Shows
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBuilding A Growth Marketer’s 90-Day Plan — in 64 Minutes (Jay Desai)Download my customizable 90 Day Plan here: https://deliveringvalue.co/90In this episode, Jay Desai, Growth Lead at Navattic, shares his approach to stepping into an early-stage growth role with clarity and purpose. He reflects on how his first 90 days were spent gaining product knowledge, ramping up without burnout, and aligning cross-functional teams around a unified vision of growth.Jay talks about the ambiguity of growth roles and how the early days are about building relationships, learning, and strategic prioritization. He explains how he uses frameworks like “task-relevant maturity” and sprint systems to manage expectations while deli...
2026-02-031h 03
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productVP of Product: I was passed over for my dream role… twice! (Scott McNeely)In this episode, Scott McNeely, Head of Product and founding team member at Epicurate and co-founder of Modern Adventure, traces his journey from “kid with an Apple II+ in his mom’s dessert business” to building and scaling product teams in travel, publishing, and tech. He reflects on growing up in humble circumstances while attending an elite LA boys’ school, stumbling into travel writing, and then helping Lonely Planet and Viator navigate the shift from print to digital products. Along the way, Scott shares how his bias for action, love of ideas, and willingness to figure things out on the fly...
2026-01-2058 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe name of this podcast just changed - here's whyIn this solo episode, I share the thinking behind a major evolution of the show and its new name: Growing Forward.I walk through what I learned while building the podcast, where the original positioning fell short, and how listener feedback helped clarify the show’s true purpose.In this conversation, you’ll hear:Why the original name worked early on, and why it was time to change itWhat listener feedback revealed about who the show is really forHow the new direction centers on growth through real leadership momentsThings to listen for:
2026-01-1409 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Podcast Is Changing. Here’s What’s Coming Next (Behind the Scenes)In this special solo episode, I pull back the curtain and share a behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the show. In this conversation, you’ll hear:Why I started the show - and what I’ve learned after 85 eps.How I’m reshaping the show to blend storytelling with practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately.Why expanding the format unlocks more impact, more value, and more meaningful connection with listeners like you.Things to listen for:(00:00) Intro(00:32) The journey so far(01:39) Behind the scenes(06:37) The challe...
2026-01-1216 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product“I thought layoffs were for underperformers. Then it happened to me.” (Growth PMM, Vimeo) (Don McGray)In this episode, Don McGray, product marketing leader and Head of Growth PMM at Vimeo (formerly Dropbox and Airtable), shares how to separate identity from performance without dialing down ambition. From being told his launch plan was “C-plus work” to navigating a surprise layoff, Don shares the inner-game shifts that helped him rebuild trust, make cleaner calls, and keep moving in high-stakes environments.Don gets specific about executive alignment (and the invisible pre-meeting “backchannel”), the moment he realized he was in the wrong role—and said it out loud—and why cultivating distance from work (and toward real hobbies...
2026-01-0652 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productEx Chief Growth Officer — How Top Leaders Recover From Public Mistakes (Luke Wallace)In this episode, Luke Wallace, founder-turned-fractional growth leader and former Chief Growth Officer at Zipline Education, opens up about the moment high-visibility mistakes hit customers and forced him to rebuild his operating system. He shares the CEO feedback that drew a line between being nice and being kind, why he chose to hire an executive coach instead of switching jobs, and how he moved from heroic execution to scalable systems that don’t break under pressure.Luke talks about over-communicating up and across with data, rebuilding trust after public misses, and setting binary outcomes that make expectations un...
2025-12-0247 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productGrowth PM: They Said My Accent Would Hold Me Back — I Got Promoted Anyway (Diego von Söhsten)In this episode, Diego von Söhsten, immigrant operator, product leader, and Director of Product Growth at Jobber, opens up about the “after you’ve already proven yourself” flavor of imposter syndrome. He recounts a moment when a senior executive publicly tore down his work (and blamed his accent), and how he rebuilt confidence, created alignment without air cover, and ultimately earned a promotion while shipping a freemium foundation that mattered when COVID hit.Diego talks about learning to over-communicate up and across, turning anti-role-models into fuel for the leader he wanted to become, and building a growth...
2025-11-1852 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productFormer CMO shares her inner game secrets (used by the Top 1%) (Kelly Gillease)In this episode, Kelly Gillease, two-time CMO, daily meditator, and former search marketer turned executive leader, talks candidly about the inner game behind durable leadership. She traces her path from debating podiums to performance marketing at Hotwire, through scale-up chaos at NerdWallet and post-acquisition life at TripAdvisor/Viator—sharing how mindfulness, therapy, and a “true, kind, necessary” feedback filter helped her steady teams when everything felt on fire.Kelly opens up about a tough DEI misstep, how she took the feedback without getting defensive, and why she chose to “run toward” hard conversations instead of retreat. She gets tacti...
2025-11-0451 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis VP of Growth Quit Her Dream Role (and got her life back) (Mallory Contois)In this episode, Mallory Contois, VP of Growth at Maven and founder of The Old Girls Club, traces her path from hypergrowth operator to community builder. She reflects on the “up, down, up” rhythm of her career, from Pinterest’s rocket ship years to rediscovering fit after leaving Metafy, and shares what she’s learned about ego, feedback, and identity along the way.Mallory opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and how that reframed her communication, leadership, and approach to feedback. She explains why no one is an “A-player everywhere,” how environment shapes performance...
2025-10-2150 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Marketer Got Laid Off—Being Vulnerable 10x’d His Opportunities (Ryan McCready)In this episode, Ryan McCready, content leader turned Principal Content Engineer at Demostack, opens up about the moments that shaped his path: hacking distribution in the early “monoculture SEO” days, sharpening his voice through roles at Foundation, Reforge, and Whimsical, and facing his first layoff. He shares candid stories about creator burnout after viral teardowns, being the last marketer standing after cuts, and the gut punch of being told he hadn’t delivered on a role that had completely changed. When the market went quiet, Ryan turned the setback into a story on LinkedIn, igniting a thousand DMs, weeks of int...
2025-10-0754 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product3x Founder: The Hardest Conversation I Ever Had With My Team—And What I Should Have Said Instead (Kirk Reynolds)In this episode, Kirk Reynolds, seasoned founder and now the creator of Wilder Retreats, opens up about the hardest conversations of his career. From telling his 55-person team that he was selling the company without sharing the real reason, to navigating the identity crisis that came when the acquirer shut it down, Kirk reflects on what it means to lead with honesty, even when fear and burnout make it tempting to hide.He also shares how blunt feedback about being a “people pleaser” reshaped the way he manages, and why processing failure and loss is just as impo...
2025-09-2352 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productProduct VP: I Got Shushed in a C-Suite Meeting — And It Redefined My Leadership (Heidi Gibson)In this episode, Heidi Gibson, product and growth leader with stints at companies like GoDaddy, Typeform, and Bill.com, reflects on the pivotal lessons from her unconventional career path. From welding nuclear submarines to becoming VP of Product, Heidi shares how resilience, feedback, and self-awareness shaped her leadership journey.Heidi opens up about the realities of imposter syndrome, learning to present to executives, and navigating tough interpersonal conflicts as a manager, all while building a reputation as a trusted, people-first leader.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why tailoring your communication for executives can ch...
2025-09-1651 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe #1 Trap Ambitious Startup Leaders Fall Into (From Gong & Clari’s Former Content Lead) (Devin Reed)In this episode, Devin Reed, one of the leading voices in content and marketing, opens up about the defining moments that shaped his career—from growing up between two very different cultures in Sacramento to building a name for himself at Eventbrite, Gong, and Clari before stepping out on his own. He shares candid stories of career pivots, from giving up on his dream of teaching to unexpectedly landing in tech sales, and later realizing his sweet spot in content marketing. Devin reflects on the sting of being graded a “seven” at a company that recruited him aggressively, the intimi...
2025-09-0951 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy Imposter Syndrome Hits Startup Leaders Every 18 Months (Ex-CPO of Amplitude Explains) (Justin Bauer)In this episode, Justin Bauer, former Chief Product Officer at Amplitude and now one of the most sought-after product advisors in AI, talks about the pivotal career moments that shaped his leadership style. From betting everything on a tiny startup with 13 people to navigating layoffs and leveling conversations, Justin shares how he learned to lead with clarity, humility, and courage.He also reflects on what it takes to thrive in a high-growth environment — and how to reinvent yourself every 18 months to stay relevant. This is a conversation about ambition, emotional resilience, and how to earn trust when th...
2025-08-261h 00
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe Silent Secret to Becoming a Better Product Leader (from a Head of Product Growth) (Rana Mumtaz)In this episode, Rana Mumtaz, Product Growth Leader, reflects on the defining moments that shaped her personal and professional identity—from quietly adapting to American culture as a soft-spoken engineering student to building products at the New York Stock Exchange and navigating executive rooms as a banking outsider.She opens up about career pivots that required unshakable self-belief, including her leap from civil engineering to software, and the moment she realized her leadership potential didn’t need to follow anyone else’s blueprint. Rana shares how difficult conversations, strategic missteps, and cultural friction all played a role in hel...
2025-08-1954 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product4x CMO: I Lost My First CMO Role — Because of My Own Mistakes (Joanna Lord)In this episode, Joanna Lord, global CMO, board advisor, and multi-time tech executive, reflects on the moments that forced her to grow the most. She shares how being passed over for a promotion after a colleague threatened to quit cracked open her entire leadership style, as well as the AMA that sent her into a full-blown panic attack just days into a new global CMO role. These moments became turning points, pushing her to shift from a self-focused high performer to a more collaborative and self-aware leader.Joanna also talks about impostor syndrome, recovering from public missteps...
2025-08-1254 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy VC-Backed Startups Are So Draining — They Put Pressure on Families (Raj Singh)In this episode, Raj Singh, multi-time founder and current VP of Product at Mozilla, opens up about the moments that nearly unraveled his career. From getting called into HR over a side hustle to walking away from a startup after being unexpectedly leveled, Raj shares what it’s like to navigate the highs and lows of building without losing your identity.He walks us through multiple pivots, including the time he turned down a seven-figure exit and the brutal leadership decision that nearly cost him a co-founder. Raj doesn’t just talk strategy, he gets into...
2025-07-2857 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Founder Had Weeks of Runway Left—Then Took a Risk That Saved the Company (Gururaj Pandurangi)In this episode, Gururaj Pandurangi, three-time founder and CEO of ThriveStack, opens up about the near-death moments, pivots, and internal reckonings that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. From growing up in Mumbai with dreams of becoming a scientist to leading multi-million dollar product bets at startups backed by Microsoft and Deloitte, Guru shares what it really takes to build when the vision keeps shifting and the runway keeps shrinking.He walks us through two moments when his companies nearly ran out of money and the uncomfortable decisions that pulled them back from the edge. From flipping into consulting...
2025-07-2357 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThey Said, “You’re Too Nice to Lead This Team” — Now He’s Head of Growth at Adobe (Michael Leibovich)Can you be too nice to lead?In this episode, Michael Leibovich, GM and Head of Growth at Adobe, shares the career pivots, personal awakenings, and leadership lessons that shaped his unconventional journey from touring musician to executive. Michael opens up about getting fired, receiving feedback that questioned his approach to leadership, and learning how to balance empathy with outcomes. From scaling growth teams at Vimeo, Mindbody, AppFolio, and Abstract to navigating the emotional weight of letting someone go, Michael brings clarity to the messy, human side of leadership.We explore how feedback becomes identity-shaping...
2025-07-1551 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe Feedback Felt Personal—But I Wasn’t the Problem (Steph Pennell)What happens when your dream job starts crushing your values instead of honoring them?In this episode, Steph Pennell—founder of The Event Critic and former marketing leader—opens up about the moments that pushed her to reevaluate everything. From getting a shocking piece of feedback about wearing red lipstick to quitting a high-profile job with no backup plan, Steph shares what it takes to walk away from misalignment and rebuild your career around who you actually are.We talk about the events industry, the power of self-awareness, and how manifestation, ADHD diagnosis, and human desi...
2025-06-3048 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis VP’s Direct Report Asked: “Am I Getting Fired?” — Her Answer Changed Everything (Shannon Curran)What happens when you finally land the leadership role you’ve been working toward—only to realize it’s not what you imagined?In this episode, Shannon Curran—former VP of Marketing at MadKudu and now founder of SSC Consulting—opens up about the real moments that shaped her career. From growing up as a risk-averse high achiever to becoming a solopreneur trusted by founders, Shannon shares the feedback that shook her, the environments that helped her grow, and the human-first leadership lessons she learned the hard way.We unpack why cultural fit isn’t fluff, how t...
2025-06-2458 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Product Leader Walked Out of the Office at 9AM — And Didn’t Go Back (Else van der Berg)What makes someone walk away from a PhD, a career in law, and the startup that made them?In this episode, I sit down with Else van der Berg—a former head of product turned solopreneur—to unpack the hard-earned lessons from the burnout that nearly broke her. Else shares how working 80-hour weeks and tying her identity to performance pushed her to the brink—and what changed afterward.We talk about how startup culture, pressure to “always be on,” and even toxic leadership can distort your sense of success. Else doesn’t just reflect on the crash...
2025-06-1758 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productShe Tried to Be the “Nice” CEO—Here’s What Went Wrong (Devin Bramhall)Devin Bramhall has been a VP of marketing, a CEO, a fractional CMO, and now an author, but none of that came without falling on her face multiple times.In this episode, Devin opens up about the mistakes that got her fired (twice), the time she unknowingly helped commit financial fraud, and the zero-tolerance plagiarism incident that backfired in the worst way. Through all of it, she’s held onto her belief that everything from leadership to content strategy is made up, and that’s exactly why you can rewrite the rules.Devin shares what it m...
2025-06-101h 00
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy This Product Marketing Expert Walked Away From a $2B Exit—With No Regrets (Jason Oakley)What makes someone leave a high-paying product marketing role just before a massive acquisition?In this episode, I sit down with Jason Oakley—founder of Productive PMM and co-founder of Demo Dash—to unpack the bold career decisions that shaped his journey in tech. From leading product marketing at a hypergrowth startup to becoming a full-time creator and consultant, Jason shares the systems, mindset shifts, and lessons that helped him bet on himself.We talk about what it really takes to succeed in product marketing today—and why your biggest edge might come from making uncomf...
