Power Player… Based on What? A Fair Question About Recognition and Results
I saw the #Nextdoor #LinkedIn post about the Inman Power Players Awards:
https://www.inman.com/power-players-awards/
So I’ll ask a simple, good-faith question that any investor, user, or journalist should be able to ask:
Can someone name one concrete thing #NiravTolia has done in 2025 to actively connect neighbors?
This isn’t about history. Yes—Nirav founded #Nextdoor—credit where it’s due. But awards like #PowerPlayer are supposed to reflect current impact, not legacy origin stories.
What many users experience today
- Neighbors are divided against neighbors
- Community conflict amplified by unpaid, opaque moderators
- Suspensions without transparency or consistent appeals
- Businesses questioning ROI
- Investors questioning governance and reported engagement
That’s not “connection.” That’s fragmentation.
About awards and recognition
Joe Rogan recently pointed out that he was not nominated for a podcast award because he refused to pay a nomination fee. That raised an important, broader question—not an accusation, but a process question:
- How are nominees selected?
- Is recognition tied to measurable outcomes?
- Are fees, submissions, or PR efforts part of the equation?
- What standards separate marketing from merit?
Those questions matter—especially when the award implies influence and leadership.
The core issue
If a platform claims its mission is to connect neighbors, then leadership should be evaluated on:
- Engagement during crises
- Transparency in moderation
-Responsiveness to users and investors
- Measurable improvements in trust and community health
If those outcomes aren’t visible, then recognition feels disconnected from reality.
This isn’t personal. It’s about alignment between awards, impact, and accountability.
Suppose I’m missing the evidence—great. Let’s see it because titles are easy. Results are not.
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#Nextdoor #Leadership #Accountability #CorporateGovernance #PlatformTrust #Community #DigitalPlatforms #Inman #PowerPlayers #NiravTolia
