10 Online community experts to follow in 2025

Focuses on: Advice/Consulting, Strategy

With two decades of experience, Brian specializes in providing end-to-end guidance for companies to build thriving online communities that drive customer engagement and boost revenue. Working for top brands, including HP, Cisco, and Airbnb, he helps leaders develop and execute strategies and optimize outcomes for long-term success.

Why follow him?

Brian offers a wealth of free resources for community leaders, including templates, guides for launching and enhancing your online community, and a podcast, “In Before the Lock.” He also offers a fully comprehensive online course for developing an impactful community strategy, with an engaging teaching style that makes complex ideas easy to understand.

Bonus: Community learning labs

Focuses on: Advice/Consulting, Strategy

As a business founder and consultant with over 20 years of experience, Erica helps brands develop online communities in a 5 step process, focusing on demonstrating a return on investment as quickly as possible. Having worked as a consultant for global brands such as Slack, HubSpot, and Workday, her philosophies are founded on building connections with customers through trust and authenticity. She is a frequent speaker at online and in-person community events and co-host of “In Before the Lock” podcast with Brian Oblinger.

Why follow her?

Erica’s approachable personality and deep knowledge of online communities make her content inspiring and insightful. She uses her LinkedIn to provide helpful resources, updates, and job postings for community leaders. Follow her for advice on all things community-building in 2025.

Bonus: How to turn a brand-owned community initiative into reality

Focuses on: Advice/Consulting, Strategy

Todd has spent nearly 25 years as a community strategist, helping companies foster genuine connections in their communities. He is the founder of Clocktower Advisors, Co-Founder of TalentLed, President of the Community Consultants Collective, and a frequent event speaker.

Why follow him?

Todd shares content, including free ebooks, videos, and insights he gained from working with global brands. His social channels are full of in-depth conversations with business leaders and community professionals, providing practical and thought-provoking advice for the challenges community professionals face today.

Focuses on: Developing successful communities through the power of psychology

Richard is a business founder, author, and global keynote speaker who has helped powerhouse brands like Apple, Google, and Amazon develop successful communities. His company, Feverbee, uses impactful principles rooted in psychology to help brands build communities that foster loyalty and provide exceptional member experiences.

Why follow him?

Richard is a refined speaker and thought leader who questions the status quo and explores creative solutions for building communities. He shares a range of free, in-depth resources to help community leaders examine their problems and find ways to solve them.

Focuses on: Advice/Consulting, Coaching, Strategy

As a passionate community builder, Jenny focuses on helping community leaders facilitate digital environments that encourage peer-to-peer connection and support. She is a CMX Community Industry Award nominee, co-founder of Community Pros of Los Angeles, and frequent event speaker. Her impressive portfolio includes working with top brands such as Samsung, Pinterest, and Sephora.

Why follow her?

Jenny offers resources such as free templates and a newsletter covering online communities’ latest thought-provoking topics. She also uses her LinkedIn to share how-to articles, information on upcoming community events, and new job opportunities as they become available.

Bonus: [Webinar] Should a support community be a destination?

Focuses on: Building community-driven organizations

For over twenty years, Chris has helped leaders leverage the power of community by deepening trust, increasing loyalty, and driving member engagement. He is a speaker, advisor, strategist, founder of the Community Pros of Los Angeles, and author of his upcoming book, “The Community-First Company.”

Why follow him?

Chris acknowledges and sympathizes with the fact that building communities requires a lot of growth and grit. He is skilled at breaking down complex concepts into understandable and actionable insights that speak to community leaders’ challenges. He shares helpful and inspirational content through his LinkedIn and website and his upcoming book was written to help companies give their communities a competitive advantage.

Focuses on: Building engaging communities

A wealth of professional experience brought Max into the community space, where he dove in headfirst. Now managing community engagement for Square, he is also a board member of The Community Club, a frequent speaker for in-person and online events, and an avid collaborator. He also contributed to Brian Oblinger’s Community Strategy Academy, creating a course for Member Recognition Programs.

Why follow him?

Max’s content exudes a deep sense of authenticity that inspires connection and motivation for community leaders. He shares insights, learnings from his career and daily life, and the latest happenings in the Square Community.

Focuses on: Coaching, Community Building

With over 15 years of experience building online communities and co-founding and leading businesses (including CMX), David knows the pressure and stress that can come with the job. Utilizing his experience, he is a coach and author, helping founders, executives, and community leaders navigate transitions and overcome burnout.

Why follow him?

If you’re a community leader needing inspiration, look no further. While remaining authentic and relatable, David shares practical advice from lessons he has learned over the years, reminding his followers about the importance of introspection and self-care. His content provides community leaders with helpful tips on how to grow a community without burning out.

Focuses on: Community-centric organizations

Rachel has an impressive background in research and community. She co-founded The Community Roundtable and Engaged Organizations and has worked with brands like Microsoft, PWC, and MasterCard. She is a frequent event speaker and avid community builder, focusing on the power of collaboration.

Why follow her?

Rachel offers a wealth of free information on community building, sharing original content, articles from other experts, the latest community-related news, and open job opportunities. As an experienced community leader, she’s a must-follow for 2025!

Focuses on: Empowering community leaders

As Principal and Founder at The Community Round Table, Jim Storer is a dedicated supporter of community leaders. His work has equipped professionals worldwide with resources, ideas, and connections to help them build successful communities.

Why follow him?

Jim shares a range of insightful resources for community leaders, including new events, content, surveys, and job opportunities.