Caroline Pennington on LinkedIn Growth, Personal Branding & Owning Your Online Voice

I know you've heard it before, LinkedIn is intimidating, oversaturated, and not worth your time. But my guest today, Caroline Pennington, is here to crush those myths. She went from 0 to 7,000 followers in under a year, hit 12K in under two years, and quit her corporate job after being featured in Entrepreneur, Inc., and over 26 other publications all thanks to LinkedIn.

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of personal branding, why LinkedIn is still a goldmine for visibility, and how to build real, authentic connections (no trending audios, no dancing required). Caroline shares her journey from recruiter to LinkedIn powerhouse, how she built her brand from scratch, and why being a “hype girl” for others has been a game-changer for her success.

We also unpack the awkward truth about friends who lurk but never engage, why some people resist supporting you online, and how to handle criticism when you're putting yourself out there.

If you've been sitting on the sidelines, hesitant to make your LinkedIn move this episode is your sign to start now.

🎧 Listen now and start showing up!

Key Moments:
2:00 The Power of Being a “Hype Girl”
5:00 The Shocking Comment That Changed Caroline’s Approach
7:30 The Reality of Personal Branding on LinkedIn
10:15 Authenticity vs. AI Content
19:25 Podcasting & Long-Term Growth
24:49 Handling Judgment & Criticism from Friends & Family
30:42 How Caroline Went All In on LinkedIn
38:45 The Right Way to Network on LinkedIn
46:00 Caroline’s Wine Glass Business
48:15 Advice for LinkedIn Success

Guest Info.
IG - https://www.instagram.com/cpennington55/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-pennington/

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🎬 Recommended Playlists

👉 All Podcast Episodes
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👉 The Entrepreneurship Series 
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✅ About Round Two Podcast
Have you ever woken up with an overwhelming urge to change? Did something wildly unexpected happen on a mundane Tuesday that forever changed your life’s trajectory? Were you sitting at work, realizing your true calling is to lead, be your own boss, run your own company, make a meaningful impact?

Welcome to the Round Two Podcast, created by Nikki Corbett—an everyday woman who embraced her own "round two" and discovered that we all encounter pivotal moments that redefine our paths. Whether it's embarking on an entrepreneurial venture, making a significant life pivot, or facing unexpected changes, we talk about it all.

Join the Round Two Podcast community: real people, real stories, real life. I am so happy you are here.

Come check out my new podcast, The Scarlet Edit!

Instagram: @thescarleteditpodcast

YouTube: @thescarletedit

Available to listen on Apple, Spotify & Amazon

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✅ Round Two Podcast is officially on hiatus. Please feel free to enjoy all of the episodes, as they were a joy to create and are full of inspiration, knowledge and wonderful stories.

Thank you for being a loyal listener of Round Two - it has been the most special adventure and I have loved every minute of it.

Nikki

For collaboration and business inquiries,
📩 email: [email protected]