Insights

People Buy People: The Power of Founder-Led Brands in 2025

03.10.25

Author: James Thomlinson

03.10.25

I was researching the The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing companies the other day and one thing stood out: founder-led businesses aren’t just on the list, they’re powering it.

Brands like Simmer and Nala’s Baby are growing fast not just through products and strategy, but because their founders are visible, relatable, and building strong personal brands. Customers buy into people as much as products.

This same trend is playing out on LinkedIn. At the PRCA Annual Conference, one theme kept surfacing: in B2B, the focus is shifting away from company pages and towards personalities. People trust people – and founder voices cut through in ways logos can’t.

Five quick tips for building your personal brand on LinkedIn in 2025:

1️⃣ Post at prime times – midweek mornings (Tue–Thu, 9am–12pm).
2️⃣ Quality over quantity – one strong post beats five weak ones.
3️⃣ Share perspective, not just news – your take matters.
4️⃣ Engage as much as you post – comment, reply, converse.
5️⃣ Show personality – authenticity + insight travels furthest.

The The Sunday Times list is proof that founder visibility is no longer optional – it’s a growth engine. And on LinkedIn (if you can bear it), the leaders who lean into being seen will drive the next wave of success.

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