2025-06-041h 01
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productShe Used to Work With Teens in Crisis—Now She Runs a Content Business (Erin Balsa)Erin Balsa’s journey from teaching troubled teens to becoming a solopreneur in content marketing is anything but conventional. After a rewarding but challenging career in education, Erin found herself pivoting to tech marketing, working her way up to director roles at companies like Predictive Index. But the leap from the corporate world to running her own business wasn’t without its hurdles.In this conversation, Erin shares the unique challenges she faced transitioning from a public school teacher to a content strategist, the value of following her heart, and the lessons learned along the way. From mana...
2025-05-281h 00
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow a Career-Defining Mistake Shaped This CEO (Ty Magnin)Ty Magnin, former marketing leader at Appcues and UiPath, now CEO at Animalz, made a mistake that could’ve ended his career.While leading a team at UiPath, he accidentally uploaded a private doc that outlined a power shift — and the wrong person saw it. What followed was a firestorm of Slack messages, a panic spiral, and a career-defining moment of humility and growth.In this conversation, Ty shares the leadership mistakes that almost got him fired, the ambition that fueled (and nearly derailed) his rise, and the inner work that helped him become a more...
2025-05-2054 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productVP of Product: The Career-Altering Feedback No Leader Wants to Hear (Elena Luneva)Elena Luneva, VP of Product at GoFundMe, opens up about the hard-earned lessons that shaped her leadership journey—from navigating layoffs early in her career to building a business unit from scratch at Nextdoor. In this episode, Elena shares how receiving career-altering feedback about her confidence changed her trajectory, why moving from “being right” to “being effective” became a career mantra, and how she learned to lead through massive uncertainty.Elena opens up about:The feedback that hit her “like a freight train” and what she did nextHow growing up as an immigrant shap...
2025-05-1352 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy VP of Marketing is a Brutal Job - Even When You're Crushing It (April Dunford)This episode is presented by:AppUnite: The right dev partner can make or break your product. AppUnite embeds with your team to build apps that scale. - https://bit.ly/3QOKHtTFullstory: Behavioral data that empowers - https://fullstory.com/valueApril Dunford, author and globally recognized expert on product positioning, reflects on her unconventional journey from aspiring doctor to tech executive to in-demand consultant. In this episode, she shares what made her finally walk away from VP marketing roles, how she reinvented her career in her late 40s, and why teaching, not...
2025-05-061h 07
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy VP of Marketing is a Brutal Job - Even When You're Crushing It (April Dunford)April Dunford, author and globally recognized expert on product positioning, reflects on her unconventional journey from aspiring doctor to tech executive to in-demand consultant. In this episode, she shares what made her finally walk away from VP marketing roles, how she reinvented her career in her late 40s, and why teaching, not advising, is at the heart of her business today.April opens up about:-The burnout and politics that pushed her to “fire herself” and leave startup life-How imposter syndrome nearly kept her from recognizing her true superpower-What she...
2025-05-051h 07
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product“You Haven’t Built Anything”: The Feedback That Triggered Imposter Syndrome (Amaan Nathoo)Amaan Nathoo is a former VP of Growth turned fractional growth advisor, with deep experience navigating fast-growing startups and the emotional rollercoaster of career transitions. In this episode, Amaan opens up about how a founder’s offhand remark early in a new role shook his confidence, how imposter syndrome shows up in subtle ways, and why he ultimately chose to walk away from a full-time leadership role to build a consulting practice from scratch.Amaan opens up about:- What happened when a founder questioned if he’d ever “built anything”- Why unchecke...
2025-04-291h 03
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHe Got Laid Off With a Baby on the Way - Then Became One of the World's Best Content Marketers (John Bonini)This episode is presented by:AppUnite: The right dev partner can make or break your product. AppUnite embeds with your team to build apps that scale. - https://bit.ly/3QOKHtTFullstory: Behavioral data that empowers - https://fullstory.com/valueJohn Bonini, founder of Content Brands, opens up about his early struggles building an audience—before realizing the power of original thinking, consistency, and fully owning his voice. From navigating burnout to taking a bold leap into his own creative studio, John shares how publishing online changed the trajectory of his career and personal life.Jo...
2025-04-231h 19
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow a GTM Expert Knew It Was Time to Leave—And Had the Courage to Act (Maja Voje)Maja Voje, a go-to-market consultant and bestselling author of The Go-To-Market Strategist, has worked with over 800 companies, from Google and Rocket Internet to startups and scale-ups. But even with an impressive career, she’s had to make tough calls—like recognizing when it’s time to walk away from a role.Maja opens up about:- The fear of overstaying vs. leaving too soon- How she evaluates whether to stick with a role or move on- Lessons from working with limited resources and competing against well-funded companiesThings...
2025-04-081h 06
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Chief Product Officer Was Stuck… Until She Learned to Play Corporate Politics (Yue Zhao)Yue Zhao, former PM at Meta and Instagram, and Founder of The Uncommon Executive, shares how she struggled with promotions early in her career—until she learned how to navigate corporate politics. From feeling stuck in a startup to learning how influence and perception shape career growth, Yue opens up about the pivotal lessons that changed her approach and ultimately helped her scale to leadership roles in tech.Yue opens up about:-The moment she realized working harder wasn’t enough to get promoted-How she learned to build influence and position herself for...
2025-04-011h 12
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Product Leader Changed Herself to Please Her Boss—Then Reached a Breaking Point (Mackenzie Hughes)Mackenzie Hughes, Co-Founder of GoldHue and former Product Ops Leader, shares how she navigated career pivots, overcame self-doubt, and ultimately built a business rooted in purpose. From knocking on doors as a political canvasser to leading product teams at high-growth startups. Mackenzie reflects on the pressures of leadership, the identity shifts that come with climbing the corporate ladder, and the moment she realized she had been contorting herself to fit an environment that was never built for her.Mackenzie opens up about:- The gut feeling she ignored when stepping into...
2025-03-2556 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHis Startup Got into YC, Grew 10x in 6mos - Then His Co-Founder Asked Him to Leave (Pranav Priyush)Pranav Piyush, CEO and Co-Founder of Paramark, shares the moments that shaped his journey from scaling a YC startup to facing a co-founder breakup and battling imposter syndrome while fundraising. He reflects on the tough feedback that shook his confidence at Dropbox, the mindset shifts that kept him moving forward, and why resilience isn’t just about working harder, it’s about trusting your instincts, staying clear-eyed under pressure, and embracing the uncomfortable moments that lead to real growth.Pranav opens up about:The wake-up call that forced him to rethink how he navigated internal politicsHow his...
2025-03-1852 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHer Boss Said She’d Never Make It—Now She’s One of the World’s Top SEO and PPC ExpertsTiffany DaSilva – SEO and PPC consultant, Founder of DaSilva Consulting, and educator with programs at McMaster University and Grow Class, shares the defining moments that shaped her career and personal growth.From breaking into the male-dominated tech space to starting her own business after a near-death experience, Tiffany reflects on her journey with honesty and resilience. With 19 years of experience, over 500 websites, and 300 clients under her belt, she opens up about her struggles, victories, and the lessons learned along the way.Tiffany opens up about:Walking out of a toxic unicorn startup and rebuilding he...
2025-03-111h 06
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Startup Founder Was Too Intense—How They Learned to Stop Taking Themselves So SeriouslyAustin Hay, co-founder of Clarify, shares candid insights into his journey as a startup leader. From navigating a messy exit to overcoming personal loss, Austin reflects on the experiences that have shaped him both professionally and personally.Austin opens up about:His struggles with taking work too seriously and learning to balance ambition with self-careNavigating bereavement while managing a demanding roleBuilding resilience through challenging career transitions Things to listen for: (00:00) Taking everything way too seriously (06:27) Growing up as an academic nerd and entrepreneurial roots (15:22) Lessons from leaving...
2025-03-041h 07
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productSVP of Product Shares the Limiting Belief Holding Leaders Back (Ciara Peter)Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin, opens up about the career highs and lows that shaped her leadership journey.From navigating imposter syndrome to overcoming burnout in Silicon Valley startups, Ciara shares the pivotal lessons that helped her find confidence and clarity. She takes us behind the scenes of her time at Salesforce, the mistakes that taught her the most, and how prioritizing trust and alignment transformed her career.
Ciara opens up about:Facing imposter syndrome as a new managerHer viral LinkedIn post showcasing 15 years of struggle behind her successAlmost crashing a live demo in...
2025-02-251h 01
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productEx CMO: I Quit After 16 Years of Climbing the Ladder - and Redefined Success (Annie Katrina Lee)Annie Katrina Lee, Co-Founder and Principal of Penknife Collective, opens up about the moments that challenged her identity and reshaped her perspective on success. From bold career moves at Microsoft to walking away from high-profile CMO roles, Annie shares how she navigated rejection, imposter syndrome, and the evolving priorities of motherhood.Annie opens up about:Landing her first tech role at Microsoft by taking a bold riskFacing rejection and rebuilding confidenceHow becoming a mother at the height of her career reshaped her identity and prioritiesThe tough feedback that taught her the importance of balance
2025-02-1852 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow Reforge’s CEO Survived Burnout—And Came Back Stronger (Brian Balfour)Brian Balfour, Founder & CEO of Reforge, shares raw insights from his entrepreneurial journey. From navigating burnout and sleep disorders to rebuilding trust after tough feedback, Brian reflects on the challenges that shaped his leadership philosophy and personal growth.Brian opens up about:Feeling “broken” during a burnout moment that forced him to step back and resetStruggling with imposter syndrome and comparing himself to peers like Mark ZuckerbergLessons learned from career lows, including a product shutdown and a legal battleThings to listen for:(00:00) Brian Balfour: burnout and feeling broken(02:33) Building deeper conn...
2025-02-1155 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThis Head of Product Resigned Without a Plan - And Found What Really Mattered (Erika Warren)Erika Warren, Co-Founder & CEO of Insightful, reflects on the pivotal moments that tested her confidence and redefined her career. From being blindsided by a job change at Grubhub to walking away from a role she couldn’t fix, Erika shares how she navigated self-doubt, burnout, and the pressure of being the primary earner for her family.Erika opens up about:Crying in a meeting after being handed a new role she didn’t understandLeaving Change.org without another job lined up, despite the financial risksNavigating a crisis of confidence and learning to separate her identity from prof...
2025-01-2153 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow Acorns Former VP of Growth Survived A Work CrisisHow Acorns Former VP of Growth Survived A Work CrisisAnthony Scarpaci - Former VP of Growth at Acorns and Founder of TUNOMATIC, shares the toughest moments in his career that shaped his leadership philosophy. From navigating high-stakes mistakes to balancing empathy with assertiveness, Anthony opens up about the defining experiences that molded him into the leader he is today. He reflects on his journey across growth roles at companies like Betterment, NerdWallet, and Blue Apron, while offering candid advice for leaders facing their own career challenges.Anthony opens up about:1. Making a massive mistake early in his career and being told it could cost...
2025-01-1456 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow a VP of Product (Turned Exec Coach) Learned to Project Confidence Under Pressure (Tara Goldman)Tara Goldman, Co-Founder of GoldHue, reflects on her journey from VP of Product to executive coach. She shares vulnerable stories about the mask she had to wear in certain environments, maneuvering the pressures of high-stakes board meetings filled with “bro” executives, and striking a balance between personal values and professional expectations. Tara opens up about:Practicing 20+ hours to prepare for her first board meeting—and still feeling unpreparedHow her identity became tied to her job and the toll it took on her family and personal lifeThe emotional journey of transitioning from a trusted #2 to taking the reins...
2025-01-0757 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHe Built Superhuman's Growth Team - Then Chose to "Give Away the Legos" (Gaurav Vohra)Gaurav Vohra—a founding team member at Superhuman—reflects on pivotal moments that shaped his career in tech. He shares the highs and lows of scaling teams, stepping back when necessary, and dealing with imposter syndrome. Gaurav opens up about:1. His transition from management consulting to the tech world2. The challenges of leading a large team and recognizing when someone else might be better suited to take over3. Struggling with imposter syndrome and learning to adapt as a leaderThings to listen for:(00:00) Gaurav opens up on his...
2024-12-1755 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productShe Built Uber’s Marketing Team —Then Had to Reapply For Her Job (Irina Scarlat)Irina Scarlat is the VP of Growth at ICEO (a venture builder) and has built marketing and growth teams at Uber, Revolut, Bitpanda, and Pearson along the way. In this conversation, she reflects on pivotal moments in her career, sharing how they shaped her leadership style and personal development. Irina talks about the emotional challenges of going through corporate restructuring, the importance of maintaining work-life balance, and the tools she uses to combat workplace anxiety.Irina opens up about:1. Being forced to reapply for her job at Uber after a massive shakeup2. The...
2024-12-1056 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow a VP of Growth Marketing Responded When They Offered Her a Senior Role - Without a Title ChangeMeredith Rosenbloom - VP of Growth Marketing at Zola, reflects on some challenging moments in her career that molded her into the leader she is today. She recounts her journey from sports marketing to growth roles at companies like Grubhub and Parsley Health while opening up about the challenges she’s faced along the way. Meredith shares the impact of critical feedback, managing career transitions, and returning to work as a new parent.Meredith opens up about:Being asked to take on more responsibility without a title promotion at GrubhubReceiving feedback about her voice inflection and ho...
2024-12-0349 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productFrom product manager to leadership coach: 3 career-changing lessons on my journey (Diana Stepner)Diana Stepner shares three pivotal lessons from her journey transitioning from Product Manager to Leadership Coach. She discusses the importance of making your manager shine, navigating team dynamics, and why building trust is essential for career growth. Diana also reflects on why the characteristics that earned her praise early on in a company consistently turned into points of negative feedback.Diana opens up about:1. Why the same attributes that earned her praise could also create detractors 2. The challenges of being both overqualified and underqualified3. Learning how to balance self-driven success with...
2024-11-2642 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the scenes: why Navattic just launched a free planNatalie Marcotullio, Head of Growth at Navattic, takes us in for a behind-the-scenes look into the process of launching their freemium motion. Going through the strategic reasons behind the shift and how it fits into their overall growth strategy, she reflects on the challenges of aligning the sales team, navigating risk, and measuring success in both the short and long term. Natalie also shares her perspective on the realities of product-led growth, the importance of soft-pitching ideas, and the unexpected lessons learned during the launch process.Natalie opens up about: The excitement and pressure...
2024-11-1220 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productOvercoming stress & burnout: I had a panic attack but still went to the meeting (Sarah Stockdale)In this episode, Sarah Stockdale, founder of Growclass, shares her journey of overcoming burnout while leading growth teams at tech startups, addressing gender bias in the workplace, and building a thriving community for marketers. She reflects on how these experiences shaped her leadership style, approach to mental health, and entrepreneurship.Sarah opens up about:Witnessing a mass layoff and facing inappropriate comments from a coworkerPushing herself so hard that she had a panic attack on her way to a partnership meetingMaking the bold decision to take a risk on...
2024-11-0549 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productProduct-led Onboarding Expert Gets Screamed at By CEO: Lessons Learned (Ramli John)Ramli John - Founder of Delight Path, shares core memories from his teenage years that inspired his entrepreneurial journey. Explores how attaching his worth to his achievements was making him act like a jerk. Shares stories from the worst boss he ever had. And discusses the toughest feedback that he’s received (and what he’s doing about it).Ramli opens up about:1. Seeing his dad get laid off after 15 years and how that shook his belief in relying on one employer.2. A CEO screaming at their CTO and team members, creating a toxi...
2024-10-1550 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productChronic stress made me think I had early-onset dementia (Emma Stratton, Punchy)Emma Stratton is the founder of Punchy and author of Make it Punchy. In this conversation, Emma shares her journey from being a creative writer to successful entrepreneur. She discusses the challenges she faced in finding her passion and starting her own business. How she overcame money mindset issues. And the significance of following your heart and finding your purpose in order to unlock true success.Emma opens up about:When she was in a job that she knew was 100% wrong for herThe panic attack revolving around money that she experienced when she quit her jobThe...
2024-10-0153 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productNavigating maternity leave and leadership challenges - with Georgiana Laudi ( Forget the Funnel)In this conversation, Georgiana Laudi, co-founder of Forget the Funnel, shares her background and journey into B2B SaaS. From working in her family’s retail florist business, to becoming the VP of Marketing at Unbounce, and advising a bunch of impressive companies. We explore some of the speed bumps and challenging moments in Gia’s journey along the way.Gia opens up about:Returning from maternity leave and learning someone had been hired above her.The challenges of managing a rapidly growing teamGetting feedback that she’s intimidatingThe...
2024-09-1758 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI was fired - then started my business - with Wes Bush (CEO, ProductLed)In this conversation, Wes Bush, the founder and CEO of ProductLed, talks about his background and journey in the product-led growth space. We start by exploring his childhood, entrepreneurial drive, and transition into the tech world. Then, Wes reflects on being fired from his job at Vidyard, how that experience fueled him to start his own business, and how he navigates being a leader today. Along the way, we explored some of the speed bumps in his journey: from making tough decisions as a leader, maintaining emotional distance from his team, managing anxiety, and finding balance while traveling.
2024-09-0354 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI had imposter syndrome and stayed in a role I hated - with Talia Wolf (Founder, Getuplift)In this episode, Talia Wolf, CEO and Founder of GetUplift, shares her experiences growing up in a family that valued hard work, her early jobs as a waitress and skydiver, her transition into the tech, marketing, and CRO world - and many of challenging moments along the way, including balancing her career and motherhood, the need to ask for help from your support system, and navigating critical feedback.In this episode, you’ll hear about:Staying in a CMO role she didn’t like because she was afraid to start her own businessBein...
2024-08-2057 min
Startup DadBottle Washing Hacks, Solopreneurship and Newborn Babies | Andrew Capland (Dad of 2, Delivering Value, Postscript, Wistia)Andrew Capland is the founder of Growth coaching and advisory, Delivering Value. He’s also been the Head of Growth at Postscript and Wistia and was an early employee at Hubspot. He’s a loving husband and the father of two kids, including one who was 6 weeks old during our chat! In our conversation today we discussed:* Going from one kid to two and thriving with a newborn* Managing your life and paternity leave as a Solopreneur* The support structures needed with a second kid* Bottle washing hacks!* What do y...
2024-08-0154 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI was Known as the Intense Guy - ft. Yuriy Timen (Grammarly, Canva, Airtable)In this episode, Yuriy Timen, SaaS advisor and solopreneur, discusses career mistakes and growth, his experiences at Grammarly, including intense work ethic and empathetic leadership, and the importance of radical candor and strategic thinking in professional relationships.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. How Yuriy's upbringing during the collapse of the Soviet Union shaped his values and work ethic2. Career mistakes and feeling self-conscious about switching jobs every year3. Being told he lacked empathy and didn’t put enough emphasis on building interpersonal relationships4. His experience suddenly becoming unem...
2024-07-2349 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe mistakes I made becoming a new leader - (ft. Kate Syuma - Growth Advisor, ex MIRO)In this episode, Kate Syuma, growth advisor and creator of Growth Mates, reflects on the low points in her career, the challenges she faced in her transition to leadership at Miro, and her journey toward embracing uncertainty and authenticity as a solopreneur.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. Adjusting her leadership style after receiving feedback about being too reactive2. Having an open career conversation with her manager and deciding to stay at Miro3. The hiring mistake that happened after ignoring her gut feelings Things to listen for:...
2024-07-0954 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI Decided to Hold a No-Holds-Barred Feedback Session with my Team(ft. Samantha Leal - Growth Advisor)In this episode, Samantha Leal, Growth Advisor, discusses her journey and experiences in the SaaS PLG marketing world, the importance of understanding and practicing critical thinking and effective communication in leadership roles, and the blend of art and science in marketing.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Samantha knew she needed a radical shift in her approach and decided to hold a no-holds-barred feedback session with her team2. Samantha’s boss telling her word-for-word she “lacked critical thinking skills”3. The moment when Samantha had to take over the marketing and felt...
2024-06-1852 min
Growthmates: Create and Grow Meaningful Products & CareersUnpacking a New Growth Playbook with Andrew Capland (Growth Coach, ex-Wisia)Welcome to Growthmates. This is Kate Syuma, Growth advisor, previously Head of Growth Design at Miro. I’m building Growthmates as a place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Get all episodes and a free playbook for Growth teams on our brand-new website — growthamtes.club, and press follow to support us on your favorite platforms. Thanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts...
2024-06-1852 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product“Great job! But you’re not getting a raise.” (ft. Joe Wilkinson - Artisan Strategies)In this episode, Joe Wilkinson, Founder and CEO at Artisan Strategies, discusses some of the challenges he’s faced in his career, his personal journey into handling workplace stress, and the lessons learned from handling transparency during company changes.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. The time when Joe trained an individual to take over the team he was leading, just for him to transfer to a different team2. When Joe was stuck between choosing his friend or the company he was working at3. Joe’s boss telling him, “Great job ever...
2024-06-1155 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI tried lowering my voice to sound more senior - now I’m myself (ft. Amanda Natividad - Sparktoro)In this episode, Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at SparkToro, talks about some of the low points in her career, the toughest feedback she’s ever received, how she navigates burnout, and how she’s been able to find her authentic voice as a leader.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Amanda was told ““Wow. Rand opened up a lot of doors for you!”2. Amanda’s boss said it was obvious when she didn’t know what she was doing3. When Amanda was told “You’re too junior” and “You’re too direct”
2024-05-2848 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 8: Big bets in 2024 and series takeawaysAs we wrap up the miniseries, I wanted to touch on the ‘big swings’ the Navattic team is taking in 2024 as well as the key takeaways from filming this show.In the final episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. The different strategies Navattic adopts when taking "big bets," especially in growth roles2. How startups, especially those at the stage of a "supersede round" of funding like Navattic, approach team expansion and resource allocation3. The challenges and realities of working in growth-focused roles within...
2024-05-1411 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 7: How Navattic’s growth team stays aligned and manages expectations internallyIn the 7th episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. How critical it is for growth teams to stay aligned with leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.2. The systems Navattic has in place for sharing updates on experiments and results; how they leverage Slack channels and regular team meetings.3. How Navattic manages cross-functional collaboration and gets ahead of potential roadblocks.Things to listen for:[00:39] Why managing expectations is so important for growth teams[01:08] How they stay aligned with leadership[03:00] Th...
2024-05-1413 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 0: Introducing the miniseries featuring the Navattic growth teamHey I’m Andrew Capland 👋. For the past 15 years, I’ve been working in B2B SaaS. The first half, as a marketer. And the second half, I’ve been leading growth teams and product-led growth efforts.Now, I run my own business, Delivering Value where I coach other growth leaders and advise product-led growth teams.During my career, I kept coming back to the same realization… Blindly copying someone else’s growth playbook (without understand the contextual challenges they were facing) just doesn’t work. So I decided to make a series following one c...
2024-05-1403 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 6: The biggest challenges Natalie & Raman face working in growth at NavatticIn the 6th episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. How Natalie and Raman approach their portfolio of growth bets.2. How they blended qualitative insights (like customer feedback and market trends) with quantitative data (like metrics and analytics) to make approach a pricing challenge.3. How Natalie and Raman navigate the pressures to deliver wins and substantial results in a challenging 2024 economic climate.Things to listen for:[00:55] The biggest challenges Natalie and Raman face working in growth at Navattic[01:55] How th...
2024-05-1414 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 5: The specific KPIs & dashboards that drive Navattic’s successIn the 5th episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. What’s in Navattic’s growth dashboards (and what isn’t).2. What gets shared internally, how often, and with who.3. Their biggest challenges when it comes to tracking and reporting - and how they navigate those.Things to listen for:[00:46] What KPIs they look at on a regular basis[01:15] The two dashboards that get presented weekly[02:05] The role of drill-down views broken down by channel[03:04] What get...
2024-05-1409 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 4: Navattic’s growth operating systemIn the 4th episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. How the Navattic team manages and implements growth experiments using tools like Notion2. Why certain tools like Trello were passed over in favor of an all-in-Notion system and the benefits from this decision3. How the team collaborates on experiments, their scheduling of reviews and brainstorming sessions, and the informal yet structured approach they take towards retrospective meetingsThings to listen for:[00:35] Tools Navattic uses to get growth projects done[01:18] Th...
2024-05-1410 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 2: What does growth look like at Navattic?In this second episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. What growth is at Navattic, how they’ve scaled their team, and what their growth operating system looks like. 2. Areas of the growth model they have ownership and accountability for.3. The challenges faced by small growth teams; resource allocation, focusing on impactful experiments, and managing ideas from cross-functional stakeholders.Things to listen for:[00:37] What is growth at Navattic?[01:20] Balancing increasing metrics and learning in their experiments[02:00] The area...
2024-05-1415 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 3: What goes into Navattic’s growth strategy?In this third episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. What the Navattic growth team is focused on right now, why those things, and how they get buy-in.2. How they make sure they’re solving the right problems, and get aligned with execs.3. How they manage the tension between staying agile and being laser focused.Things to listen for:[00:33] What Navattic is focused on right now, why those things, and how they got buy-in[01:30] The two main pillars Navattic is f...
2024-05-1411 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBehind the Scenes Ep 1: The size and stage of the Navattic businessWe kick-off the miniseries by exploring the background and scale of the Navattic business to contextualize many of the growth challenges they’re facing and systems they use (which we’ll explore in upcoming episodes)In this first episode of the Behind the Scenes Miniseries with the Navattic growth team, you’ll learn:1. How Navattic got started and settled on building interactive demos for the PLG market.2. Navattic's go-to-market approach, size/scale of the business, funding strategy, and current funnel.3. The hardest part about working in growth at this stage of the co...
2024-05-1417 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productA stranger said WHAT about the company I worked at?!’ (ft. Collin Crowell)In this episode, Collin Crowell, VP of North America at Kameleoon opens up about one of his most humbling experiences at work that led him to reevaluate his identity, he shares insights into receiving tough feedback and how he used that to fuel his drive, and also shares his strategic approach to building successful teams.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Collin was told by readers that the titles he was in charge of were pieces of shit 2. The moment when self doubt creeped in for Collin because everyone was touting th...
2024-05-0745 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI Had to Dramatically Change My Working Style (ft. Liz Christo - Stage 2 Capital)In this episode, Liz Christo, Investor and GTM Advisor for Stage 2 Capital, unravels her highs and lows in her workforce journey. From getting told “you’re too ruthlessly execution focussed” to having to dramatically change her working style, Liz’s story unpacks the power of feedback, why you should develop a culture of support, and the significance of vulnerability.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Liz fought so hard to have a global org and ended up burning out and feeling stretched too thin2. When Liz received the hardest piece of feedback...
2024-04-3049 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe Intern Was Promoted Over Me? (ft. Adam Goyette - Growth Union, HelpScout, G2)In this episode Adam Goyette, founder of Growth Union and former VP of Marketing at Help Scout and G2, shares his journey into marketing and we explore the three biggest speed bumps he encountered in his career. Along the way, he shares the impact of professional relationships on career development and growth and his strategies for handling stress, self-doubt, and early career hurdles in marketing.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Adam’s boss left and the company promoted their intern, who had an Ivy League MBA, over him2. When Adam coul...
2024-04-2347 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe Intern Was Promoted Over Me? (ft. Adam Goyette - Growth Union, HelpScout, G2)In this episode Adam Goyette, founder of Growth Union and former VP of Marketing at Help Scout and G2, shares his journey into marketing and we explore the three biggest speed bumps he encountered in his career. Along the way, he shares the impact of professional relationships on career development and growth and his strategies for handling stress, self-doubt, and early career hurdles in marketing.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Adam’s boss left and the company promoted their intern, who had an Ivy League MBA, over him2. When Adam coul...
