Delta CEO Ed Bastian was named among the year’s top 20 LinkedIn Influencers in the U.S., ranking him among the platform’s eminent leaders, thinkers and innovators whose conversations are shaping global business.

Released Wednesday, the fifth annual showcase – Top Voices 2019 – is compiled by LinkedIn editorial and measurement teams who track users’ content creation, engagement and follower growth over a 12-month period to determine the platform’s most powerful voices.

[Similar news: Bastian rated a Top 10 Most Connected leader in Brunswick Group’s annual Connected Leadership Survey.]

Having been a part of the global LinkedIn Influencer program since becoming CEO in 2016, Bastian uses LinkedIn and Instagram to connect with colleagues and customers. He often shares about leadership and values, as well as stories of Delta people, culture and personal anecdotes.

According to LinkedIn, Bastian “strikes that hard-to-attain balance of content that is both professional and authentic to him, whether he’s sharing a selfie from his travels or engaging loyal Delta customers in a video.”

His most recent post features 10-year-old Bennett, who reached out to Bastian for advice after he was chosen to serve as Delta’s CEO during Junior Achievement BizTown. Bastian asked the LinkedIn community to join him in sharing words of wisdom for Bennett and other young kids looking to accomplish their dreams. The photo garnered more than 2 million views, 24,000 likes and 1,500 comments with advice for the young leader.  

Among those joining Bastian in the ranks of this year’s coveted list is Delta partner and SPANX founder Sara Blakely, among other powerhouse names like Melinda Gates, former Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi and Walmart CEO Doug McMillon.