10 Admirable People Who Get Me Thinking

I have been thinking of the people I am connected to online, many of whom I interact with and learn from on a daily basis. I’ve come to know these people both personally and professionally and with that, comes respect and admiration for their intelligence and authenticity.

 I've picked 10 people who came to mind (in no particular order) who are active socially/digitally (hint: consider following them) that I wanted to highlight. This list is by no means an exhaustive list, as many people I admire are even closer in my personal and professional life but this list certainly serves as a good sample.  As marketers, we tend to share lists of fellow marketers who we enjoy learning from, but these folks come from various professions and, regardless of their industry, are admirable in their own right. 

In sharing who inspires me, I hope to get others thinking about and sharing who they admire. In a time where divisiveness has seemingly become commonplace, connecting people together is not only beneficial, but crucial. These relationships can lead to value, ideas and inspiration.  

1. Tinu Abayomi-Paul

I have always admired Tinu’s digital knowledge/expertise on Twitter throughout the years and as I mentioned in my 2014 25 Women Who Rocked Social Media nomination, “….She seems to truly get the social media space and is genuinely a fantastic person to follow and learn from.” Beyond the social/digital knowledge I’ve gleaned from her, I’ve also seen a raw look at her struggle with Lymphoma. This brave woman shares all of the parts (good and bad) of her battle that most are too afraid to ask or talk about. I admire her for encouraging people to learn about her journey, while maintaining a fierce, honest and genuinely courageous spirit. 

2. Mike Denison

I admire Mike because he took his passion for art and the Golden Girls and ran with it.  As the creator of #BeaADay, he shares his delightfully creative renditions of Golden Girls characters for the world to enjoy on a daily basis. Because of him, I’m now able to share Golden Girls Emojis via text, unwind after a long day by coloring in his Golden Girls coloring book, and more. Beyond that, he’s also a charitable guy with a great sense of humor. Much of his work is done to raise money for various worthy causes. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him throughout the years, and I admire the way that he’s combined his passions and forged a uniquely creative path for himself.  

3. Steve Garfield

As a fellow Boston native, Steve has been on the digital scene for years – sharing insight, knowledge and creativity through media production and more. It's not only that I admire the content that he shares, but also his endless thirst for adventure and learning. I find what he shares to be thought-provoking and entertaining, and I can always count on him to be a source for inspiration. Between sharing his journey as part owner of the burgeoning Lord Hobo Brewing Company, his Mercedes Benz-sponsored travels across Europe, and getting 91-year-old mother Millie immersed in social and digital platforms, I’ve admired his adventurous nature.

4. Amy Brown

I met Amy at a social media event a couple of years ago. While we didn’t get the chance to speak much, I began following her on Twitter and immediately realized that she may be one of the funniest, wittiest and smartest people I follow. She manages social media for a major brand, and recently, she has bravely opened up about personal struggles – combating any stigma that goes along with them. I not only admire her for her amusing writing style, but for her willingness to be vulnerable and allow others to join her.

5. C.C. Chapman

I've been acquainted with C.C. for years through the Boston digital/social scene, but over the past couple of years, I have been able to closely observe his endeavors online and his honest way of communicating. He expresses feelings so eloquently through both words and photography. I’ve also absolutely loved hearing his stories and adventures as he hosts exchange students from around the world and introduces them to new experiences. He’s sincere and thoughtful in all of his interactions, and I admire that.

6. David Casey

Having worked at several large corporations, I know that very few senior execs have understood or embraced the power of social media. While serving as Chief Diversity Officer at CVS Health, David Casey not only has embraced it, but has used it to further the discussion around race, diversity, tolerance and then some. I was fortunate to discuss many of these topics with him during my time at the company and appreciated his honest, kind and all out inspirational demeanor. His words stick with you, and although I no longer work at CVS, I’ve continued to learn and embrace all that he stands for as I stay connected with him on LinkedIn & Twitter. He’s also a Veteran, which makes my admiration for him even greater.  

7. Christine Perkett

Christine is smart, hard-working and most of all, authentic. She often speaks on the challenges of entrepreneurship (especially as a female) and allows us who are connected to her to also celebrate in her wins. In addition to running her PR-based start-up, she shares her experiences as a blended family (which is something I can personally relate to). In an online world where many tend to paint nothing but rosy pictures, Christine transparently shares her thoughts and asks questions from those around her; in doing so, she rallies many around important topics. I admire her for her tenacity, honesty and kindness.

8. Peter Mello

If you’ve never heard of WaterFire, you’ve probably never been to Providence. WaterFire is by far, one of Rhode Island’s biggest staples, and the event continues to draw millions of people from around the world year after year. As Managing Director of WaterFire, Peter shares with us a personal look at all of the hard work he and his teams put into this groundbreaking organization. I’ve also enjoyed his #ShipYardParkProject in which he takes a photo of the same exact place, at the same exact spot, every single day. This seemingly simplistic project has turned into an absolutely mesmerizing compilation of photos. I admire him for his contributions to this great little state and for the simple beauty that he highlights on a daily basis.

9.  Jen Senecal

Jen is a fellow Rhode Islander, a blogger and boutique owner.  I connected with her this past year. While I had worked with her hilarious husband in the past, I had also heard various people speak highly of her. Even in this short time that we’ve been connected, I’ve realized that she has a special way of engaging with people. She’s positive, supportive, fun, and simply put, awesome. She has empowerment written all over her, and you can see it in how she raises her three equally-fierce daughters. I admire her for her spunk, awesome parenting style (and fashion style!), go get-em attitude and for always making me smile with her posts. 

10. Keith Boswell

As a member of SocialMedia.org, I’ve had the honor of being able to connect with social media leaders at the world’s largest brands. One individual who has stood out to me has been Keith. As Director of Social Strategy at Meijer, he “gets it.” He truly does.  I immediately gravitated to him as being one of the brightest folks that I could learn from and share ideas with in the council, and from an overall standpoint, I value his insight and way of thinking. He is reliable, candid and smart. I admire him for his knowledge and desire to collaborate and learn.

This list presents only a few of the many people I admire. I hope all of them realize they have a positive impact on those around them – even if that impact is quietly held afar through connections online. Using #10IAdmire as a hashtag, Feel free to share your list of 10 people you admire. Let’s continue connecting.