Building what’s next: Innovation, authenticity, and the future of work

Work is changing faster than ever, driven by breakthroughs in AI, bold bets from innovators and a renewed focus on what makes us human. This week’s stories spotlight the builders and thinkers shaping that transformation: the startups redefining what it takes to launch and lead, insights from leaders like Brené Brown on staying grounded through change, and practical ways to build trust and show up authentically on LinkedIn. Whether you’re scaling a business, learning new tools, or finding your edge in the AI era, these are the ideas moving work forward.

Meet the startups redefining what’s next

The way professionals work, hire, and build is evolving faster than ever and startups are leading the charge. Advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping what it takes to launch a company, reducing the time, capital, and resources required to turn bold ideas into reality. The result: lower barriers to entry and a surge of innovation around the world.

Now in its ninth year, LinkedIn’s Top Startups list highlights the rising companies that are capturing attention and driving change across industries, from AI infrastructure to sustainable consumer goods. These startups aren’t just growing fast; they’re reimagining how business gets done.

💡 Looking to level up your entrepreneurial edge? Access free LinkedIn Learning courses (until 15 November) on topics like using AI to scale your business and building an entrepreneurial mindset. 

Explore the lists from the United States, United Kingdom and India to see where innovation is thriving and discover the skills, roles, and opportunities defining the next generation of work.

Missed AI in Work Day? You can still build your AI edge

The pace of change at work isn’t slowing and expectations are evolving just as fast. Today, it’s no longer enough to simply experiment with AI. The real advantage comes from learning how to use it confidently, so you can stay ahead.

Last month, LinkedIn marked National AI in Work Day with insights and resources to help you strengthen your AI skills and grow professionally in this fast-moving space.If you missed the live event, you can still catch up and learn:

🎥 Watch the replays: Hear from CEO Ryan Roslansky, Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough, and other LinkedIn leaders on how AI is transforming work and what it means for your career.

⚙️ Explore practical demos: Check out 4 Ways to Use AI at Work with tool walk-throughs from LinkedIn, Canva, Magic Patterns, and Microsoft.

💡 Get hands-on with experts: Join Lightning Round Workshops featuring LinkedIn Learning instructors for quick, actionable lessons you can apply right away.

Inside Rocket Lab’s bold bet on faster, smarter space exploration

While traditional space companies spend billions on single launches that take years to develop, Rocket Lab has flipped the script. With more than 70 launches of its Electron rocket, the company has embraced rapid iteration, smaller vehicles, and a culture of learning from failure rather than avoiding it.

In the latest episode of Built Different, LinkedIn Head of Engineering Mohak Shroff goes behind the scenes with the Rocket Lab team to explore the engineering and business choices that have positioned the company as a major player in the modern space race.

To stay cost-competitive and scale quickly, Rocket Lab builds critical capabilities in-house, from 3D-printed engines to solar panels designed and fabricated internally. Expectations are high, but missteps are embraced. “We make mistakes, but we really learn from them,” says Systems Engineer Christophe Mandy. 

Built Different with Mohak Shroff takes you inside the bold bets of today’s technologists and the real-world impact of their innovations. Subscribe to the Built Different newsletter to see where Mohak goes next.

Brené Brown: “We will not build on dysfunction.”

On this week’s episode of Hello Monday, Brené Brown, author of Strong Ground, shares how rebuilding her physical core after an injury became a metaphor for emotional and professional resilience.

For decades, many of us have been taught to see vulnerability as weakness, to unlearn the traits that make us human. But in today’s AI-driven workplace, those very traits are our edge. Brown introduces the idea of paradox and challenges us to reframe our weaknesses as “compensating muscle”: hidden strengths waiting to be activated.

Ultimately, she reminds us: “We will not build on dysfunction.”

🎥 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g6wzh8Gy

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gbApx_SR

🎧  Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gtptWAGA

Get verified and get noticed on LinkedIn

Now you can verify your LinkedIn profile in under a minute and it’s worth it. Members with a verified profile see 60% more views and 50% more engagement on average. You can verify your workplace using your company email or your identity using a government ID through trusted partners like CLEAR or Persona. Adding a verification badge builds trust, signals authenticity, and makes it easier for others—especially recruiters—to connect with confidence. Get verified here.

Engaging authentically on LinkedIn

Conversations on LinkedIn are booming with comments on posts growing by 109% in the past two years, and more members than ever are joining in. We’re also seeing that members who comment get noticed, receiving 2.5x more profile views on average. The reason is simple: good comments help people learn, connect, and discover new opportunities.

When comments are coordinated just to boost visibility — like in so-called “engagement pods” — they create noise instead of valuable conversation. That’s why we’re limiting the impact of in-authentic comments in the feed and doubling down on the kinds of interactions that actually help members.

With more conversations than ever happening on LinkedIn, stand out by showing up with authenticity and insight. Here are 3 ways to do just that:

• Add context: Bring in your own perspective or experience to deepen the discussion.
• Advance the topic: Share advice, resources, or examples that move the conversation forward.
• Acknowledge others: Respond thoughtfully to what’s already been said to build real dialogue.

For more information, check out this blog post. 

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