LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, today announced its inaugural LinkedIn Top Voices list for the GCC region for 2019. The list spotlights members whose posts, articles, videos and comments are driving engaging conversations across their industries and countries. Through sharing their unique insights and experiences, these professionals spark conversations that ensure all members of the professional network are better informed.

Currently in its fifth year, LinkedIn Top Voices is an annual global list that uncovers and celebrates members who have made the biggest impact through their online contribution on the platform.

So, who made the cut in 2019 and why? To find standout voices, LinkedIn leveraged a combination of data analytics and editorial signals. LinkedIn’s in-house editors, Lynn Chouman and Salma Altantawy, screened levels of engagement among professionals sharing insights in their area of expertise and examined the kind of conversations – measured by engagement, including comments and re-shares – their original content generated. The list placed high emphasis on quality and diversity, reflecting the world of work today. To ensure fairness and transparency, all LinkedIn Lists exclude LinkedIn and Microsoft employees from consideration.

Salma Altantawy, MENA News Editor at LinkedIn, said: “The GCC region’s Top Voices 2019 list allows us to acknowledge a group of professionals who reflect today’s workplaces that emphasize diversity of voices and topics. At LinkedIn, we endeavor to provide a platform that empowers professionals to share their expertise and opinions, inspiring conversations that make a difference and have a high impact quotient.

“For the GCC Top Voices 2019 list, we looked at content in terms of relevance, timeliness, quality of writing, and depth of insight. We sincerely hope this selection encourages other members to turn their own ideas into powerful conversations. There’s a vast and diverse social and professional community out there ready to give their own perspectives – all it takes to be the next Top Voice is to put yourself in that space and connect and empower one another.”

This year’s top voices shared with LinkedIn what they talk about, their brainstorming process, and the best career advice they have received.

The Top Voices list for 2019 in the GCC region included:

Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Holding

Dietmar Siersdorfer, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Middle East

Fatima Alloghani, Head of Expo Academy & Emiratization, Expo 2020 Dubai

Francisco Miguel Sousa, Managing Director, Talabat

Haitham Mattar, Senior Advisor, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage

Heba Sayed, Marketing Manager, IBM Middle East & Africa

Mohamed Alaydaroos, Associate Sustainability Pavilion, Expo 2020 Dubai

Nayla Al Khaja, Chief Executive Officer, Nayla Al Khaja Films

Raja Al Mazrouei, Executive Vice President, DIFC, FinTech Hive

Rohit Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Airways

In driving greater engagement and facilitating further interaction among professional communities across the network, LinkedIn Top Voices for the GCC region is seeking to diversify the manner in which people use professional networks while consistently encouraging original industry-focused content from across the region.