2024-04-2347 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productThe Most Imposter Syndrome I've Ever Felt… (Kevan Lee, Co-founder at Bonfire)In this episode, Kevan Lee, co-founder of Bonfire, shares the most gruesome imposter syndrome he’s ever encountered, the biggest "welcome to the league" moment he experienced from getting rejected, and what it was like to leave a high-flying corporate job to walk the tightrope of entrepreneurship. In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. When Kevan realized his unique path was not climbing the corporate ladder, despite his family history of entrepreneurship2. His “welcome to the league” when he was initially rejected for a content writer position at Buffer3. The most frustrat...
2024-04-0945 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productFrom getting fired at his first job to CMO of a 7-figure startup (Mike Rome, CMO & CGO)In this episode, Mike shares his journey from getting fired at his first job to becoming CMO of a 7-figure startup. He outlines his decision making framework when a job no longer aligns with long-term goals, how he embraces the discomfort leaving something good to chase something potentially great, and the role of a strong network and clear personal values when making transitions.In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. The email Mike sent his two bosses that prompted them to say “don’t come back to work”2. When Mike was thriving in his mana...
2024-03-2650 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productI Had To Out-Run the Failure Monster with Shanee Ben-Zur (CMO)Nobody deserves to be yelled at by their boss… ever.That’s the situation Shanee Ben-Zur found herself in early in her career - and (after regrouping and then giving her notice immediately afterwards) it triggered a new career in tech-marketing. She’s gone to be become CMO at Earnest, with stops at Crunchbase, Dropbox, Salesforce, and NVIDIA.In addition to the horrible yelling situation, Shanee talked about how her fear of failure caused her to micromanage her team, and shared the feedback that’s helped her grow into her own as a leader.In thi...
2024-03-1247 min
CHURN FME234 | 6 Key User Onboarding Strategies Learned from HubSpot and Wistia with Andrew CaplandToday on the show we have Andrew Capland, a growth advisor and onboarding specialist with rich experiences at HubSpot and Wistia.In this episode, Andrew shares his journey from HubSpot to Wistia, outlining the evolution of his approach to user onboarding and growth. Andrew walked through 6 key steps of a successful onboarding framework to increase activation and reduce churn. We then discussed the importance of personalized user experiences and how businesses can implement these strategies to achieve remarkable customer retention. Andrew wraps up the conversation by emphasizing the critical role of continuous learning and adaptation i...
2024-02-2843 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productMoving to South Africa and Working 75 Hour Weeks with Dave Boyce (GTM-focused SaaS Advisor and Board Member)Moving to South Africa with the entire family, working 75 hour weeks, and then getting the worst feedback from a new boss sounds sounds fun, right?This is the exact situation that Dave Boyce found himself in. But Dave didn’t let that stop him. He used this experience as fuel to become a serial entrepreneur who evolved into a professor and writer. Dave is the author of "Product That Sells Itself,” he’s on the board of Winning by Design and Forrester, and is an advisor to a handful of startups.In addition to the challe...
2024-02-2744 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productCommunicating Boundaries When the Pressure is on with Bradley Fehler (Growth Lead at Prolific)As a growth marketer, you’re faced with decisions every day. What campaign should you run? Which metric should you optimize for? But some decisions can strike you to the core of your values. That happened to Bradley Fehler, Growth Lead at Prolific, when his boss asked him to choose to focus on work or caring for his pregnant wife.It’s a decision that’s often much easier to make in retrospect.In this episode, Bradley shares stories about times when boundaries in his professional and personal life were tested, and de...
2024-02-1344 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productSeparating Work Failures From Your Personal Self-Worth with Leah Tharin (Growth Advisor)Receiving negative feedback is always tough. But when it’s coming from someone you really respect, It can feel brutal.As painful as it was for Leah Tharin, Growth Advisor for scaling B2B companies, to hear that she was thinking too small, it eventually defined how she worked, reset her expectations, and strengthened her leadership style.In this episode, Leah shares her story of evolving in her growth career and overcoming the stumbles her ego caused along the way. Listen to discover how there’s always an opportunity for growth.In this epis...
2024-01-3045 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productWhy You Can’t Always be at an Eleven with Brendan Hufford (Growth Sprints, ActiveCampaign)When you look at some professionals, it’s easy to underrate their accomplishments because they were “lucky.” But ask any one of them and you’ll realize the long, arduous, stressful road they took to get there. Brendan Hufford, Founder of Growth Sprints, is one of those professionals.In this episode, Brendan tells the stories of his bouts with overwork and taking on a role in a toxic, terrifying work environment to get to where he is today. Listen to discover what you need as a growth marketer to stay grounded and work sustainably, without sacrificing your health a...
2024-01-1636 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productTaking the Leap and Betting on Yourself with Asia Orangio (DemandMaven)Should you continue working in-house or finally take a chance and start your own thing? If you struggle with this push and pull - you aren’t alone.The safety of an in-house role can be alluring. But if you’re looking for something different Asia Orangio, CEO and Founder of DemandMaven has some advice - if you have the runway, then go for it.In this episode, Asia talks about how while starting her own business has been extremely challenging, it’s also leveled up her skills faster than she thought possible. Listen in to lea...
2024-01-0344 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productConfronting Misalignments with Higher Ups with Margaret Kelsey (OpenView, Appcues, InVision)It’s stating the obvious but leadership is tricky. You’ve got to find a balance between creating space for open dialogue while also filtering how much you actually share.Margaret Kelsey, Founder and Marketing Advisor at TatCo, was forced to take a step back and look closely at her team culture when she got some very disheartening feedback during her time at Appcues. She quickly came to realize she’d created a toxic mini culture in her team by expressing frustration with the organization in an unproductive way.In this episode, Margaret shares some of her...
2023-12-1247 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productOvercoming Isolation and Self-Doubt with Connor Bradley (Jobber)When you’re leading a small growth team, every time someone leaves it can feel like a gut punch. That’s what Connor Bradley, Director of Product Growth at Jobber, felt when a member of his team left at the beginning of the pandemic. And then another person exited and Connor felt lower than low.In this episode, Connor discusses the emotions he’s had to go through and process while building a growth team from scratch and overcoming the struggles, unexpected and otherwise, that comes with that path. Listen in to learn how you can build more t...
2023-11-2835 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productNavigating High Change Companies with Patrick Moran (Robinhood, Houzz, Spotify, Netflix)When you see someone with an impressive resume, it’s easy to think they’ve got it all figured out. But Patrick Moran, Head of Growth Marketing at Robinhood, shows that can be a pretty misleading indicator. Working at massive companies like Netflix, eBay, and Reforge has taught him valuable lessons that he carries with him to this day.In this episode, Patrick shares three things he’s learned from the different mistakes he’s made in his career. Listen in and realize that no one’s career is perfect and you aren’t alone in your struggle to...
2023-11-1437 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productBuilding your Personal Board of Directors with Lauren Schuman (former growth @ Sidebar, Mural, Mailchimp)Starting growth from scratch in your company is a big responsibility. Not only do you have to teach people about its processes, but you also have to evangelize it, letting them know why they need it in the first place. It has plenty of ups and downs. Lauren Schuman, former growth at Sidebar, Mural, and Mailchimp) knows all too well.In this episode, Lauren shares her story of starting growth from nothing at a growing company and how she’s learned to take feedback from other people. Listen to learn how you can effectively evangelize growth in yo...
