Delivering Value with Andrew Capland

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 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 lifeHow imposter syndrome nearly kept her from recognizing her true superpowerWhat she learned from one of her toughest client sessionsThings to listen for:(00:00) The challenges of a VP of Marketing role(08:14) Breaking into product marketing(09:25) Thank you to our sponsors, AppUnite & Fullstory (12:01) Navigating career decisions and public speaking(19:33) Transitioning to consulting(31:38) The importance of disqualifying bad clients(33:39) Handling political traps in big companies(38:45) Transitioning from startups to big corporations(42:14) The importance of management training(45:47) Navigating layoffs and job security(54:59) Managing up and leadership skillsResources:Connect with April:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/April's official website: https://www.aprildunford.com/ April's newsletter: https://www.aprildunford.com/newsletter April's podcast: https://www.positioning.show/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 unchecked frustrations almost cost him his job—and how he turned it around- How childhood dynamics and survival mindsets shaped his risk toleranceThings to listen for:(00:00) A founder's surprising comment and redefining what it means to build(00:22) Meet Amaan: from durable growth roles to going solo(07:14) Learning empathy and resilience through door-to-door sales(09:26) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic & Appcues(12:24) A failed startup and the founder who believed in him anyway(15:56) The moment Amaan realized his work environment wasn't working(20:12) Building is subjective—so is value(24:29) Dealing with imposter syndrome and second-guessing yourself(28:50) A recurring early-career mistake: letting frustration fester(43:36) Navigating the decision to leave a role(52:44) Knowing when discomfort is productive and when it's not(56:06) Time, autonomy, and the dream of doing work you love(59:03) The value of perspective and what makes a truly great leader(01:00:52) Book recs: Trillion Dollar Coach and Principles by Ray DalioThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value Resources:Connect with Amaan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaannathoo/Website: https://revenuegrowth.tech/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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.John opens up about:- The moment that sparked his shift from passive creator to publishing consistently- How being a parent shaped his time management and career goal- The power of being “creatively selfish” and trusting your unique voiceThings to listen for:(00:00) The unexpected layoff(03:17) The power of content marketing(07:39) Thank you to our sponsors, Fullstory & AppUnite(10:15) The Lady Gaga incident(15:38) Navigating career challenges(28:39) The decision to join Databox(34:03) Going solo: The leap to full-time consulting(36:53) First week wins(38:51) Building resilience and overcoming doubts(40:54) Navigating early career challenges(50:53) The importance of preparation(58:55) Handling tough conversations(01:10:40) Building legacy through personal growthResources:Connect with John:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbonini/Content Brands: https://www.contentbrands.co/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Free 5 day growth leadership program: https://deliveringvalue.co/growth-leadership-toolkitSubstack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 to listen for:(00:00) The challenge of knowing when to quit(00:47) Growing up in Slovenia and early ambitions(03:17) Discovering growth hacking and marketing(06:52) Challenges and successes in marketing(08:17) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic & Appcues(15:33) Navigating career transitions and advice(32:49) Overcoming financial constraints in business(35:12) Advice for professionals facing constraints(36:51) The importance of proactivity and learning from mistakes(40:54) Balancing work, health, and personal life(53:32) Navigating social media and business strategies(59:18) Embracing abundance and supporting othersThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value Resources:Connect with Maja:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majavoje/Maja's GTM Solutions: Best-selling Book, Checklists, GTM Bootcamp: https://gtmstrategist.comWeekly newsletter (Substack): https://knowledge.gtmstrategist.com Free resource: ⚡Go-to-Market Power Hour https://gtmstrategist.com/resources/power_hour/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 leadership-The power of framing, buy-in, and playing the game strategicallyThings to listen for:(00:00) People think politics is a bad thing (02:47) Childhood interests and parental influence (07:34) Thanks to our sponsor, Fullstory(09:24) Career beginnings and consulting at McKinsey (13:18) Joining Thumbtack and early challenges (19:50) Navigating career frustrations and promotions (25:41) Understanding workplace politics (35:30) Questioning career progression (36:36) Efforts to get promoted (38:36) Building influence and strategy (41:05) Creating forums for strategic conversations (44:36) The Head of Growth Leadership Scorecard(45:38) Transition to Instagram (57:46) When to lead vs. when to listen (1:07:35) Habits for high performance This episode is presented by:Fullstory: Surface User Sentiment with Behavioral Data - https://fullstory.com/valueResources:Connect with Yue:-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuezhao/-Substack: https://news.yuezhao.coach/-Yue Zhao Coaching: https://www.yuezhao.coach/Connect with Andrew:-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ -The Head of Growth Leadership Scorecard: https://andrew-dkbyiqi6.scoreapp.com/-Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co-Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 a leadership role - Why corporate “professionalism” often reinforces bias and how she stopped playing the game- The hard-won lesson that success isn't about making more money, it's about aligning with what actually mattersThings to listen for:(00:00) Changing yourself to fit in (02:06) Why Mackenzie values vulnerability and honest conversations (08:45) Early career: Political and nonprofit campaigns (09:10) Thanks to our sponsor, Fullstory(14:30) Overcoming fear of public speaking (23:35) A career low point: Feeling disillusioned in her last role (29:19) A coach's insight that helped Mackenzie find authenticity (32:32) Enabling the patriarchy vs. staying true to herself (36:29) The challenge of under-resourcing and lack of support (46:38) Losing herself in a money-driven mindset (51:00) Creating a vision board and defining her ideal state This episode is presented by:Fullstory: Surface User Sentiment with Behavioral Data - https://fullstory.com/valueResources:Connect with Mackenzie::LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzierhughes/ GoldHue: https://www.goldhue.co/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 first startup experience ended in heartbreak but led to an even bigger opportunityWhy founders need a “reality distortion field” to sell their visionThings to listen for: (00:00) Pranav discusses his experience with YC and an unexpected rift with his co-founder (03:39) Developing persuasive skills through debate and their benefits in tech leadership (06:29) The accidental start of an entrepreneurial journey with a student job platform (08:05) Thanks to our sponsor Fullstory (10:08) Receiving tough feedback at Dropbox and its personal impact (24:27) The highs and lows of Pranav's first venture and parting ways with his co-founder (38:21) Viewing setbacks as part of the journey to success (39:36) Handling imposter syndrome during a challenging fundraising period (49:18) The role of manifestation and goal-setting in Pranav's life and work This episode is presented by: Fullstory: Surface User Sentiment with Behavioral Data. - https://fullstory.com/valueResources: Connect with Pranav: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pranavp/ Paramark: https://paramark.com/Connect with Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

Tiffany 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 her career from scratchThe importance of creating a “Shine Crew” for support and accountabilityHandling harsh feedback and learning to discern what's worth changingThings to listen for: (00:00) Tiffany standing up for herself after being overlooked (04:36) Joining a unicorn startup and facing cultural clashes (10:28) Thanks to our sponsors, Navattic & Appcues (21:05) Building a “Shine Crew” to create a support network (26:47) Handling tough feedback and deciding what to change (36:20) Breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry (47:49) Aligning your business with personal values (53:22) Managing imposter syndrome and rebuilding confidence (56:55) Using mindfulness to reset after tough moments (59:07) Listening to her gut and charting her own pathThis episode is presented by: Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/valueResources: Connect with Tiffany: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanydasilva Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetiffdasilva/ DaSilva Consulting: https://www.tiffanydasilva.com/Connect with Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

Austin 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 a startup the wrong way (25:50) Coping with personal loss while working in high-pressure environments (30:14) Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Navattic & Appcues (31:56) Redefining success and finding balance in his professional journey(41:47) Advice for founders on balancing ambition with well-beingThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value Connect with Austin: LinkedIn: Austin HayClarify: https://getclarify.ai/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 front of 10,000 peopleHow working at an early-stage startup impacted her mental healthBuilding trust as a leader and balancing strategic conviction with collaborationThings to listen for: (00:00) Ciara's early career struggles and viral LinkedIn post (04:09) The turning point that led to her role at Salesforce (12:05) Breaking the code at Dreamforce and the lessons learned (24:26) Why early-stage startups took a toll on her mental health (30:44) How imposter syndrome shaped her leadership style (39:57) Navigating trust and alignment as an SVP Connect with Ciara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciarapeter/Connect with Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: media.deliveringvalue.co Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 balanceThings to listen for:(00:00) Annie's first CMO role and feeling incomplete(08:43) Landing a job at Microsoft through boldness(13:10) Facing rejection during the 2009 recession(14:03) Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Navattic & Appcues(17:36) The challenges of being a working mom and its impact on identity(20:44) Reevaluating priorities after losing your love for the craft(27:49) The impact of tough feedback: “You care too much”(39:57) Overcoming imposter syndrome in techThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value Connect with Annie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniekatrina/ Penknife Collective: https://www.penknifecollective.com/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 connections through vulnerability(07:27) Launching Reforge Insight Analytics(12:28) Lessons from Brian's first startup vs. Facebook(19:12) Overcoming feeling stuck by taking action(29:31) Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Navattic & Appcues(27:09) Career lows and lessons in resilience(33:34) Managing burnout and physical health(41:10) Handling direct feedback and rebuilding trust(50:43) Creating boundaries between work and familyThis episode is presented by:Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value Resources:Connect with Brian:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbalfour/ Website: https://brianbalfour.com/ Reforge: https://www.reforge.com/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 professional outcomesThings to listen for:(00:00) Erika's lowest point: giving up on the job(06:02) Frustrations with corporate life in her first marketing role(08:21) Bursting into tears after being handed a product role at Grubhub(15:22) Advice for handling unexpected job changes(17:46) Quitting without a safety net as the primary earner(19:58) Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Churnkey(25:50) Losing confidence and dealing with a crisis of identity(31:56) Why success comes from the environment, not the individual(41:47) Balancing imposter syndrome and a growth mindsetResources:Connect with Erika:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-warren/ Inciteful: https://inciteful.xyz Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsor!Learn more about Churney: https://churnkey.co/

Anthony 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 him his job2. Getting feedback in a formal 360 review that he was “too nice” as a leader3. Returning from his wedding in Italy to perform layoffs at 8 AM the next morningThings to listen for:(00:00) Owning up to an early career mistake(08:38) Transitioning from music to tech & marketing(13:37) The scariest moment of Anthony's career(19:46) Learning from a crisis: Building trust and accountability as a young leader(25:57) Feedback that Anthony was “too nice” and learning to assert himself(28:21) Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Navattic and Appcues(31:20) Managing across and up: How to navigate organizational dynamics(36:08) Conducting layoffs and the emotional toll of tough decisions(47:55) Key lessons from handling high-pressure situations(50:46) Giving yourself grace and focusing on what's in your controlResources:Connect with Anthony:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyscarpaci/ TUNOMATIC: https://www.tunomatic.com/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Navattic: https://navattic.com/value Learn more about Appcues: https://appcues.com/value

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 Things to listen for:(00:00) Tara Goldman: putting on the “mask”(02:55) Growing up as a first-gen child of entrepreneurs(08:25) The ins & outs of multilingual “product speak” (12:47) Leaders make mistakes too(20:00) Pressures, high stakes, and a supportive circle(28:00) Thanks to our sponsors Navattic and Appcues(31:55) Wearing a mask at certain times or in certain rooms(39:47) Stepping out of our comfort zone & Tara's first board meeting(50:00) The Board of Directors are just people & fear of judgmentResources:Connect with Tara:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-goldman/ GoldHue: https://www.goldhue.co/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Navattic: https://navattic.com/value Learn more about Appcues: https://appcues.com/value

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 struggles as a leader(05:15) Moving to San Francisco and joining Superhuman's founding team(09:50) Gaurav's early tech exposure and the influence of his brother(15:20) Transitioning from individual contributor to leading multiple teams(19:45) The tough decision to step back from managing a large team(25:30) Navigating imposter syndrome in leadership roles(25:44) Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Churnkey(32:15) The challenge of giving up control and learning from new executives(39:25) The value of stepping off the "escalator" and finding more meaningful work(45:50) Gaurav's productivity hacks and advice on maintaining balanceResources:Connect with Gaurav:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvohra/ Superhuman: https://superhuman.com/Gaurav's website: https://www.gauravvohra.com/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsor!Learn more about Churnkey: https://churnkey.co/

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 challenges of leading a company-wide restructuring at Bitpanda3. Her journey with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to manage imposter syndrome and workplace stressThings to listen for:(00:00) Irina's pivotal career moment: reapplying for her own job(01:03) Early life in Romania and societal expectations(07:54) How international experiences shaped Irina's career outlook(09:18) Transitioning into the tech world and early ventures(12:30) Joining Uber and building the marketing team from scratch(18:44) Leadership changes at Uber and the emotional challenges of restructuring(24:16) Deciding to leave Uber and transitioning to Revolut(29:59) Key feedback that transformed Irina's approach to work and prioritization(31:15) Thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Navattic & Appcues(38:11) Managing anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the role of cognitive behavioral therapy(52:19) Leading a restructuring at Bitpanda and the impact on team dynamicsResources:Connect with Irina:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-nicoleta-scarlat-30a4b28/ Check out her website: https://irinascarlat.com/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Appcues: https://appcues.com/value Learn more about Navattic: https://navattic.com/value

Meredith 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 how it made her self-consciousThe emotional and professional challenges of returning to work after maternity leaveThings to listen for:(00:00) Meredith's early hardships(02:44) Tough feedback on personal traits(06:15) Growing up with a strong work ethic and early career experiences(10:35) Transitioning from agency work to performance marketing(15:10) Navigating a title mismatch and trusting your manager(21:00) Overcoming self-doubt and building confidence with coaching(24:15) Thanks to our sponsors of this episode, Navattic & Appcues(27:22) Returning to work after maternity leave and finding balance(32:50) The importance of mental health and protecting personal peace(39:40) Using breath work and self-care for stress management(46:15) Career goals, family balance, and the value of empathy in leadershipResources:Connect with Meredith:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithrosenbloom/ Zola: https://www.zola.com/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Navattic: http://navattic.com/value Learn more about Appcues: http://appcues.com/value

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 the importance of recognizing and celebrating her team and managersThings to listen for:(00:00) Intro(03:22) Growing up in Silicon Valley and early exposure to the tech world(06:43) Transitioning from communications to product leadership(12:12) Struggling with being overqualified or underqualified(15:05) Learning how to make your manager shine(21:08) Thanks to our sponsor of this episode, Navattic(25:18) Handling challenging feedback and finding balance in leadership(30:47) When stepping aside wasn't the right call(35:59) Rebuilding after tough feedback(41:24) Disbanding a future-focused team: the reality of working on the fringe(46:38) The power of slowing down and building trust with your teamResources:Connect with Diana:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianas/Product Gold: https://www.productgold.com/ People-First Leadership: https://dianastepner.substack.com/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsor!Learn more about Navattic: http://navattic.com/value

Natalie 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 of launching a freemium planThe value of soft-pitching product-led growth strategies over timeThe challenge of aligning a sales team to embrace PLG leadsThings to listen for: (00:00) Intro(03:17) Why Navattic chose freemium over a free trial model(05:53) The impact of freemium on pipeline and user conversion(08:00) Navigating internal buy-in and the importance of soft-pitching PLG(10:01) Testing and experimenting with lower-priced plans before going freemium(12:13) Aligning the sales team with the PLG motion and managing challenges(14:00) Modeling pipeline projections and the impact on MQL and PQL metrics(16:19) The role of customer support in managing increased user inquiries(18:42) Sales engagement with self-serve users and building trust(20:25) Reflecting on early success indicators and word-of-mouth growthResources:Connect with Natalie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-marcotullio/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 a startup over a secure job because she wanted to optimize for learning.Things to listen for:(00:00) The wonderful humans that shaped Sarah(06:39) Transitioning from a risk-averse upbringing to entrepreneurship(08:04) Turning down a safe job offer for a learning opportunity in a startup(11:26) Not true, but he said, “Sarah wasn't fired because the boss wants to f*** her”(18:42) Thanks to our sponsor of this episode, Churnkey(20:33) “You get to decide your own worth and impact”(25:33) Busting the hustle = success myth(31:18) Liters of coffee, panic attacks, and burnout(39:10) Sarah's therapist told her to quit her job(42:39) The impact of frentors (friend + mentor)Thanks to our sponsor!Learn more about Churnkey: https://churnkey.co/Resources:Connect with Sarah:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahstockdale/ Growclass: https://www.growclass.co/ Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

In this episode, Aakash Gupta shares his journey from a tech-savvy kid in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to a successful product manager and creator in the Product Growth space. He shares his tough feedback experiences, how he's been able to overcome imposter syndrome, and how building a failed startup impacted his career. Aakash emphasizes the importance of self-care, emotional intelligence, and supportive mentorship in navigating corporate roles and leadership challenges. Aakash opens up about:How the collapse of a startup with 350k users reshaped his career and mindsetGetting specific feedback from a CMO that rattled his confidence Navigating a sticky situation when a team member on a PIP attempted to turn the entire company against him Things to listen for:(00:00) Intro(01:03) Aakash's journey: From VP to Creator(03:08) Debate skills shaping his product career(05:29) First SaaS job building sports tools(08:07) Lessons from his failed startup(12:26) How mentorship changed his mindset(14:17) Tough feedback from a CMO at Threadup(16:33) The role of emotional intelligence in leadership(28:08) Handling a difficult pip situation(37:01) Dealing with imposter syndrome(44:06) Personal habits for productivity

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 toxic work environment that pushed Ramli to leave.3. Ramli's realization that he was emulating Steve Jobs' harsh behavior and treating people poorly, which led him to seek therapy for a healthier approach to work and life.Things to listen for:(00:00) Ramli's new venture: Delight Path(06:26) Ramli's core childhood memory: layoffs are brutal(08:23) The emotional impact of his dad's layoff and starting his consulting business(18:59) Pressure to rush and overwork leads to mistreatment of others(22:52) The importance of therapy in overcoming our flat slides(28:20) Discussing the need for quiet reflection and the book "Quiet" by Susan Cain(30:58) Ramli's screamer CEO and sitting in a toxic work environment(38:52) Tough feedback and learning to speak up as an introvertResources:Connect with Ramli:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramlijohn/ Delight Path: https://www.delightpath.com/ Product-Led Onboarding Book: https://productled.com/book/onboarding Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coachingThanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Appcues: http://appcues.com/value Learn more about Navattic: http://navattic.com/value

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 crippling self-doubt she experienced in the lead-up to running her first strategy sessions with an all-male leadership teamThings to listen for:(00:00) Intro(03:29) How coming from an immigrant family has influenced Emma(06:42) Emma ignored her parents' advice and joined the SaaS world(10:41) How Emma started her own gig(14:43) Working in a toxic job and how life coaching helped Emma move forward(25:11) Overcoming major life obstacles and making bold decisions(27:34) Emma's leap into solopreneurship and how she faced her fears when quitting her job(31:55) Discussing deep-seated money mindset issues and how Emma overcame them(49:05) How energy work helped Emma better understand herself and grow her businessResources:Connect with Emma:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-stratton-punchy/ Punchy: https://punchy.co/ Make It Punchy Book: https://punchy.co/make-it-punchy-book/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/get-started Thanks to our amazing sponsors!Learn more about Appcues: http://appcues.com/value Learn more about Navattic: http://navattic.com/value

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 importance of clear communication and transparencyThings to listen for:(02:30) Georgiana was influenced by her parents to become an entrepreneur(05:53) Her first business idea was selling martini glasses(11:13) She said “no” all the time because “who has time for that?”(15:21) Her advice to someone who is figuring out their personal brand(19:17) Someone was promoted above her when she was on maternity leave(32:07) Georgiana was told she was “extremely intimidating” by her team(36:52) She never holds back what she's thinking(39:38) Take notes before confronting an underperforming employee(47:40) How Georgiana learned her communication skills(51:05) She wishes she had learned how to run a business earlier(53:48) Georgiana knows she needs a better work-life balance…Resources:Connect with Georgiana on LinkedInCheck out Forget The FunnelGet your copy of “Forget The Funnel” todayConnect with Andrew on LinkedInWork with AndrewLearn more about AppcuesLearn more about Navattic

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.In this episode, you'll hear about:Why Wes was fired from Vidyard - and what he learned from the experienceHow he navigates being a leader today and approaches tough convos with his teamWhat gives Wes anxiety, and how he manages itThings to listen for:(01:21) Wes shares what his new book is about (03:48) His entrepreneurial spirit and itch from a young age(06:55) The moment Wes realized that any job that didn't use his brain was a waste of time(11:25) When he got fired for challenging his leadership's approach(17:53) Wes was told to stop sharing ideas(23:05) Being glad he got fired because it wasn't the right environment to be in(30:30) Wes's advice to a younger individual who needs to make a tough decision(35:46) His experience spending 19 weeks of traveling in 2023(41:00) Dealing with down days and anxieties(46:30) He describes how his job has opened new doors and opportunities(49:38) Which skill Wes wishes he worked on earlierResources:Connect with Wes on LinkedInCheck out ProductLedConnect with Andrew on LinkedInWork with AndrewLearn more about AppcuesLearn more about Navattic

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 businessBeing a woman in a male-dominated field and how she overcame her imposter syndromeReceiving a “slap in the face” piece of feedback from someone on her teamThings to listen for:[06:20] Talia's diverse career path, from skydiving to wedding planning and tech[12:48] The challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry[18:05] The creation of a supportive group among women to share vulnerabilities and experiences[24:37] How having children changed Talia's perspective on work-life balance[28:52] Learning from critical feedback and using it to improve as a leader[33:17] The importance of accepting and building upon experiences or letting go in business[37:44] Talia's upbringing and how it influenced her unconventional approach to CRO[42:56] Struggling with self-doubt and imposter syndrome when starting her own business[47:19] The impact of a supportive network in overcoming fears and boosting confidence[52:03] Balancing the identity of a driven career woman with motherhood[56:28] Learning to trust her team and achieve a better work-life balance after having childrenResources:Connect with Talia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliagw/?originalSubdomain=ukGetUplift CRO Agency: https://getuplift.co/Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/Work with Andrew: https://deliveringvalue.co/get-startedLearn more about Appcues: http://appcues.com/value

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 unemployed during the 2008 financial crisisThings to listen for:[02:12] Yuriy reflects on career mistakes and the struggle with self-consciousness during job changes[11:24] How Yuriy's upbringing during the collapse of the Soviet Union shaped his values and work ethic[16:13] Discussing the experience of starting to work at a young age and the lessons learned from his entrepreneur parents[22:50] Yuriy's journey from finance to digital marketing, including his transition to Grammarly[28:37] The pivotal moment of receiving tough feedback about his lack of empathy from direct reports[33:21] Plans for a career break that turned into advising roles and discovering fulfillment in solopreneurship[51:09] The importance of networking intentionally and his regrets about not prioritizing it sooner[57:34] Reflection on work-life balance, aiming to be "empathetically intense" in future rolesResources:- Connect with Yuriy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriytimen/- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/- Work with Andrew: https://deliveringvalue.co/get-started- Learn more about Appcues: https://www.madkudu.com http://appcues.com/value

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:[17:26] The pivotal low points in Kate's career[23:41] The moment when Kate decided to stay at Miro despite a job offer in New York[29:18] When her learning speed started decreasing[33:53] Her challenge of balancing authenticity and the perceived image of a leader[44:50] When Kate judged her own leadership style[51:36] The moment when Kate made hiring mistake because she didn't listen to her intuitionResources:- Connect with Kate on LinkedIn- Subscribe to Kate's newsletter & Growthmates podcast- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues- Learn more about Navattic

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 like she was failing continuouslyThings to listen for:[03:13] Writing started to feel draining for Samantha[13:13] Her ‘welcome to the league' moment when she felt ashamed for not knowing her role[18:09] Samantha's wakeup call from office gossip[33:36] The constant feeling of failure that she felt in her new role[34:45] When her CEO told her she “lacked critical thinking skills”[49:17] Samantha's goals at the stage she's in right nowResources:- Connect with Sam on LinkedIn- Work with Sam- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues

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 everything is going amazing! You are the only one of your peers who won't get promoted or a raise. No reason why.”Things to listen for:[03:32] When Joe gained the courage to go off on his own[07:21] His ‘aha' moment into entrepreneurship[11:33] When Joe's trainee was supposed to take over his team, but was persuaded to join a different team[18:10] Will he choose his friend? Or the business?[29:49] When Joe was told, “Great job! But you're not getting a raise” at his performance review[37:30] Feedback can either make or break a relationship[41:16] Joe's self doubt journeyResources:- Connect with Joe on LinkedIn- Check out Artisan Strategies- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues

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”Things to listen for:[06:34] When Amanda was told “Wow. Rand must have opened up a lot of doors for you”[15:39] During the pandemic, she was furloughed from her job at Liftopia[19:01] Amanda felt powerless in her personal and professional life…[27:29] Being told “It's so obvious you don't know what you're doing” by a manager[31:11] Seeing feedback as positive and her co-workers wanting to help[32:38] Being told “You're too junior” and “You're too direct”[39:34] “I don't know” shows maturity and awareness on a personal level[45:57] The skills she wishes she worked on earlierResources:- Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn- Check out SparkToro- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues

As 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 a smaller company contextThings to listen for:[00:47] Big swings Navattic is taking this year[01:40] Potential threats to their plan[02:33] Why going slower enables them to start faster[04:07] Their hiring process and when they'll hire a new growth team member[06:30] The value of having a small team[06:58] Natalie and Raman's top takeaways[07:33] Feeling like everyone else has it figured out[08:08] The realities of filming this series[08:25] The question Natalie and Raman hoped I'd askedResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

In 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] Their internal sharing operating system[04:08] How often Navattic is sharing growth results/ learnings in a typical month[05:17] Letting teammates come along for the ride and see work in progress[05:52] How they approach collaboration with other teams [07:25] Getting feedback from other teams[08:25] Mistakes they have made around communication[09:45] Why sharing “learners” is so important[11:15] Balancing competing priorities with other teams[11:30] Pre-mortems to surface potential concerns and pitfallsResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

In 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 the team approaches their portfolio of bets[03:00] A recent growth challenge Navattic has faced and how they conquered it[03:55] Using a blend of qual and quant to problem solve[05:17] Signals they should have public-facing pricing[06:03] The two things needed to prioritize a problem[06:58] Balancing qualitative and qualitative signals for pricing discovery[08:15] The pressure to deliver and perform right now[09:40] The realities working in growth in 2024[10:02] Raman's ramp-up process and early-wins[12:03] The value of the 30-60-90 day plan Resources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

In 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 gets shared at the company level[03:28] Sharing individual experiment data in a Slack Channel[04:10] Metrics they don't track - but feel like they should[05:28] Their north star metric[05:54] What stresses them out the most about KPIs?[06:55] Handling the “why is this metric down?” questionResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

In 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] The project management systems to manage the work[3:522] Their growth experimentation “home base” artifact [05:02] What a typical week of meetings looks like for Raman and Natalie[06:28] The role of team retros[07:01] Their biggest operational challenges[08:01] Who needs to approve their work[08:38] Navattic's process behind price experimentationResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about 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 areas of the model growth owns[03:00] How they categorize their tests[03:25] Areas of the growth model that are “off limits”[04:05] Roles and responsibilities on the team[05:55] Slow is smooth and smooth is fast[06:27] Hiring Head of Growth before Head of Marketing[07:42] KPIs they're accountable for[08:46] Getting resources to scale the team[10:12] Hardest part of being a two-person growth team[11:19] Systems to manage all the growth ideas being suggested[13:27] Managing experiments across channels[14:09] Running in sprintsResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

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 focused on [02:30] Specific KPI's related to their goals[03:08] Getting internal alignment and approval with execs[04:55] Defending the dissertation[06:06] Making sure we're solving the right problems[06:50] We have our growth strategy - now what?![07:35] Managing the growth roadmap[08:43] Biggest concerns about their growth strategy [09:26] The importance of adaptability in growthResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

We 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 company.Things to listen for:[00:52] What is Navattic and how did it start?[01:45] Getting into Y Combinator[02:24] Discovering the PLG use case[02:52] How Navattic makes money / go-to market model[03:43] The scale of the Navattic business[04:10] Fundraising history[04:54] Number of employees[05:43] The pros and cons of not raising a huge round[06:07] A deep dive into Navattic's funnel[07:26] The hardest part about working in growth at this stage of the companyResources:- Binge the whole series on the Delivering Value Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Connect with Raman Khanna on LinkedIn- Connect with Natalie Marcotullio on LinkedIn- Learn more about Navattic

Hey I'm Andrew Capland

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 their success and great ideas on LinkedIn3. When Collin worked his ass off for a company and was told by his favorite boss to ‘slow down'Things to listen for:[03:04] Being known as the “odd ball”[04:08] The big leap moving from the US to alone in China[08:25] Being told he worked at a ‘piece of shit'[13:00] Flipping the switch to ‘I want to kick ass and take names'[16:41] Knowing he lost before he even got in the game[24:10] Major FOMO on LinkedIn[34:05] Being told by his boss to slow down… and it was his favorite piece of feedback[37:45] Most crucial advice to everyoneResources:- Connect with Liz on LinkedIn- Check out Stage 2 Capital- Subscribe to Dear Stage 2 on Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues

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, twice…3. The story when Liz was not able to get companies to follow through, even when they were in complete agreement on what needed to happenThings to listen for:[07:33] Why Liz was described as “great at the “USA Crossword puzzle”[09:19] Her biggest work burnout moment[14:46] Not taking care of herself and the impact on her work[18:53] Getting a new job and it testing her values and culture list[28:28] Getting told everything that was negative about working with her[36:34] Addressing feedback and making changes[38:22] Her biggest imposter syndrome moment Resources:- Connect with Liz on LinkedIn- Check out Stage 2 Capital- Subscribe to Dear Stage 2 on Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn- Work with Andrew- Learn more about Appcues

