Separate church and state: Now more established in her career, Nielsen says she feels more free to lean into that comedic persona. “Being really authentic has served me really well,” she says. “I don’t necessarily make a ton of effort to separate church and state.”

That blend of personal and professional has paid off, leading to speaking engagements, sponsored content deals, and valuable networking opportunities. “Having a personal brand—or a cult of personality, so to speak—has served me well in all my professional endeavors,” she adds.

Changing expectations: Still, Nielsen acknowledges there’s a line to walk. “There’s obviously a line in terms of how unhinged you can be on a professional platform,” she notes. But she sees a shift in what’s acceptable: “People are much less hesitant to post fun content on LinkedIn. Five years ago, it was really scary to do that for most people.”

On the right path: Her posts have covered everything from SaaS pricing to tariffs—infused with dry wit and meme-ready formatting. “I think I’ve built up credibility and earned the right to joke like that,” she says. “It’s not for everybody, but the majority of the feedback I get is so positive that it lets me know I’m on the right path.”

Political limits: Nielsen is also aware of the limits: “You definitely have to use discretion in terms of how honest and open you want to be,” she says. She avoids political content, preferring to “make light of everything that’s happening” rather than take a stance. “It really doesn’t serve anyone to take a stance if your company has nothing to do with politics.”

Amidst an exponential increase of AI fluff, Nielsen sees a growing appetite for authenticity—and humor. “People appreciate refreshing content,” she says. And she’s happy to keep providing it, one tweet, LinkedIn post, or T-shirt at a time.