptive technologies could be what holds the key to gaining trust from an already worrisome audience.
Influencer Marketing is a valuable strategy for increasing brand awareness and credibility. Already, 1 in 4 marketers are leveraging influencers and 94% of marketers consider influencer marketing an effective strategy for raising awareness and building consumer trust for B2B businesses. Whether for B2B or B2C, influencer strategies can help organizations gain more trust from potential customers. We’ve listed out five of the best AI and digital technology influencers below and why we think you should incorporate them into your comms strategy. Read on to meet them.
Influencers are listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Focus Areas: AI research & development, generative AI, machine learning
Andrew Ng is a computer scientist, technology entrepreneur and one of the most influential machine learning scholars focusing on ML and AI. He’s the Founder & CEO of DeepLearning.AI, Founder & CEO of Landing AI, General Partner at AI Fund, Chairman and Co-Founder of Coursera and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University’s Computer Science Department.
Influencer Creds
With over 1 Million followers on LinkedIn, Andrew is a valuable contributor to the AI technology space. Andrew Ng has authored or co-authored over 200 research papers in machine learning, robotics and other related fields. He’s a trusted source by many, having been named to the Time 100 list of the most influential persons in the world in 2013. For brands looking to partner with Andrew, collaborate on content that focuses on AI fundamentals, explaining complex concepts in a simple and accessible manner. This can include video tutorials or blog posts where he shares his expertise, provides insights into AI applications and offers guidance on how to benefit from AI technologies offered by the partner company.
Focus Areas: emerging technologies, mobile computing, digital transformation
Benedict has spent 20 years analyzing mobile, media and technology, and has worked in equity research, strategy, consulting and venture capital. He's now an independent analyst, sharing valuable insights and thought-provoking analysis on the latest trends in technology and their impact on industries.
In his own words, "I write essays about things I’m trying to understand, and a weekly newsletter with 175,000 subscribers, and give presentations pulling together these ideas.” The popular subscription-based newsletter outlines what happened that week in technology, why it matters, and what it means for businesses, consumers, and more.
Influencer Creds
Journalists have praised Evans for sharing “relevant technology news with context”. Evans is a great influencer to leverage on Twitter, with over 300K followers he shares information and opinions on recent developments in technology such as ChatGPT, the metaverse, new products and more. Collaborate with Benedict to create industry-specific content that focuses on technology's influence and disruptive innovation within specific sectors. This can involve in-depth analyses of technology adoption and its effects on industries such as retail, healthcare, finance or transportation.
Focus Areas: business & technology, AI strategy, generative AI
Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist, influencer and thought leader in the fields of business and technology, with a passion for using technology for the good of humanity. He has over 2 million social media followers, over 1.2 million newsletter subscribers.
Influencer Creds
Ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world and the top business influencer in the UK – Bernard Marr is one of the best Business Technology influencers you can leverage on social media. He’s worked with and advised many of the world’s best-known organizations including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, AstraZeneca, The Ministry of Defence, NATO and many others. Bernard is ideal for developing 3-5min videos focused on thought leadership, sharing industry-specific insights, trends analysis, and best practices — connecting it all back to the partner brand and its offerings
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mattis et ornare hendrerit facilisi sed pellentesque pretium morbi imperdiet. Molestie lorem ultrices a turpis ac amet purus nisl.
Name TitleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mattis et ornare hendrerit facilisi sed pellentesque pretium morbi imperdiet. Molestie lorem ultrices a turpis ac amet purus nisl.
Name TitleLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mattis et ornare hendrerit facilisi sed pellentesque pretium morbi imperdiet. Molestie lorem ultrices a turpis ac amet purus nisl.
Name TitleFocus Areas: AI education, AI research, machine learning
Hilary Mason is the Data Scientist in Residence at Accel Partners and Co-Founder of Hidden Door Co, an online gaming platform for kids to discover, play, and create stories with AI. She also holds sessions worldwide where she speaks on data, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Previously, she served as the Chief Scientist at Bitly.
Influencer Creds
Hillary is committed to sharing expertise on all things generative AI. In addition to her impressive background, she’s received many honors and has been featured in various publications including Glamour, WSJ, Fast Company and many more. She’s a top consideration to work with for businesses aiming to leverage AI technology for their products or services. Given her expertise, partner with Hilary to create content that explores the future of AI, automation, and the role of human-machine collaboration — this can involve questions around job displacement, ethical considerations and the potential for AI to augment human capabilities.
Focus Areas: AI research, AI education (specifically younger generation), Sustainability
Sinead Bovell is a tech entrepreneur and commentator on the often discomfiting topics of AI, such as ethics and copyright implications. Bovell focuses specifically on how young people engage with technology, which she has spoken about on many major platforms, including CNN. She also founded WAYE, an organization that prepares young people to succeed in a professional world with advanced technologies like AI.
Influencer Creds
As a Tik Tok influencer, Bovell is reaching thousands of people daily with videos discussing a variety of technology-related topics. Her perspective is especially important given her attention on the younger generation, who will decide the next consumer trends. Understanding their interests and hangups around AI can help marketers create more relevant, and less harmful, experiences. For companies looking to reach the Gen-Z audience, Bovell could be a great addition to an influencer marketing strategy. A partnership with Sinead could be centered around her giving product reviews, speaking to diversity and inclusion in tech, or the future of AI in business and how the partner company fits into it.
We're ready to combine our expertise with your ambitions to help you reach a higher level.