From LinkedIn’s Dan Roth – What it will take to lead in the future
The Top 10 Skills for 2025—And What LinkedIn’s Dan Roth Taught Us About Where Work is Headed
At this year’s LeadingBetter Summit, one of the most compelling sessions came from Dan Roth, Editor-in-Chief of LinkedIn, who offered a unique perspective on where the world of work is headed—and more importantly, what professionals need to do to stay ahead. With 1.1 billion users engaging on the platform, LinkedIn isn’t just a professional network—it’s a real-time barometer of the global economy, workplace trends, and the skills that are shaping our future.
In his talk, Roth pulled back the curtain on what he and his team are seeing across the world of work. The centerpiece of his presentation? A powerful slide titled “Top 10 Skills on the Rise”—LinkedIn’s fastest-growing skills that professionals should invest in for 2025. These aren’t abstract ideals. They’re the real, in-demand capabilities being sought by employers right now and the ones that will define professional success in the next phase of our careers.
Here they are:
LinkedIn’s Top 10 Skills on the Rise for 2025
- AI Literacy
Understanding and applying AI tools for real-world business impact. - Conflict Mitigation
Navigating disagreement with emotional intelligence—especially in hybrid teams. - Adaptability
Staying resilient and curious amidst accelerating technological change. - Process Optimization
Driving efficiencies and better outcomes with smarter workflows. - Innovative Thinking
Staying creatively human in a world increasingly shaped by machines. - Public Speaking
Influencing others with confident, clear, and compelling communication. - Solution-Based Selling
Matching AI-enabled tools to customer needs with a consultative mindset. - Customer Engagement & Support
Building loyalty through empathy, speed, and personalization. - Stakeholder Management
Identifying the right voices and aligning them to move work forward. - LLM Development & Application
Understanding or building the language models powering generative AI.
Each of these skills reflects a deeper truth: the future of work is no longer just about what you know—it’s about how you think, how you communicate, and how quickly you can learn something new.
And while this slide was a highlight, Roth’s reflections on his own journey at LinkedIn provided meaningful context. When he joined the company nearly 14 years ago, LinkedIn was still just a digital resume site. But under the leadership of a mission-driven CEO, the platform began to evolve into a space for learning, teaching, and sharing insights—a “platform of generosity,” as Roth’s team describes it.
That idea—of generosity as a success driver—is a fundamental part of LinkedIn’s culture, and Roth underscored how important it is in the age of AI and constant change. “When you succeed on LinkedIn, you succeed by helping other people do well,” he said. That principle not only shapes content on the platform, but it has also shaped him as a leader.
He recalled early missteps when he treated LinkedIn like other social media sites—leaning into snark, pushing for hot takes. But that approach didn’t resonate in a community focused on growth and support. A turning point came when he encouraged a writer to publish a satirical piece about a former CEO’s career pivot—only to receive backlash from users who championed second chances and vulnerability.
“That was an aha moment,” Roth admitted. “People are here to help each other. They’re serious about growth. This isn’t Facebook—it’s a place where people want to learn, get better, and connect with opportunity.”
And that’s what makes the Top 10 Skills list more than just a slide—it’s a strategic roadmap. These aren’t buzzwords. They reflect where our workplaces are headed: toward more human-centered, tech-savvy, and emotionally intelligent teams.
Roth’s personal insights about working in a mission-driven company also reinforced the importance of alignment and culture in this new era. “I thought the mission stuff was fake at first,” he said. “But at LinkedIn, we really ask: does this help connect people to economic opportunity? That shared purpose helps us move fast and collaborate better.”
Another core takeaway from Roth’s talk was the culture of experimentation inside tech companies. In contrast to the newsroom environments where he once worked—where conflict and debate were expected—Roth said that LinkedIn taught him to assume best intentions, let go of the need to win every argument, and instead focus on progress.
This mindset shift is relevant for everyone, not just those working in Silicon Valley. As AI continues to shift roles and redefine industries, the people who will thrive are those who can adapt, communicate, innovate, and lead with empathy.
So what does this mean for you?
It’s time to do a personal skills audit. Which of these 10 growth areas are already in your wheelhouse? Where could you stretch next? Whether it’s experimenting with AI tools, sharpening your public speaking, or learning how to resolve conflict with empathy—these are not just skills for 2025. They’re the skills for now.
And as Roth’s own journey shows, you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be willing to learn, evolve, and help others along the way.
Because in the world of work that’s coming, generosity might just be your greatest competitive edge.