2023-10-3142 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productIncreasing Your Influence at Early Stage Companies with Claire Suellentrop (Forget the Funnel)Working in a new company means your day-to-day responsibilities have to be tied to a larger goal. But when you’re fresh out of college in your first role, it’s hard to understand that perspective and how others work towards it. Claire Suellentrop, Co-Founder and COO of Forget the Funnel, knows the struggle.In this episode, Claire talks about how valuable an outside perspective would’ve been to her growth when she was starting out. Listen to learn how you can set up your network to create a foundation for your growth in the industry.In t...
2023-10-1736 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productPreparing for Tough Conversations and Managing Up with Rosie Hoggmascall (former growth at Peanut, what3words)Most growth roles are difficult to grasp and manage which makes mastering “soft skills” like communication, vital.In this episode, Product Growth Advisor Rosie Hoggmascall shares her experiences around someone taking credit for her work, struggling with being put on the spot, and having the tough conversation about feeling stuck at work. Listen in to hear her tried and true phrases you can employ to avoid freezing in anxiety-triggering conversations at work and to be reminded why soft skills are what hard workers really need.In this episode, you’ll learn:1. Writing your though...
2023-10-0340 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productSetting Your Ego Aside for the Good of the Company with Hillary Pitts Miller (Whimsical)Alignment is one of the most important parts of working in growth, whether it's being aligned with your company about your role or how well you connect with the new hire. Hillary Pitts Miller works the intersection of Product and Growth at Whimsical and she came to understand the power of alignment when she realized that her company wasn’t actually ready for a growth team yet.In this episode, Hillary shares her story of setting her ego aside for the sake of the company and her transition from her marketing background into growth (and back again). Li...
2023-09-1933 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productMoving On From Growth Roles That Don’t Fit You - Joseph Fitzgibbon, founder Growth & CoHave you moved from one company to another just to feel like nothing changed? Like when you finally leave a role that drains your energy, only to find yourself in a company culture that’s a little too familiar? Joseph Fitzgibbon, Founder of Growth & Company, knows that feeling and his experiences taught him signs to look out for and tactics for avoiding falling into companies that just aren’t made for him.In this episode, Joseph shares his journey into the growth industry and how he overcame the struggles of having a job that demanded skills and a pe...
2023-09-0545 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productGetting Your Voice and Ideas Heard with Daphne TidemanHaving been the only woman in countless meetings and the youngest person at the table, Daphne Tideman, Freelance Growth Advisor and Consultant at Daphne Tideman Ltd., understands the struggle of getting your voice heard. It was frustrating for her. But, over time, she’s learned how to overcome it.In this episode, Daphne shares how learning to speak other people’s languages has allowed her to be more convincing and resonate with others. But beyond that, she’s also discovered how to grow her confidence and value herself outside of the bounds of work. Listen to hear the va...
2023-08-2248 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productHow to Deal with Overwhelm, Imposter Syndrome, and Bad Performance Reviews with Adam FishmanWhen you take the long-term perspective of your Growth career, it would be shocking if you didn’t get at least one bad performance review. That’s an insight Adam Fishman, Chief Product and Technology Officer at ResortPass and Executive in Residence at Reforge, has come to understand deeply.In this episode, he shares his story of being one of the early employees at Lyft and how he had to learn to manage a Growth team before many people knew what Growth really meant. Listen to hear about overcoming career mistakes, understanding how being yourself and being succ...
2023-08-0842 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productGrowing Past Your Mistakes with Liam MacCormack (MadKudu)Working in a Growth role for the first time is hard, especially since the field is always evolving.In this episode, Liam MacCormack, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at MadKudu, shares his career journey from growth manager to head of growth. Along the way, he talks about why therapy and support systems are crucial for anyone in Growth, the mistakes that have made him a better person, and his path toward becoming a Growth leader.In this episode, you’ll learn:1. The importance of a support system for anyone in growth2. How to...
2023-07-2547 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productTackling the Difficult Decisions of Work and Life Balance with John ShortJohn Short's life changed when his daughter had a seizure at school. As a parent, John found it challenging to balance work and family, but he wanted to provide extra support for his daughter. In this episode, John shares how that experience made him rethink his priorities and realize the importance of a portfolio view of life. In light of this, he started his own company, Compound Growth Marketing, allowing him to focus on the most valuable use of his time and plan better for his family's future. Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of the...
2023-07-1130 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productManaging Politics in a High-Growth Software Company with Mario AraujoSo often, those in growth roles feel like there's no room for mistakes. Like their job is to know the answers to everything. In this episode, Mario Araujo, VP of Growth at Graphext.com and Product Growth Advisor, discusses the soft-skills needed to develop your leadership style. Listen in for his insights on owning up to mistakes, being clear and empathetic in communication while seeking ways to improve, and creating an environment where colleagues feel comfortable having open and respectful conversations. Along the way, you'll also hear how to go from being the person who jumps on...
2023-06-2747 min
Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productNavigating Speed-Bumps and Communication Challenges as a One-Person Growth Team with Natalie Marcotullio (Navattic)Solid systems, open communication, and self-care are the practices allowing Natalie Marcotullio to thrive as Head of Growth and Operations at Navattic. In this episode, Natalie shares her experience as a one-person Head of Growth and how she's tackled the challenges she faced, such as understanding individual communication styles to achieve cross-functional alignment. Listen in for her insights on improving productivity, taking time for yourself, and tactfully prioritizing tactics based on current needs. In this episode, you’ll learn:1. Be intentional about when you do certain tasks and create a system that helps en...
2023-06-1349 min
ProductLed PodcastPLG False Starts with Andrew CaplandFalse starts in PLG might seem disheartening, but our guest today shares a unique perspective that might change the way you see failure.
In today’s episode, Mario is joined by Andrew Capland, founder of Delivering Value. Over at DV, Andrew coaches small to mid-sized SAAS companies on how to scale product-led businesses. With 1:1 coaching for heads of growth, PLG advising for SaaS teams, and insightful digital products, Delivering Value is dedicated to helping early-stage tech companies avoid common mistakes and scale much faster.
If you’re a first-time founder or a team leader in the...
2023-04-0432 minGrowing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & productDelivering Value TrailerWelcome to the pod! In this short trailer, I share:Why I'm making this podcast.Background on who I amOutline my journey from marketer into the world of growth; including my time at Digitas, HubSpot, Wistia, and Postscript.Outline what I'm building at Delivering Value for the SaaS growth community.You can subscribe for email updates: deliveringvalue.co/podcastContact/ follow-me at:DeliveringValue.co andrew@deliveringvalue.cotwitter.com/acaplandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/
2023-03-1107 min
Behind The ExperienceWistia’s segmented onboarding ft. Andrew CaplandEvery business with an incredible product starts with a problem. But the catch here is that you have to understand the problem first and let your creativity follow. Andrew Capland, the former head of growth at Wistia as well as PostScript, always uses his creativity and strategic planning to ultimately grow his companies faster. He is now the massive brain behind Delivering Value and works with B2B leaders to celebrate their careers and early-stage SaaS founders to scale their businesses.In this episode of Behind The Experience, let's learn about Andrew's proven frameworks and methods that...
2022-07-1935 min