The LinkedIn paradox: why Romania's top CEOs are missing a major leadership opportunity
Leadership in the modern era isn't confined to the traditional boardroom - it's increasingly taking place in the digital world. LinkedIn has emerged as a key platform for thought leadership, professional networking, and building corporate influence. With more than 1 million Romanian professionals, including industry leaders, decision-makers, and government officials, actively engaging on the platform, the potential for executives to boost their visibility and authority has never been greater.
However, our analysis of Romania's Top 100 Most Valuable Companies (ranked by leading media Ziarul Financiar) reveals a striking paradox: while most top executives have a presence on LinkedIn, few are using it to their advantage.
LinkedIn presence: who’s showing up?
The data speaks for itself: 89% of CEOs at Romania’s top companies have a profile. Yet, surprisingly, 11% remain entirely absent from the platform, even among leaders of highly visible organizations. This gap raises an important question: why aren't more executives leveraging this powerful, cost-free communication channel?
The engagement gap: silence from the top
Having a profile is one thing—using it effectively is another. Our analysis of activity levels revealed three distinct groups of CEOs:
The silent majority – these CEOs have a profile but never post or engage, missing out on valuable visibility.
The occasional voices – the most common category, posting just once every one to three months, often limited to corporate announcements.
The engaged leaders – a small group of 10 CEOs who consistently share insights, interact with their audience, and build real influence.
The takeaway? While LinkedIn offers a free and powerful communication tool, most top executives are barely using it.
Best practices from top-performing CEOs
It’s easy to assume that a CEO’s LinkedIn impact is tied to their follower count, but our research suggests otherwise. While some CEOs have amassed over 10,000 followers, the true measure of influence lies in content quality and consistency, not just numbers.
What sets the top 10 performing CEOs apart?
They transform company news into valuable thought leadership by adding expert context
60% have built audiences exceeding 10,000 followers through consistent engagement
Even among these top performers, only 30% maintain weekly posting schedules.
Maximizing LinkedIn presence: why CEO engagement matters
For business leaders, the current LinkedIn landscape presents a significant opportunity. With over 1 million active LinkedIn users in Romania and relatively few CEOs contributing original thought leadership, the space is wide open for leaders willing to step up.
Why should CEOs engage actively on LinkedIn?
Direct stakeholder access: connect with employees, investors, and talent through authentic leadership communication
Industry influence: Shape meaningful conversations rather than following them
Brand enhancement: Build both personal and corporate authority through a strong, consistent presence.
Strategic recommendations for LinkedIn success
Effective LinkedIn presence isn't about posting frequency alone, it requires intentional communication that builds credibility and influence. CEOs should focus on:
Sharing industry expertise gained through years of experience
Contributing unique insights to relevant business conversations
Maintaining consistent, high-quality engagement with their network
In today's digital business environment, LinkedIn is more than just a professional networking tool, it’s an essential platform for business influence and leadership visibility. Forward-thinking executives who embrace this opportunity will shape tomorrow’s business conversations.
If you’re ready to engage more actively on LinkedIn and elevate your leadership presence, our team is here to guide you. Learn more about Empower, the Axios program to help executives build authority, credibility and confidence.