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 couldn't explain why they had a bad month and his CFO walked out of the meeting3. The story of when Adam first got promoted to VP of Marketing in a tough environmentThings to listen for:[02:26] The risk that led to a huge reward for Adam[07:17] When he put in his resignation, but was persuaded to stay[11:02] The intern was promoted over him…[16:48] Showing off losses made his company see major growth[28:07] The gut-wrenching moment Adam's CFO walked out on their meeting[36:18] Beware of bad marketers at prestigious companies![39:59] Advice on building career relationshipsResources:- Connect with Adam on LinkedIn- Check out Growth Union- Sign up Adam's Substack: The Friday Growth Note- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 couldn't explain why they had a bad month and his CFO walked out of the meeting3. The story of when Adam first got promoted to VP of Marketing in a tough environmentThings to listen for:[02:26] The risk that led to a huge reward for Adam[07:17] When he put in his resignation, but was persuaded to stay[11:02] The intern was promoted over him…[16:48] Showing off losses made his company see major growth[28:07] The gut-wrenching moment Adam's CFO walked out on their meeting[36:18] Beware of bad marketers at prestigious companies![39:59] Advice on building career relationshipsResources:- Connect with Adam on LinkedIn- Check out Growth Union- Sign up Adam's Substack: The Friday Growth Note- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 frustrating career feedback Kevan has ever received Things to listen for:[04:53] Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, but never identifying as an entrepreneur[11:22] His “welcome to the league” moment[14:05] Choosing to knock on Buffer's door again after rejection[17:18] Having to pull the plug on a large project[25:20] Moving past a huge career disappointment[29:30] Being told he need to “speak up more” in a meeting[37:27] The worst type of interview Kevan has experiencedResources:- Connect with Kevan on LinkedIn- Check out Bonfire- Kevan's substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 this episode, you'll hear about:1. The story behind when Shanee was screamed at by her boss in the middle of NYC - and what she did next.2. Realizing her team was hesitant to provide honest feedback - which led her to seek coaching3. The team turnover after a successful funding round and the beginning of the pandemicThings to listen for:[04:34] Being a child of immigrants influenced her into the wrong field[09:01] Shanee's boss screamed at her in the middle of NYC[12:03] Playstation changed the trajectory of Shanee's career[18:31] What caused Shanee's work tears[25:31] Creating a culture of fear[30:57] The goal is to hire people who are smarter than you[34:44] Therapy changed Shanee's life[38:25] Benefit from learning how to communicate wins strategicallyResources:- Connect with Shanee on LinkedIn- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 challenging feedback loops and international moves, Dave emphasizes embracing the unknown with confidence, how feedback has influenced his life, and the importance of developing strong boundaries and values.In this episode, you'll hear:1. The toughest 2 pieces of feedback Dave has ever received and how those influence him today2. The time when Dave was driving and got a call from George Zachary (investor in Twitter) saying, "this is going to be a tough call. Do you have a minute?"”3. How Dave finds the courage to overcome imposter syndrome related to writing his new textbook on PLGThings to listen for:[04:52] What happened when Dave ignored his gut feelings[12:26] Dave's spontaneous decision to move to South Africa with his family and ended up receiving the toughest feedback in his career[26:13] Receiving a call from George Zachary (CRV), saying "This is going to be a tough call. Do you have a minute?”[32:53] The moment Dave experienced imposter syndrome and almost threw the towel in.[36:50] Dave's secrets behind what helped him pursue his dreamsResources:- Connect with Dave on LinkedIn- Visit Dave's website- Subscribe to Dave's Substack- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Subscribe to the Delivering Value Substack- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 dealing with the immense pressure of being the head of growth at a company that just wasn't growing. Listen to realize that you aren't alone in the struggles you face as a growth leader, and that the challenges you're facing are temporary.In this episode, you'll learn:1. Setting boundaries between your professional and personal life is crucial for maintaining balance2. Be candid with your boss about what you can and can't commit to as early as possible3. Never forget to remain humble and curious, regardless of your company's growthThings to listen for:[10:13] Cultivating candid feedback in relationships[11:30] Choosing between work and a pregnant wife[16:19] Learning to set boundaries at work[20:08] Overcoming difficult choices at work[21:56] Setting expectations with your manager[26:25] When work bleeds into home[36:31] A new segment: What Would You Do?Resources:- Connect with Bradley on LinkedIn- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 episode, you'll learn:1. Your biggest growth is on the other side of brutal, yet constructive feedback2. Identifying your learning pattern allows you to better structure your self-education and retain the things you consume3. It's important to understand and notice your emotions and talk about them with othersThings to listen for:[10:45] Growing in the messy middle[13:04] The watershed moment that altered Leah's career[21:27] Learning to zoom out and slow down[25:00] Continuing with a struggling business[26:16] The superpower of a growth mindset[28:53] Managing the spectrum of self-doubt[37:14] Improving from poor presentationsResources:- Connect with Leah on LinkedIn- Check out Leah's PLG Course- Listen to The Productea with Leah Podcast- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues