10 Canadian CEOs crushing it on LinkedIn in 2025

CXOs to follow
September 24, 2025

In this post, we delve into the LinkedIn strategies of 10 standout CEOs who are not only leading successful companies but also mastering the art of personal branding. From thought-provoking posts to engaging with their communities, these leaders exemplify how to build a compelling presence that resonates.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, their approaches offer valuable lessons on authenticity, consistency, and the power of storytelling.

10 Canadian CEOs you must follow on LinkedIn in 2025

1. Michael Litt - CEO of Vidyard

  • Company: Michael Litt is the Co-founder and CEO of Vidyard, a Kitchener, Ontario-based video platform that originated as a fourth-year design project at the University of Waterloo. Founded in 2011, Vidyard has evolved into a leading provider of video hosting and analytics solutions, empowering businesses to leverage video for marketing, sales, and internal communications. The company has raised over $85 million in funding and serves a global clientele.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Michael actively shares insights on video technology, AI integration, and leadership. Notable posts include:
    • Discussing the role of AI in enhancing outreach efforts and the importance of video in modern communication.
    • Announcing Vidyard's achievement of surpassing $1 million in annual recurring revenue from AI-driven products.
    • Reflecting on conversations with business leaders about AI adoption and its impact on productivity
  • Personal Branding: Michael positions himself as a forward-thinking leader at the intersection of video technology and AI. He emphasizes the human element in digital communication and advocates for the use of video to build authentic connections. His thought leadership extends to discussions on startup growth, sales strategies, and the future of work.
  • Why Follow: For insights into leveraging video and AI to enhance business communication, drive sales, and foster authentic customer relationships. Michael's experiences offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, marketers, and tech enthusiasts navigating the evolving digital landscape.
  • What You Can Learn from Him: Michael exemplifies how to scale a tech startup by aligning product innovation with market needs. His approach underscores the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and integrating emerging technologies to stay ahead in a competitive environment.

2. Jeff Shiner - CEO of 1Password

  • Company: Jeff Shiner serves as the Co-CEO of 1Password, a leading identity security platform that protects over 100,000 businesses worldwide, including IBM, Slack, and GitLab. Since joining in 2012, Jeff has been instrumental in scaling the company from a 20-person startup to a global leader in password and secrets management. Under his leadership, 1Password has pioneered innovations like Extended Access Management (XAM) and integrated Agentic AI Security to address modern cybersecurity challenges.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Jeff actively shares insights on cybersecurity, leadership, and company milestones. Notable posts include:
    • Announcing the expansion of 1Password's Extended Access Management platform, introduction of Agentic AI Security, and partnership with Drata to enhance organizational security.
    • Reflecting on his journey with 1Password and the company's commitment to responsible growth in a conversation on the Kleiner Perkins Grit Podcast.
    • Discussing the importance of putting people first when facing sophisticated cyber threats in his Forbes article.
    • Sharing leadership updates, including welcoming Greg Henry as CFO and Jeannie De Guzman as COO, to support 1Password's ambitious vision.
  • Personal Branding: Jeff positions himself as a forward-thinking leader who emphasizes the human element in cybersecurity. He advocates for building products that bridge the gap between security and convenience, ensuring that users are both protected and empowered. His leadership style focuses on eliminating obstacles and fostering a culture of innovation and responsibility.
  • Why Follow: For insights into scaling a tech company, navigating the evolving cybersecurity landscape, and leading with a people-first approach. Jeff's experiences offer valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, tech leaders, and professionals interested in the intersection of security and user experience.
  • What You Can Learn from Him: Jeff exemplifies how to drive sustainable growth by aligning product innovation with customer needs and industry trends. His approach underscores the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and prioritizing both security and usability in product development.

3. Ritika Saraswat - CEO of Re-Defined

  • Company: Ritika Saraswat is the Founder and CEO of Re-Defined, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering immigrants and international students by bridging the gap between potential and opportunity. Through community-building, mentorship, and upskilling initiatives, Re-Defined has impacted over 15,000 individuals across Canada, India, Nigeria, and Ghana.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Ritika actively shares insights on career development, personal growth, and the challenges faced by international students. Notable posts include:
    • Discussing the importance of strategic effort allocation and the development of the "3P framework"—Purpose, Potential, and Perception—to achieve career success.
    • Reflecting on her journey as an international student in Canada and the realization that led her to start Re-Defined to support others facing similar challenges.
    • Announcing the launch of her podcast, "Re-Defining Your Potential," aimed at helping individuals recognize and realize their inherent value and power.
  • Personal Branding: Ritika positions herself as a global keynote speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice, and one of the Top 200 Global Women Leaders. Her personal brand emphasizes authenticity, resilience, and a commitment to empowering marginalized communities through education and mentorship.
  • Why Follow: For valuable insights into navigating the challenges of immigration, building a successful career as an international student, and fostering personal growth through community engagement and self-empowerment.
  • What You Can Learn from Her: Ritika exemplifies how to transform personal challenges into platforms for social impact. Her journey highlights the importance of community support, strategic personal branding, and the continuous pursuit of purpose-driven goals.

4. Melonie Dodaro - CEO of Top Dog Social Media

  • Company: Melonie Dodaro is the Founder and CEO of Top Dog Social Media, a digital marketing agency specializing in LinkedIn lead generation and social selling strategies. Since its inception in 2010, the company has empowered over 32,000 businesses and individuals worldwide to boost revenue through relationship-based selling combined with AI tools.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Melonie actively shares insights on LinkedIn best practices, social selling, and AI integration. Notable posts include:
    • Discussing the diminished impact of hashtags on LinkedIn visibility and advising users to focus on clarity and substance in their posts.
    • Emphasizing the importance of authentic content creation over AI-generated text, highlighting the need for personal voice and originality.
    • Sharing strategies for creating engaging content that resonates with target audiences, such as using micro-content to address specific problems.
  • Personal Branding: Melonie positions herself as a global B2B marketing strategist and a leading expert on LinkedIn marketing and social selling. She is a six-time published author, with notable works including "LinkedIn Unlocked" and "Navigating LinkedIn for Sales." Her approach combines cutting-edge AI tools with LinkedIn strategies to increase lead generation and optimize sales processes, all while focusing on trust and relationship-building over hard-sell tactics.
  • Why Follow: For valuable insights into leveraging LinkedIn for B2B marketing, integrating AI into sales strategies, and building authentic professional relationships. Melonie's content is particularly beneficial for entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and marketers aiming to enhance their social selling techniques.
  • What You Can Learn from Her: Melonie exemplifies how to effectively combine traditional relationship-building with modern digital tools to drive sales and marketing success. Her emphasis on authenticity, clarity, and strategic use of AI offers a roadmap for professionals seeking to stand out in the crowded digital landscape.

5. Andrew Graham - CEO of Borrowell

  • Company: Andrew Graham is the Co-founder and CEO of Borrowell, a Canadian fintech company dedicated to helping consumers make informed financial decisions. Under his leadership, Borrowell has grown to serve over three million users, offering services such as free credit scores, financial product recommendations, and tools to build credit history. The company was the first in Canada to provide free credit scores and to allow consumers to report rent payments to Equifax, aiding in credit building.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Andrew actively shares insights on fintech innovation, financial wellness, and open banking. Notable engagements include:
    • Participating in discussions about the importance of open banking and its potential to drive innovation and better consumer services in Canada.
    • Highlighting Borrowell's initiatives, such as the Rent Advantage program, which allows renters to report their rent payments to credit bureaus, helping them build credit history.
    • Engaging in conversations about the startup ecosystem in Canada and offering advice to fintech founders on balancing rapid iteration with the need for secure and reliable financial products.
  • Personal Branding: Andrew positions himself as a forward-thinking leader in the fintech space, advocating for consumer empowerment through access to financial information and tools. His background in finance and public policy informs his approach to building products that address real consumer needs, such as improving credit accessibility for newcomers to Canada.
  • Why Follow: For insights into the evolving fintech landscape in Canada, discussions on financial inclusion, and perspectives on policy developments like open banking. Andrew's content is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and consumers interested in financial technology and innovation.
  • What You Can Learn from Him: Andrew exemplifies how to identify and address gaps in the financial services industry by leveraging technology and data. His emphasis on consumer-centric solutions and advocacy for regulatory changes offers a roadmap for building impactful fintech products that promote financial well-being.

6. Michael Katchen - CEO of Wealthsimple

  • Company: Michael Katchen is the Co-founder and CEO of Wealthsimple, a Toronto-based financial services innovator founded in 2014. Under his leadership, Wealthsimple has grown to manage over C$50 billion in assets, offering a suite of products including investing, savings, tax filing, and cryptocurrency trading. The company aims to democratize financial services, making them accessible and straightforward for everyone.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Michael actively shares insights on fintech innovation, financial inclusion, and civic engagement. Notable posts include:
    • Highlighting the inefficiencies in Canada's financial system, particularly the reliance on physical cheques for account transfers, and advocating for automated solutions to protect investors.
    • Announcing Wealthsimple's initiative to educate voters by hosting a podcast series featuring representatives from major political parties, emphasizing the role of business leaders in encouraging voter turnout.
    • Celebrating Wealthsimple's 10th anniversary, reflecting on the company's journey and its mission to help everyone achieve financial freedom.
  • Personal Branding: Michael positions himself as a visionary leader in the fintech space, committed to simplifying financial services and promoting financial literacy. His background includes experience at 1000Memories, a Silicon Valley startup acquired by Ancestry.com, which inspired him to return to Canada and launch Wealthsimple.
  • Why Follow: For insights into building a purpose-driven fintech company, discussions on financial system reforms, and initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy and civic participation.
  • What You Can Learn from Him: Michael exemplifies how to leverage technology to disrupt traditional financial services, the importance of user-centric design in product development, and the role of corporate leadership in societal issues

7. Michele Romanow - CEO of Clearco

  • Company: Michele Romanow co-founded Clearco (formerly Clearbanc) in 2015 alongside Andrew D'Souza. Clearco is a Canadian fintech company specializing in non-dilutive revenue-share agreements with startups. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze businesses' financial health and revenue, offering capital from $10,000 up to $10 million based on metrics like ad spend and unit economics. This approach aims to remove bias from traditional venture capital funding, resulting in more capital being extended to female founders compared to industry averages.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Michele actively shares insights on entrepreneurship, fintech innovation, and her experiences as a tech founder. Notable posts include:
    • Discussing the challenges and lessons learned from scaling Clearco and navigating the fintech landscape.
    • Highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in startup funding and how Clearco's model supports underrepresented founders.
    • Sharing her journey and perspectives as a judge on CBC's "Dragons' Den," offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • Personal Branding: Michele positions herself as a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for inclusive funding in the startup ecosystem. Her background includes co-founding multiple startups and serving as a judge on CBC's "Dragons' Den," where she provides mentorship and investment to budding entrepreneurs.
  • Why Follow: For valuable insights into fintech innovation, startup scaling strategies, and discussions on creating equitable opportunities in entrepreneurship. Michele's content is particularly beneficial for founders, investors, and individuals interested in the intersection of technology and finance.
  • What You Can Learn from Her: Michele exemplifies how to leverage technology to disrupt traditional industries, the importance of data-driven decision-making in funding, and the role of leadership in fostering inclusive business practices.

8. Barb Stegemann - CEO of The 7 Virtues Beauty

  • Company: Barb Stegemann is the Founder and CEO of The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc., a Halifax-based social enterprise that produces clean, vegan, and sustainably sourced perfumes. Established in 2010, the company sources essential oils from nations rebuilding after conflict, such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Rwanda, and the Middle East, aiming to empower local communities and promote peace through commerce.
  • LinkedIn Activity: Barb actively shares insights on social entrepreneurship, ethical sourcing, and women's empowerment. Notable engagements include:
    • Discussing the importance of supporting farmers in war-torn regions by sourcing legal crops, thereby providing alternatives to illicit activities and fostering economic growth.
    • Highlighting partnerships with organizations like Days for Girls and Charity Water to address issues such as period poverty and access to clean water.
    • Sharing her journey from launching the company in her garage to achieving international success, emphasizing resilience and purpose-driven business practices.
  • Personal Branding: Barb positions herself as a visionary entrepreneur and advocate for ethical business practices. Her personal brand is characterized by a commitment to social impact, empowerment, and sustainability. She is also the author of the bestselling book The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, which serves as a guide for women to lead with wisdom and strength.
  • Why Follow: For insights into building a successful social enterprise, strategies for ethical sourcing, and inspiration on leading with purpose. Barb's journey offers valuable lessons on resilience, innovation, and the power of aligning business goals with social impact.
  • What You Can Learn from Her: Barb exemplifies how to transform personal adversity into a mission-driven enterprise that not only achieves commercial success but also contributes positively to global communities. Her approach demonstrates the potential of business as a force for good.

9. VIri Perez - CEO of Nanosentinel

  • Company: NANOSentinel Technologies is a Canadian deep-tech startup offering a portable “lab-in-a-box” for trace metal detection at the point of use. Their platform delivers near-real-time analysis—critical for mineral refinement processes and environmental monitoring—without the need for centralized labs 
  • LinkedIn Activity: Dr. Pérez shares product milestones (e.g., pilot deployments in mining sites), highlights partnerships with environmental agencies, and posts technical deep dives on nanosensor performance and field-validation results
  • Personal Branding: She positions herself as a translational scientist-entrepreneur, blending rigorous academic research (PhD in Chemistry) with commercial savvy. Her updates emphasize both the science behind portable sensing and its real-world impact on sustainability and safety.
  • Why Follow: For insights into commercializing advanced sensing technologies, bridging lab research with industrial applications, and leading a mission-driven deep-tech venture from proof-of-concept to market adoption.
  • What You Can Learn from Her: Dr. Pérez exemplifies mission-driven innovation: she uses LinkedIn to transparently document each stage of product development—from lab bench to field trials—building credibility and excitement. Aspiring deep-tech founders can emulate her by sharing technical learnings, real-world validations, and impact stories to engage both scientific and industry audiences

10. Carla Spina PhD. - CEO of Noa Therapeutics

  • Company: Noa Therapeutics is a preclinical Canadian biotech company pioneering multimodal, non-steroidal small-molecule therapies for complex inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis. Their lead candidate, NOA-104, simultaneously targets immune modulation, barrier restoration, and antimicrobial action—aiming to break the cycle of trial-and-error treatments and deliver meaningful, durable outcomes without compromising systemic immunity
  • LinkedIn Activity: Dr. Spina regularly posts company milestones, such as their oversubscribed pre-seed financing round announced in March 2024, and shares technical deep dives on NOA-104’s preclinical data and mechanistic rationale Noa Therapeutics. She also highlights conference appearances (e.g., BIO-Europe Spring 2025, Biotech Showcase 2025) and her keynote talks, underscoring Noa’s progress toward proof-of-concept studies
  • Personal Branding: Carla presents herself as a scientist-entrepreneur, bridging rigorous academic research (PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry from McGill University under Dr. D.S. Bohle) with commercial leadership. She emphasizes her systems-biology approach to drug development, transparency in sharing both successes and challenges, and her commitment to inclusive innovation for underrepresented biotech founders.
  • Why Follow: Follow Dr. Spina for a front-row view of how a deep-tech biotech startup progresses from lab bench to investor deck—complete with technical insights, funding updates, and field-validation stories. Her posts offer a transparent case study in raising capital, forging strategic partnerships, and leading preclinical initiatives in an underserved therapeutic area.
  • What You Can Learn from Her:
    • Mission-Driven Storytelling: She ties each update back to her personal motivation (inspired by witnessing unmet needs in patients, including her sister with lupus) and Noa’s vision of “defying convention”.
    • Technical Transparency: Carla shares mechanistic rationales and preclinical results, helping non-scientist stakeholders grasp the complexity of multimodal therapeutics.
    • Community & Mentorship: By highlighting her mentoring of emerging scientists and participation in professional forums, she models how to build an ecosystem of support around a venture.
    • Thought Leadership: Her reflections on paradigm shifts in inflammatory disease treatment position her as a visionary—demonstrating how to use LinkedIn for both scientific credibility and entrepreneurial storytelling.

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