His Best Asset Was Buried in a Google Drive Folder

Yesterday I started a LinkedIn audit for a new client.

Gaming solutions architect. Built products at Hasbro and Apple. Strong credentials. Impressive background.

First thing I do with every audit—I tell them to send me everything. Presentations. Demos. Articles. Press releases. Whatever they've got that shows their work.

He sent over a pile of files. PowerPoints from old projects. Strategy decks. Product specs. The usual stuff executives accumulate over years of work.

Buried in there was a link to a live demo of a video game solution his team built and shipped.

Not a slide deck about it. Not a description. A live, functioning demo. You could actually play it. Right there in the browser.

I stopped.

"This needs to be the first thing anyone sees on your LinkedIn profile."

He was confused. To him, it was just another project file sitting in a Google Drive folder. Something he'd worked on a while back. Nothing special.

To a recruiter or hiring manager? It's everything.

We pinned it to his Featured Section immediately. Now when someone lands on his profile, the first thing they see isn't bullet points or a resume PDF.

It's a live, playable demo of his work.

That's proof. Not claims. Proof.

And here's what kills me: This pattern repeats with almost every executive I audit.

Their best stuff is buried. Sitting in old slide decks. Forgotten project folders. Archived emails. Drive links they haven't opened in months.

Meanwhile their LinkedIn Featured Section—the prime real estate at the top of their profile—is either completely empty or filled with generic content that does absolutely nothing for them.

If you're in executive job search right now, this might be costing you opportunities every single day.

Here's what belongs in your Featured Section—and why most executives are getting this completely wrong.

What the Featured Section Actually Is (And Why It Matters)

Let's start with the basics, because most executives don't understand what this section actually does.

Your LinkedIn Featured Section appears:

Directly below your headline and contact info
Above your About section
Above your experience
At the very top of your profile

It's the first substantial content anyone sees.

When a recruiter finds your profile, they see:

Your headline
Your Featured Section (if you have one)
Then they have to scroll for everything else

That positioning is critical.

Most profiles look like this:

Strong headline
Empty Featured Section (or worse, generic placeholder content)
About section that might be good but requires scrolling

So the recruiter's experience is:
"Okay, interesting headline. Let me scroll down to learn more..."

Compare that to a profile with strategic Featured content:

Strong headline
Immediate proof of capability (live demo, case study, portfolio)
About section reinforcing what they just saw

The recruiter's experience:
"Interesting headline. Oh wow, look at this work. This person is legit. Let me keep reading..."

You've created engagement momentum before they even get to your About section.

The Psychology: Show, Don't Tell

Here's why the Featured Section is so powerful:

Every other section of your LinkedIn is you making claims about yourself:

"Experienced executive leader..."
"Proven track record of..."
"Successfully delivered..."

Claims require the reader to trust you.

The Featured Section is different. It's you showing proof:

Here's a live demo of what I built
Here's a published article demonstrating my expertise
Here's a case study with real numbers
Here's a presentation I gave at a major conference

Proof doesn't require trust. It creates trust.

When my gaming solutions architect client had an empty Featured Section, recruiters had to take his word that he built impressive products.

When we added the live demo, they could see it themselves. Play with it. Experience it.

That's the difference between "This person says they're good" and "This person is demonstrably good."

What Actually Belongs in Your Featured Section

Not everything deserves Featured Section real estate. This is prime visibility—use it strategically.

Category 1: Live Demonstrations of Your Work

Best for: Product people, engineers, designers, anyone who builds tangible things

Examples:

Live product demos (like my gaming client)
Interactive prototypes
Working dashboards or tools
Apps or platforms you built
GitHub repositories showing your code

Why this works:

Nothing beats "try it yourself" as proof of capability. When someone can interact with what you built, they experience your competence directly.

My client's gaming demo isn't just impressive—it's memorable. A recruiter who sees 50 profiles in a day will remember the one where they actually played a game.

How to implement:

If you've built something that's publicly accessible:

Add it as a Link in Featured Section
Write a compelling title: "Live Demo: Video Game Solution Architecture"
Add a brief description explaining what it is and your role

If your work isn't public (internal tools, proprietary products):

Create a video walkthrough
Build a sanitized demo version
Document it with screenshots and description
Record a Loom explaining the architecture

Category 2: Published Thought Leadership

Best for: All executives, especially those positioning as strategic thinkers

Examples:

Articles you've written (Medium, company blog, LinkedIn articles)
Published research or whitepapers
Industry publications featuring your insights
Op-eds or contributed pieces

Why this works:

Published content positions you as someone who doesn't just do the work—you think deeply about it and can articulate strategic insights.

When a recruiter sees you're published in credible outlets, your credibility immediately increases.

How to implement:

Feature your best 2-3 published pieces:

Lead with your most impressive publication (major outlet, high engagement)
Include pieces that demonstrate strategic thinking relevant to your target roles
Avoid generic LinkedIn posts—feature substantive long-form content

Title format: "Published in [Outlet]: [Compelling headline]"

Description: One sentence explaining the key insight or why it matters

Category 3: Major Presentations or Speaking Engagements

Best for: Executives positioning as industry experts or thought leaders

Examples:

Conference keynote presentations
Webinar recordings
Panel discussion appearances
Workshop materials from industry events

Why this works:

Speaking at major conferences or events signals credibility and industry recognition. It's third-party validation of your expertise.

If someone invited you to speak, that's social proof that others consider you an expert.

How to implement:

If you have video:

Upload the recording to YouTube or LinkedIn Video
Feature it with title: "Keynote: [Event Name] - [Topic]"

If you only have slides:

Upload the deck to SlideShare or as a PDF
Feature it with context about the event and audience

If you have neither:

Create a post describing the presentation
Include photos from the event
Quote key insights you shared
Feature that post

Category 4: Case Studies and Results Documentation

Best for: Operations executives, consultants, anyone who drives measurable outcomes

Examples:

Detailed case studies of transformations you led
Before/after documentation of improvements
ROI analyses of initiatives
Problem-solution-results narratives

Why this works:

Case studies demonstrate your process and results simultaneously. They show how you think strategically and execute tactically.

Numbers and specifics make claims credible.

How to implement:

Create a one-page case study for each major achievement:

Structure:

Situation: The challenge or problem
Approach: Your strategic solution
Results: Quantified outcomes
Learnings: What made it work

Save as PDF and feature with compelling title: "Case Study: How We Reduced Customer Churn 34% in 90 Days"

Category 5: Media Mentions and Press Coverage

Best for: Executives with public visibility or major company achievements

Examples:

Press releases about initiatives you led
News articles mentioning your work
Podcast appearances discussing your expertise
Award announcements or recognition

Why this works:

Third-party validation is more credible than self-promotion. When others are writing about your work, it signals importance.

How to implement:

Feature 2-3 most impressive media mentions:

Major outlet coverage over smaller publications
Recent mentions over old ones (unless it's truly significant)
Pieces where you're quoted showing expertise
Coverage of results you drove, not just announcements

Category 6: Your Strategic Frameworks or Methodologies

Best for: All executives, especially those with proprietary approaches

Examples:

Visual frameworks you've developed
Methodologies you use
Strategic models you've created
Process diagrams showing your approach

Why this works:

Original frameworks demonstrate strategic thinking and intellectual property. They show you don't just execute—you innovate.

When someone sees your framework, they think: "This person has systematized their expertise."

How to implement:

Create clean, professional visuals of your frameworks:

Use Canva, PowerPoint, or hire a designer
Keep it simple and scannable
Add brief explanation in the description
Title format: "The [Your Name] Framework for [Specific Outcome]"

What Doesn't Belong in Your Featured Section

Just as important as what to include is what to exclude.

❌ Your Resume as a PDF

Why this fails:

Your entire LinkedIn profile is essentially your resume. Featuring your resume PDF is redundant and wastes prime real estate.

Exception: If you have a visually stunning, infographic-style resume that's genuinely impressive, maybe. But 99% of resume PDFs don't qualify.

❌ Generic Company Presentations

Why this fails:

Featuring your company's standard investor deck or sales presentation doesn't demonstrate your unique value. It shows you have access to company materials.

Exception: If you created the presentation and it showcases your strategic thinking, okay. But it better be truly impressive.

❌ Certification Badges or Course Completions

Why this fails:

"I completed a course" isn't impressive at the executive level. Everyone has certifications.

Exception: If it's a highly selective program (Harvard Business School executive education, exclusive industry certification) and it's recent and relevant, maybe include one.

❌ Stock Photos or Inspirational Quotes

Why this fails:

This is LinkedIn, not Instagram. Generic motivational content doesn't demonstrate capability.

No exceptions. Just don't.

❌ Old Work That's No Longer Relevant

Why this fails:

Your Featured Section should represent your current expertise and target role direction. Featuring work from 10 years ago in a different field confuses your positioning.

Exception: If the old work is so impressive it's become part of your personal brand, maybe. But be strategic about this.

The Featured Section Audit: What's on Your Profile Right Now?

Here's the exercise I do with every client during an audit.

Pull up your LinkedIn profile. Look at your Featured Section.

Then answer these questions honestly:

Question 1: Do you even have anything in your Featured Section?

If the answer is no, you're leaving prime real estate completely empty. Every person who views your profile sees nothing but your headline and then has to scroll.

Question 2: If you do have content featured, is it your absolute best work?

Or is it random stuff you added once and forgot about? Old presentations? Generic posts?

Question 3: Does your Featured content demonstrate tangible capability?

Can someone look at it and immediately understand what you're capable of? Or is it vague and generic?

Question 4: Would a recruiter or hiring manager be impressed?

Put yourself in their shoes. They see 50 profiles today. Does your Featured Section make yours memorable?

Question 5: Is your best work buried somewhere else?

Go through your files. Old presentations. Past projects. Articles you wrote. Demos you built. What are you sitting on that deserves to be featured?

The Gaming Client's Before and After

Before the audit:

Featured Section: Empty -Recruiter experience:* Sees headline, has to scroll to learn more, reads bullet points about experience -Memorability:* Generic. Like every other gaming solutions architect.

After the audit:

Featured Section: Live playable demo of his video game solution -Recruiter experience:* Sees headline, immediately plays with impressive interactive demo, thinks "this person is legit" -Memorability:* High. Only profile where they actually played something.

The difference isn't his credentials—those didn't change.

The difference is making his best work immediately visible instead of buried in a Google Drive folder.

How to Build Your Featured Section This Week

Stop reading and actually do this. It takes 2-3 hours maximum and dramatically improves your profile.

Step 1: Inventory Your Best Work (30 minutes)

Go through:

Google Drive or Dropbox
Old presentation folders
Past project files
Published articles or posts
Conference decks
Case studies you've created
Demos or prototypes
Media mentions or press

Make a list of everything that demonstrates your capability.

Step 2: Select Your Top 3-5 Items (15 minutes)

Criteria for selection:

Demonstrates tangible results or capability
Relevant to your target roles
Impressive to someone who doesn't know you
Recent enough to be current (within last 3-5 years)
Shows you at your best

Prioritize:

Live demos or interactive content (highest impact)
Published thought leadership in credible outlets
Case studies with quantified results
Major presentations or speaking engagements
Strategic frameworks you've developed

Step 3: Prepare the Content (1-2 hours)

For each item:

If it's already online (article, video, demo):

Get the direct URL
Write a compelling title (10 words max)
Write a 1-2 sentence description

If it's a file (PDF, PowerPoint, document):

Clean it up if needed
Remove any confidential information
Save as PDF if it's not already
Write title and description

If it needs to be created (case study, framework visual):

Block 30-60 minutes to create it properly
Use simple, clean design
Focus on clarity over complexity

Step 4: Add to Your Featured Section (15 minutes)

On desktop LinkedIn:

Go to your profile
Scroll to Featured Section (or add it if you don't have it)
Click "Add featured"
Choose "Link", "Post", or "Media"
Add your content with compelling titles
Arrange them in order of impact (most impressive first)

Pro tip: Your featured items appear in the order you add them. Put your strongest piece first.

Step 5: Get Feedback (15 minutes)

Ask 2-3 trusted colleagues:

"I just updated my LinkedIn Featured Section. Can you look at it and tell me:

What's your immediate impression?
Do the items make you think 'this person is credible'?
Is there anything confusing or unclear?"

Incorporate feedback and refine.

The Most Common Featured Section Mistakes

I see these patterns repeatedly in audits:

Mistake 1: Featuring Too Many Items

The problem: 8-10 items in Featured Section creates decision paralysis. Nothing stands out.

The fix: 3-5 items maximum. Your absolute best work only.

Mistake 2: Generic Titles

Bad: "Presentation 2023.pdf" -Bad:* "My article" -Bad:* "Case study"

Good: "How We Reduced CAC 40% While Scaling 3x" -Good:* "Keynote: SaaStr 2024 - AI-Driven Sales Operations" -Good:* "Live Demo: Enterprise Analytics Platform"

Titles matter. Make them compelling.

Mistake 3: No Context in Descriptions

The problem: Featuring a link or document with no description forces the viewer to click to understand what it is.

The fix: Write 1-2 sentences explaining what it is, why it matters, or what the outcome was.

Mistake 4: Outdated Content

The problem: Featuring work from 2015 signals you haven't done anything impressive recently.

The fix: Focus on last 3-5 years. If older work is truly exceptional, that's fine, but balance it with recent content.

Mistake 5: All Self-Published Content

The problem: Only featuring your own LinkedIn articles or posts lacks third-party validation.

The fix: Mix self-created content with external validation (published articles, speaking gigs, media mentions).

The Bottom Line: Your Best Work Should Be Visible, Not Buried

Yesterday I audited a gaming solutions architect's LinkedIn.

His best asset—a live, playable demo of his work—was buried in a Google Drive folder.

He had no idea it was that powerful.

We pinned it to his Featured Section. Now every recruiter or hiring manager who lands on his profile sees proof of his capability immediately. Not claims. Proof.

This pattern repeats with almost every executive I audit.

Their best stuff is buried. Sitting in old slide decks. Forgotten project folders. Archived emails.

Meanwhile their Featured Section is either empty or filled with generic content that does nothing.

Your Featured Section is prime real estate:

First substantial content anyone sees
Above your About section
Above your experience
Creates engagement momentum

And most executives are completely wasting it.

What belongs in your Featured Section:

✓ Live demonstrations of your work
✓ Published thought leadership
✓ Major presentations or speaking engagements
✓ Case studies with quantified results
✓ Media mentions and press coverage
✓ Strategic frameworks you've developed

What doesn't belong:

❌ Your resume PDF
❌ Generic company presentations
❌ Certification badges
❌ Stock photos or inspirational quotes
❌ Outdated irrelevant work

The action item is simple:

Go look at your Featured Section right now. Then ask yourself: Is my best work visible, or is it buried in a folder somewhere?

If it's buried, spend 2-3 hours this week fixing that.

Your next opportunity might come from a recruiter who lands on your profile for 30 seconds.

What do you want them to see first?

Ready to Make Your Best Work Visible?

Your LinkedIn profile is your first impression with every recruiter and hiring manager. Make it count.

Get Your Free LinkedIn Assessment and I'll audit your profile including your Featured Section strategy.

Contact Me to discuss a comprehensive LinkedIn profile optimization.

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