Top 10 Community Platforms experts to follow – A Future-Ready Guide for 2026

Summary

Richard Millington – Founder of FeverBee, a community consultancy, Millington is widely recognized for his deep insights into community strategy and engagement. His book “Buzzing Communities” is a testament to his expertise in community management. Holly Firestone – As the head o…

Key Takeaway

  • Richard Millington – Founder of FeverBee, a community consultancy, Millington is widely recognized for his deep insights into community strategy and engagement.
  • His book “Buzzing Communities” is a testament to his expertise in community management.
  • Holly Firestone – As the head of Community at Atlassian and former community chief at Salesforce, Holly brings years of professional community-building experience.
  • She’s known for effectively engaging with tech communities and enhancing user experiences.
  • David Spinks – Co-founder and CEO of CMX, one of the largest networks for community professionals, Spinks is at the forefront of the community space.

Body

Richard Millington – Founder of FeverBee, a community consultancy, Millington is widely recognized for his deep insights into community strategy and engagement. His book “Buzzing Communities” is a testament to his expertise in community management. Holly Firestone – As the head of Community at Atlassian and former community chief at Salesforce, Holly brings years of professional community-building experience. She’s known for effectively engaging with tech communities and enhancing user experiences. David Spinks – Co-founder and CEO of CMX, one of the largest networks for community professionals, Spinks is at the forefront of the community space. He co-authored the book “The Business of Belonging” which explores the intricacies of creating and managing effective communities. Gina Bianchini – As the CEO and founder of Mighty Networks, Gina is paving the way for brand communities. Her platform offers tools for brands to create their communities, emphasizing the power of niche, dedicated networks over large-scale, unfocused ones. Carrie Jones – Operating at the junction of community strategy and UX, Jones founded Gather Community Consulting. She offers an in-depth understanding of how to nurture online communities and keep members engaged. Sarah Judd Welch – A trailblazer in community strategy and business development, Sarah is the founder of Loyal, a community development studio. Her holistic approach towards community-building and emphasis on loyalty mark her as a key expert in this space. Vanessa DiMauro – Holding over 20 years of experience in community-building, Vanessa is the CEO of Leader Networks. She’s known for her research on B2B communities and has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Bas van Kaam – A specialist in the tech domain, van Kaam’s expertise lies in end-user computing and virtualization communities. His blog and forums are an excellent resource for professionals in the tech community. Maria Ogneva – Head of Community at LinkedIn and previously associated with Yammer, Maria’s deep understanding of professional community dynamics, especially in the SaaS world, makes her a must-follow. Alex Hillman – With his focus on co-working communities, Hillman’s venture Indy Hall is a testament to building community spaces that thrive. His blog offers practical advice on building and sustaining communities.

Final Takeaway

Decide what matters, execute in short cycles, and make progress visible every week—so you enter 2026 with momentum.

About Ian Khan – Keynote Speaker & The Futurist

Ian Khan, the Futurist, is a USA Today & Publishers Weekly National Bestselling Author of Undisrupted, Thinkers50 Future Readiness shortlist, and a Globally recognized Top Keynote Speaker. He is Futurist and a media personality focused on future-ready leadership, AI productivity and ethics, and purpose-driven growth. Ian hosts The Futurist on Amazon Prime Video, and founded Impact Story (K-12 Robotics & AI). He is frequently featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and Fast Company.

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Ian Khan The Futurist
Ian Khan is a Theoretical Futurist and researcher specializing in emerging technologies. His new book Undisrupted will help you learn more about the next decade of technology development and how to be part of it to gain personal and professional advantage. Pre-Order a copy https://amzn.to/4g5gjH9
You are enjoying this content on Ian Khan's Blog. Ian Khan, AI Futurist and technology Expert, has been featured on CNN, Fox, BBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, Fast Company and many other global platforms. Ian is the author of the upcoming AI book "Quick Guide to Prompt Engineering," an explainer to how to get started with GenerativeAI Platforms, including ChatGPT and use them in your business. One of the most prominent Artificial Intelligence and emerging technology educators today, Ian, is on a mission of helping understand how to lead in the era of AI. Khan works with Top Tier organizations, associations, governments, think tanks and private and public sector entities to help with future leadership. Ian also created the Future Readiness Score, a KPI that is used to measure how future-ready your organization is. Subscribe to Ians Top Trends Newsletter Here