Overcoming the LinkedIn ‘Ick’ Factor By Amplifying Others with Melissa Moody

The Linkedin Famous Podcast

In this episode of LinkedIn Famous, Brad Zomick sits down with Melissa Moody, founder of Wednesday Women and former Google executive, to explore her inspiring journey from corporate giant to startup innovator. Melissa shares how she transitioned from nearly 14 years at Google into the startup world, co-founding Gated and launching impactful initiatives like Wednesday Women. Together, they discuss the role of LinkedIn in amplifying voices, building communities, and driving startup growth through authentic and engaging content.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Melissa’s Journey Beyond Google: How 14 years at a corporate powerhouse shaped her transition into startups.
2. The Birth of Wednesday Women: Why Melissa started this initiative to spotlight executive women on LinkedIn.
3. LinkedIn’s Role in Startup Success: Strategies Melissa used to grow Gated and Matcha through content and community engagement.
4. Overcoming Barriers to Posting on LinkedIn: How Melissa reframed her mindset about sharing personal and professional content.
5. Practical Engagement Tips: The tools and strategies Melissa uses to consistently engage her audience and grow her influence.
6. Circles of Influence Framework: Melissa’s method for leveraging teams, advisors, and evangelists to amplify brand awareness.
7. Tactical Tools for LinkedIn Success: Insights into tools like Aware and NutTree for efficient networking and content sharing.
8. Building Systems for Sustainability: How Melissa balances personal branding with startup goals.

Memorable Quotes:

1. "The concept of 'circles of influence' has been a game changer for every startup I’ve worked with. It’s not just about your users; it’s about activating everyone who believes in your mission."
2. "Start engaging on LinkedIn before you ever think about posting. Commenting thoughtfully is the easiest way to build your presence and learn what resonates."
3. "I dislike the idea of chasing the algorithm. Instead, I write what I believe will genuinely bring value to others."
4. "If you struggle with posting about yourself, amplify others instead. Pointing out someone else’s achievements is one of the best ways to show up authentically."
5. “Having tools to track and amplify engagement is key to making LinkedIn manageable and impactful.”

Tactical Takeaways You Can Apply Today:

• Start with engagement: Comment on posts from your target audience and build relationships before focusing on your own content.
• Use tools like Aware to monitor and interact with key connections more efficiently.
• Build a “content ideas” system in tools like Notion to keep your posting pipeline full.
• Tap into your circles of influence—encourage advisors, employees, and customers to share and amplify your message.
• Leverage personal branding to grow both your company and your professional reputation authentically.

People, Tools, and Resources Mentioned:

• Aware (by Alex Boyd)
• NutTree (Melissa’s LinkedIn engagement tool)
• Gated (Melissa’s former startup)
• Matcha (Melissa’s GM role)
• Notion (content planning tool)

Follow Melissa Moody:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamoody/
• Wednesday Women:https://www.wednesdaywomen.com

Stay Connected:

Want to connect or share feedback? Brad welcomes connection requests from listeners—reach out on LinkedIn and share your thoughts!

• Brad Zomick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bzomick
• Spectamur website: https://spectamur.com
• LinkedIn Famous LinkedIn Page: