BioTech Influencers

What does the word influencer mean? And when did it gain a sense of status?

Influencer is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as “one who exerts influence: A person who inspires or guides the actions of others… often, specifically: A person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media.”

How Influence Evolved—and Entered Biotech

When we think about it, at its very core, influence-ing and influencers have existed since the beginning of time. As the world has evolved and grown, shared experiences undoubtedly influence the way we live, communicate and move forward, including how we eat, dress, travel, care for ourselves, and more. With the advent of social media, a new type of influencer was created that built audiences and a voice to speak to that audience. The most successful influencers have a brand approach to their content, carving out their niche of followers and developing a connection based on their personal brand.

Even though the life sciences industry is traditionally risk averse and not the first to hop on to trends, we started to see increasing use of social platforms around 2015. In my opinion, Covid-19 officially catapulted the industry into leveraging social channels in parallel with the standard methods of communication because at that time, it was the best of our limited options. As this all came together in biotech and the cell and gene therapy sectors, we started to see the first glimmers of life science industry LinkedIn influencers, like the ones I am writing about today.

The Original Life Sciences Influencer

I would argue that Audrey Greenberg is one of the most notable LinkedIn influencers in our industry, and one of the first (if not THE first) I can truly remember thinking of in this way. With a mix of personality and professional input, she took the opportunity to connect to an audience for her work as a co-founder of the Center for Breakthrough Medicines, now SK Pharmteco, and beyond. Her posts always piqued the audience’s interest and got the community talking both on and offline—in real life. Through the years, she has not strayed from that formula, offering perspectives that people want to take the time to read.

Since this time, more influencers have risen to meet demand for easy to connect to and consume content. So much so that a few weeks ago, I was asked by a client about industry influencers on LinkedIn. I realized this was now the third time I had been asked that question, so naturally, I had to make a list.

But then my list felt not listy enough, so I sent a call into the wild (of LinkedIn), and as usual, the industry delivered.

 

  • Benjamin Mcleod headshot

    When asked about the power of LinkedIn, industry voice, Benjamin McLeod offered a unique perspective. “Imagine going to a biotech conference. Thousands of people are milling around, but everyone is silent. If you get up on a chair and talk about your research, you'll get a lot of attention - because everyone else is silent. That's what it's like if you post on Linkedin.

    — Benjamin Mcleoud
  • Priya Baraniak headshot

    I use LinkedIn to humanize the science and engineering behind regenerative medicine, believing that authentic engagement is the only way to build the foundational trust required for CGT. I want to help early-stage professionals navigating their own career transitions by sharing my non-traditional journey from the bench to the business side. And I believe that bringing a genuine, vulnerable perspective to our professional lives better fosters the meaningful connections and the collective confidence needed to move life-saving therapies forward.

    — Priya Baraniak, PhD, CCO and CDO of Pluristyx
  • Millie Nelson headshot

    LinkedIn is a key platform for amplifying content and sparking engagement. As a journalist, I rely on it to stay ahead of the latest moves in the life sciences space - and of course, to stay connected.

    — Millie Nelson, Editor BioXconomy

The Voices Shaping Cell & Gene Therapy

Here is that list, compiled to include what I perceive each LinkedIn influencer’s primary (and in some cases secondary, as in Audrey’s case) focus to be. You will notice that the list is heavily cell and gene therapy based which feels like it makes sense as the most progressive area of the life sciences sector.

If there are any corrections needed, or an addition that you just cannot believe I missed, please email alerts@whitemattercomm.com and we will make it right. Otherwise, please feel free to enjoy and share. This is my gift to the industry as we kick of 2026, because this industry has given so many gifts to me.

Stay merry and bright!

 

Download The List

I have had the pleasure of working with White Matter Communications on several successful projects and I am impressed with their knowledge of the biomanufacturing industry and their tireless work ethic. I have always been impressed with the ease in working with them on complex, multi-faceted projects where their professionalism shines.

Brandy Sargent

Editor, Cell Culture Dish

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