Defining “Post-Industrial Economy Leadership”: In today’s post-industrial era, economic value is driven less by traditional manufacturing and more by knowledge, technology, creativity, and networks. Post-industrial economy leaders are those pioneering new ways of leading organizations and societies in this transformed landscape – emphasizing innovation, human-centric values, and adaptability over old industrial-age hierarchies. Below we identify the top 10 U.S.-based thought leaders who, in the past three years, have actively shaped the conversation and strategic direction of the post-industrial economy through published works, prominent talks, multi-platform presence, and media influence (excluding LinkedIn follower counts). These individuals are practitioners and visionaries setting the agenda via books and articles, keynote speeches (TED, conferences), high SEO visibility (Google, Medium, Substack, podcasts), and frequent mentions in major business/tech media.
Following the top 10 ranking, we also assess Vincent Hunt (founder of The Bureau of Creative Intelligence) and his influence relative to this ecosystem, using the same criteria.
| Rank | Leader & Role | Focus/Perspective | Key Visibility & Influence Signals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seth Godin – Author & Entrepreneur | Post-industrial “connection economy,” creativity in work & marketing | 18+ bestsellers (e.g. The Song of Significance, 2023); iconic blog & TED talks; coined concepts on tribes and connection economy; mainstream media interviews (e.g. Forbes, On Being). |
| 2 | Josh Bersin – HR Analyst & Educator | Future of work, talent & organizational adaptation in the new economy | Leading HR thought leader; prolific research (e.g. “post-industrial economy” org models); keynote speaker at industry summits; widely cited in HR/media (Forbes, HRE). |
| 3 | Chip Conley – Entrepreneur & Author | “Modern elder” wisdom, multigenerational leadership in modern work | NYT-bestselling author (Wisdom@Work); founded Modern Elder Academy; TED speaker with 6M+ views; globally-recognized thought leader on the future of work; advisor at Airbnb (transforming culture). |
| 4 | Nancy Giordano – Futurist & CEO, Play Big Inc. | Exponential tech and “Leadering” (continuous leadership) in the 21st century | Author of Leadering: The Ways Visionary Leaders Play Bigger (2021); top-rated female futurist focusing on future leadership; frequent keynote speaker on tech/business/society shifts; ranked among top futurists and women of influence in future leadership. |
| 5 | Heather E. McGowan – Future-of-Work Strategist | Workforce adaptation, learning agility, and empathy in leadership | Co-author of The Adaptation Advantage (2020) and The Empathy Advantage (2023); future-of-work thought leader advising Fortune 500s; regular Forbes contributor; keynote speaker on post-pandemic work trends. |
| 6 | Gary Hamel – Management Expert (London Business School) | Reinventing management beyond industrial-era bureaucracy (“Humanocracy”) | Renowned for advocating radical innovation in management; co-author of Humanocracy (2020) urging human-centric organizations; described as “the world’s leading expert on business strategy” and a “management innovator without peer”; Thinkers50 Hall of Fame. |
| 7 | Peter Diamandis – Futurist & XPRIZE Founder | Exponential technologies, abundance mindset shaping the economy | Author of The Future is Faster Than You Think (2020) and prior bestsellers; founder of Singularity Univ. & XPRIZE driving innovation; popular TED speaker (called “one of the most provocative thinkers of our time”); hosts Abundance 360 summit for future-focused leaders. |
| 8 | Amy Webb – Quantitative Futurist & FTI CEO | Emerging tech (AI, biotech) and foresight in business & society | Bestselling author (The Big Nine, The Genesis Machine); CEO of Future Today Institute; ranked #4 management thinker globally in 2023; frequent TED/SXSW speaker; briefed U.S. and global leaders on tech futures. |
| 9 | Adam Grant – Psychologist & Author (Wharton) | Organizational culture change, rethinking work and motivation | Bestselling author (Think Again, 2021); top-rated podcast (WorkLife); Wharton professor bringing research to C-suites; shares strategies for “future-ready” leadership (agility, creativity); ranked #2 management thinker worldwide; sought-after keynote speaker (Davos, business conferences). |
| 10 | Andrew Winston – Sustainability Strategist | “Net Positive” business – aligning capitalism with sustainability | Co-author (with ex-Unilever CEO Paul Polman) of Net Positive (2021); influential voice on how companies thrive by solving global problems; globally recognized expert on building resilient, people- and planet-friendly companies; high-profile op-eds (HBR, MIT Sloan); Thinkers50 #3 (with Polman) in 2023. |
Relative Influence: Each of the above figures exhibits a very high level of influence in shaping post-industrial economy leadership thinking, through a combination of thought leadership content and practical impact. For example, Seth Godin’s ideas on the “connection economy” are now mainstream in marketing and leadership dialogues, and Amy Webb’s tech foresight guides boardroom strategies (e.g. her inclusion in Thinkers50 top 5). Others like Adam Grant and Gary Hamel have become go-to authorities for reimagining workplace culture and management for the new era. While their individual focus areas range from workforce trends to technological disruption, they collectively set the agenda for how leaders must evolve beyond industrial-age paradigms. All have significant cross-platform presence – from best-selling books and conference keynotes to robust online followings and frequent citations in high-authority media – underscoring their top-tier influence.
Vincent Hunt – founder of The Bureau of Creative Intelligence – is an emerging voice advocating for what he terms “Post-Industrial Economy Leadership.” Hunt positions himself as a “frontier technologist” and facilitator helping organizations navigate the intersection of creativity, AI, Web3, and the metaverse. Over the past few years, he has published thought pieces (e.g. “The Rise of the Post-Industrial Economy Leader” on Medium in 2021) outlining traits of next-generation leaders, and he frequently speaks about creative intelligence and innovation in the new economy at niche conferences and forums. Notably, Hunt was recognized as a LinkedIn “Top Voice” in Leadership in late 2022 (an accolade reflecting engagement on that platform).
Visibility & Influence: Compared to the top 10 leaders above, Hunt’s public digital footprint and influence are more limited and niche. He is actively building a thought leadership presence – through Medium essays, podcast appearances, and his Bureau’s content – but lacks the mainstream media profile that the top 10 enjoy. For instance, Hunt does not yet have a widely circulated book or appearances in major publications, and his talks have been in targeted innovation communities rather than on global stages like TED or Davos. While his focus on post-industrial leadership is cutting-edge, his influence is currently emerging rather than established. Based on available indicators (web search visibility, citations, and cross-platform impact), one might estimate Hunt’s standing outside the top 10, perhaps in a “top 15–25” range of thought leaders in this domain.
In summary, Vincent Hunt is a growing practitioner voice in post-industrial economy leadership – championing the cause and coining new frameworks – but he has not yet attained the broad influence of the top 10 luminaries listed. His contributions are notable in that they echo many themes the top thought leaders promote (e.g. creative, human-centric, tech-savvy leadership), and with continued output (he is releasing an e-book Capacity 2.0 in 2025) and engagement, Hunt could strengthen his position. As of now, however, he remains an up-and-coming thought leader whose influence, while credible in niche circles, is still modest compared to the established heavyweights who are leading the national conversation on post-industrial economy leadership.