Sam Szuchan

Founder @ Soleo. LinkedIn strategy for industry leaders. Clients work w/ Apple, Amazon, Google + published in FT, Bloomberg, etc.

Creator of influence. Nice things folks have said about me:

"Recently, a lot of Sam's posts have been taking off. Last week, he helped me reach 400K+ enterprise professionals with a single post. A third of them from companies with 10,000+ employees. When recruiting teams start sharing your content internally, you know you're doing something right."
—Very major recruiting tech CEO

"Each time that I post [a post Sam made], 100+ people enroll in a course that changes their lives, and my business does twelve or thirteen grand in revenue in that day. A total win-win."
—B2B educator you 100% definitely follow

"Sam helped me clarify my goals and think strategically to reach 150K people in my target demographic – largely founders, CEOs, and senior execs. Prospects frequently mention my LinkedIn content."
—CEO of very cool agency working with Google and many other big tech co's!

"Sam's ability to understand who you are and become an extension of you online is second to none. He provides strategic direction, insightful research, and a relentless desire to bring your strengths and knowledge to light."
—Forbes 30u30 founder who basically invented consumer-facing recruiting tech

You have probably read a few dozen posts I've written without realizing it. Thanks for stopping by :)

Founder

Formerly Saga. Leveraging the world's largest B2B platform to create overwhelming lead pipelines for B2B firms.

"As long as the history books get it right, take some pride in letting the newspapers get it wrong."

Sam Altman wrote that in 2020. A year earlier, he walked away from Y Combinator's presidency to bet everything on OpenAI. 

Everyone thought he was insane.

YC was the most powerful platform in startup land. Direct access to hundreds of founders per year. The ability to shape how an entire generation thinks about building companies. A reputation machine that had already minted Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe.

Remember, this was 2019 - way before OpenAI’s rise. He left YC for (what was then) a nonprofit-controlled AI lab that still looked more like a research shop than a product company.

Looking back, EVERY move he made throughout his career was the maximum leverage option available to build influence, way before anyone realized:

- Chose computer science at Stanford in the early 2000s when finance was the prestige path
- Dropped out to do YC and build Loopt when he could have gone straight to Google or Facebook
- After Loopt, launched Hydrazine Capital to invest in YC companies, making himself essential infrastructure for the next generation of founders
- Became YC president at 28 and turned it into a distribution network across hundreds of startups
- Left YC to become CEO of OpenAI's new "capped-profit" structure

Throughout his entire career, he's been 5-10 years early on the most influential position possible. It's happened too many times to be a coincidence.

His pattern works because he understands how influence compounds. Every YC batch, he met dozens of founders at their most malleable stage.

He saw the raw decks, the dysfunctional teams, the early flashes of product-market fit. Some became Instacart, DoorDash, and Coinbase.

Each founder he helped became a future allocator of equity, attention, and introductions.

Their founders remembered who took them seriously when they were pitching half-finished slides.

"The question isn't 'How do I stop caring what people think?'" Altman wrote. "It's 'Whose opinions should I care about and on what timescale?'"

November 2023 proved the pattern works. When OpenAI's board tried to oust him, hundreds of employees threatened to walk. Microsoft made it clear the partnership was with Altman, not the corporate shell.

He didn’t survive through maneuvering.

He survived because of the protective layer of influence he built.

Because influence isn't a cooler job title—

It's pure leverage.

It's a 15-year bet on who and what matters later, and how you can own it before anyone realizes it’s the next big thing.

“The newspapers will get it wrong. The history books will get it right.”

That's the bet he's made his entire career - and he's making it again.

What could you build by choosing history books over newspapers?

P.S. Full breakdown of Altman's 15-year playbook in the comments

Sam Altman Chose Influence Over Billions (And Got Both)

Hello there! 👋 As a skilled Communications & Outreach Manager specializing in press relations, international marketing, and event planning, I have honed my abilities to create meaningful connections and deliver exceptional experiences.

