In this solo episode of Hope and Possibilities: A Love Letter to the Future of Work, I'm talking honestly about how LinkedIn and social media are changing, and what that means for how I show up, get found, and build my business. I share how I went from casually using LinkedIn to becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice with a "small but mighty" following, and why the latest algorithm shifts are nudging me to rethink my strategy.​

I get into what's really going on with discoverability, including how proxy bias can quietly disadvantage women, people of color, trans folks, and anyone who doesn't fit the traditional leadership mold. I also talk about the emotional side of it—what it feels like when your impressions drop, your posts don't land the way they used to, and how I'm choosing to respond with experimentation instead of discouragement.​

I walk you through how I'm shifting from "cheerleader" style commenting to more thoughtful, strategic contributions that actually support my consulting work and signal my expertise. I share how I'm reworking my profile for people who are discovering me for the very first time through a comment, and why I'm putting more energy into things I own—like my website, blog, Substack, newsletter, and search-friendly content on platforms like Pinterest and YouTube.​

I also push back on the narrative that "everything needs to be in-person now." I talk about what it's really like living outside a major city, the time and energy cost of commuting, and why in-person events have to clear a pretty high bar for me: they need to help me make money, save time, or reduce risk—not just feel good in the moment.​

Throughout the episode, I keep coming back to one question: will future me be grateful for how I'm spending my time and attention right now? I share how I'm choosing to support important conversations about bias, platforms, and ethical AI without making "fighting the algorithm" the center of my business, and how I'm designing a visibility strategy that feels sustainable, values-aligned, and genuinely hopeful about the future of work.​

Key insights

• The LinkedIn algorithm is shifting from prioritizing posts to rewarding meaningful commenting, which changes how people get discovered and how you think about visibility and strategy.​
• Proxy bias means that even if gender isn't a stated factor, variables like role, seniority, and activity levels can still disadvantage women, people of color, trans folks, and others who don't match the "default" leadership profile.​
• Commenting as pure cheerleading doesn't necessarily drive business; strategic comments that demonstrate insight, credibility, and clarity on your services are far more valuable.​
• Building on platforms you own (website, blog, email list) is essential so your work and relationships are not entirely dependent on platform whims and opaque algorithms.​
• In-person-only strategies are exclusionary for many people, especially those who don't live near major hubs or carry significant logistical and emotional costs to attend events.​
• Future-focused visibility is about making choices that future you will be grateful for—balancing values, energy, and the reality that friends are wonderful, but clients pay the bills.

A personalized LinkTree for Nola Simon's presence on social media — Nola Simon

Listen: Hope + Possibilties: A Love Letter to the Future of Work

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