With a passion for storytelling and meticulous attention to detail, I craft compelling messages across diverse channels, including social media campaigns and press releases. My deep understanding of global markets and cultures enables me to navigate cross-cultural communication with ease and build strong relationships across teams.

What truly sets me apart is my commitment to making a positive difference through effective communication and outreach. I stay ahead of the curve by adapting to emerging trends and leveraging technology to engage audiences in authentic and meaningful ways.

If you're looking for a dynamic Communications & Outreach Manager who can bring your vision to life with an uplifting touch of entertainment, let's connect! Together, we can make a world of difference. 🌍✨

Shanna Khayat

I had the chance to dive into a complex but necessary topic with Rob York:
the PRC’s role in propagating antisemitic disinformation.

These campaigns aren’t accidental. They’re strategic.
And their impact on Jewish communities and information ecosystems is real.

Proud to support analysis on this. 

#PacificForum

Strategic communicator bridging policy, diplomacy, and culture across sectors — from entertainment to international affairs.

📢 PacNet #101 – The PRC's role in spreading antisemitic disinformation

Antisemitic threats in the United States are surging, fueled by extremist groups, state actors, and social media disinformation campaigns.

In this detailed analysis, Rob York and Shanna Khayat explores:

📈 Historic spike in hate crimes: 2024 was the worst year for anti-Jewish hate crimes since 1991; incidents surged nearly 400% after Oct. 7, 2025 (ADL)

🧨 Diverse perpetrators: Extremist groups and state actors—including Iran, Russia, and China—spread antisemitic narratives online

📱 Social media as a vector: Platforms like TikTok, Weibo, and WeChat amplify content, creating "rabbit holes" that radicalize users

🤝 Mitigation efforts: Oracle-led TikTok venture could strengthen moderation, public education, and reporting mechanisms

🛡️ Strategic imperative: Coordinated action from platforms, policymakers, and civil society is essential to protect communities and counter foreign influence

The rise of antisemitic propaganda underscores the urgent need for proactive measures, platform accountability, and public education to safeguard communities and maintain social cohesion.

📖 Read the full PacNet: https://lnkd.in/gAaJfDFn

#Antisemitism #Disinformation #PacNet #PacificForum #IndoPacific

Grateful to Bradley K. Martin and Asia Times for republishing the article I co-authored with my dear colleague, Rob York, on the PRC’s role in spreading antisemitic disinformation, for Pacific Forum. 

Proud to have contributed to this important piece and to continue working on issues at the intersection of foreign policy, information warfare, and the safety of communities worldwide.

Here’s to more work that cuts through the noise and strengthens understanding where it matters most.

Director for Regional Affairs at Pacific Forum

Thanks to Bradley K. Martin for reprinting analysis by Shanna Khayat and I.

Open article: PRC-linked Spamouflage works to spread antisemitic disinformation - Asia Times by asiatimes.com

PRC-linked Spamouflage works to spread antisemitic disinformation - Asia Times

📰 #PacificForum Senior Fellow Featured in BBC Chinese Analysis

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Adjunct Senior Fellow and Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington, featured in a new BBC Chinese article:
“Taiwan's Counterattack on U.S. Right-Wing Media: Can Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim's New Diplomatic Strategy Succeed?”

Dr. Larus explains that President Lai Ching-te’s recent engagement with U.S. right-leaning media outlets is a deliberate strategic move. 

She points out that although these programs are labeled as “right-wing,” the platforms where Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim appeared collectively reach approximately 80 million people daily — a significant channel for shaping Taiwan’s message and visibility abroad.

📖 Read the full article on BBC Chinese:

Open article: 台灣總統府的對美國右翼媒體攻勢：「賴蕭」的外交新策略能成功嗎？ - BBC News 中文 by bbc.com

台灣總統府的對美國右翼媒體攻勢：「賴蕭」的外交新策略能成功嗎？ - BBC News 中文

taplio

The Battle

Sam Szuchan

Shanna Khayat

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreSam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreShanna Khayat's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Sam Szuchan

Shanna Khayat

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Sam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreShanna Khayat's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreSam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance