Podcasts about appcues

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 managing high-stress jobs in social work to navigating the ups and downs of solopreneur life, Erin opens up about the importance of resilience, adapting to change, and staying true to yourself.Erin opens up about:The surprising path from teaching to techHow freelancing on the side led to a full-time businessThe challenges and rewards of working for yourselfWhy following your heart is the key to successNavigating life as a mom, entrepreneur, and content expertThings to listen for: (00:00) Dramatic rescue (01:05) Erin's unconventional career path (06:04) High school adventures and moving to Massachusetts (08:11) College decisions and career beginnings (09:46) Teaching and working with troubled teens (11:11) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic & Appcues (13:49) From public school teacher to marketing maven (26:26) The solopreneur journey (28:55) Navigating career transitions (29:17) Freelancing success and challenges (30:16) Balancing family and work (34:16) The importance of mindset (43:59) Health challenges and business impact (48:36) AI concernsThis episode is presented by: Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/valueResources: Connect with Erin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinbalsa/Website: https://hausofbold.com/Connect with Andrew:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.coHire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

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 people-first CEO.Whether you're a VP, Head of Marketing, or startup operator navigating corporate politics, you'll see yourself in this one.Ty opens up about:How to recover from a mistake at workWhat not to do when ambition clouds your judgmentThe political landmine Ty triggered with one doc uploadWhy money didn't bring fulfillment after a $50B IPOHow to define success on your own termsThings to listen for:(00:00) Intro(02:44) Growing up fast: raising a kid while studying poetry and film(08:14) Early confidence, creative roots, and startup appeal(08:54) Thank you to our sponsor, Fullstory (14:30) Leaving Appcues for a leap in comp, lifestyle, and pressure(21:00) Learning the hard way who your stakeholders really are(32:00) Uploading a private doc… and the aftermath(40:22) The IPO money moment that changed his definition of success(47:35) The surf van, parenting balance, and CEO tension(53:01) Coaching others, defining legacy, and measuring impactA huge thanks to this episode's sponsor:Fullstory: Behavioral data that empowers - https://fullstory.com/valueResources:Connect with Ty:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylermagnin/Animalz official website: https://www.animalz.co/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

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

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

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

What's up everyone, today we have the pleasure of sitting down with Meg Gowell, Director of Growth Marketing at Typeform. Summary: Marketing leadership in 2025 is a wild time. After years of learning martech and technical concepts to become a full stack marketer, you finally land that dream director gig... only to watch your hard-earned tech skills collect dust while you drown in meetings. Megan helps us see the way forward. She takes us on a ride that covers marketing measurement, experimentation and building brand momentum, all while having tons of fun. We get into how data warehouses are not so quietly changing the martech universe while most teams are still stuffing everything they can in their CRM. Welcome to the wild world of modern marketing leadership – where you somehow need to be both a tech wizard and a strategy genius just to keep up. And we're here to guide ya. About MegMeg started her career in wedding planning while she was in college, she also started a luxury branding business for high-end weddingsShe then worked at a marketing agency for 4 years where she focused on social media, paid media and budget managementShe switched over to a boutique agency where she got a breath of experience across all facets of marketing including web design, conversion rate optimization, project management and also got to lead a team of marketersShe then moved over to a real estate startup – which was one of her former clients – as VP of Marketing and automation where she helped grow the company from $9MM to $22MM in less than a yearShe then moved over to B2B SaaS at Appcues as Director of Growth marketing where she led funnel optimization, experimentation strategy and execution, event sponsorships, biz dev and moreToday Meg is Director of Growth Marketing at Typeform where she oversees paid, web/site, lifecycle, partner marketing and campaigns How Full Stack Marketers Drive Marketing ExcellenceFull stack marketing capabilities command premium compensation in today's market, mirroring the pattern seen with full stack engineers who rank among the highest-paid technical professionals. The comparison raises interesting questions about the relationship between full stack and T-shaped marketing skill sets, particularly regarding depth versus breadth of expertise.The distinction between full stack and T-shaped marketers centers on the distribution of knowledge and capabilities across different marketing disciplines. While T-shaped marketers typically possess deep expertise in one area complemented by broader surface-level knowledge, full stack marketers maintain substantial working knowledge across multiple marketing domains. This broader distribution of skills enables them to engage meaningfully with specialists and make informed decisions across the marketing spectrum.A critical advantage of the full stack marketing approach lies in its impact on team building and hiring decisions. When marketing leaders possess comprehensive knowledge across various disciplines, they can better evaluate potential hires and identify genuine experts in specialized roles. This knowledge framework helps prevent the common pitfall of making poor hiring decisions due to limited understanding of specific marketing functions or technologies.The full stack marketer's broad knowledge base serves as a foundation for effective collaboration and decision-making. Rather than requiring mastery in every area, the key is maintaining sufficient expertise to ask incisive questions, recognize genuine talent, and understand the interconnections between different marketing functions. This comprehensive perspective enables better strategic planning and more efficient resource allocation.Key takeaway: Full stack marketers need sufficient knowledge across marketing disciplines to recognize expertise, make informed hiring decisions, and drive strategic initiatives. Success in this role doesn't require mastery of every area but rather the ability to understand key concepts, ask relevant questions, and identify genuine expertise when building and managing teams.Balancing Technical Proficiency and Leadership in Marketing TeamsRemember getting that dream marketing leadership role? Corner office, eager team, the works. But then reality hits - you're spending more time in strategy meetings than actually doing the hands-on work you love.It's a weird spot to be in. The higher you climb, the further you get from the technical skills that got you there. Take Megan's story - she was crushing it at AppCues, deep in the technical weeds while leading cross-functional teams. Now at Typeform, she's managing 10 people and her calendar is packed with meetings while her technical skills collect dust.Here's the thing - you can't fake technical knowledge. Real understanding comes from getting your hands dirty - tweaking platforms, figuring out complex filters, and really getting how things work under the hood. The best marketing leaders are like chefs who still know their way around the kitchen, not just writing menus. Your team can smell it a mile away if you've lost touch with the technical side. The real magic happens when you can switch between big-picture thinking and nuts-and-bolts knowledge. It's like being bilingual in both strategy and technical speak.Some leaders live in the strategy clouds, others get lost in the details. The sweet spot? Knowing when to zoom in and when to step back. When you ask about campaign metrics or question technical decisions, your team knows if you're genuinely curious or just micromanaging. Feedback is a delicate art, you have to ask yourself if your input makes something better versus just different. Sometimes we suggest changes based on personal preference rather than what actually works. The key is knowing when to speak up and when to let your team run with it.Takeaways: Your technical skills got you the leadership role. Now they need to evolve, not evaporate. The future belongs to marketing leaders who keep one foot in the code and one in the boardroom – masters of both the how and the why.Trusting Your Gut vs Measuring All Of The ThingsThe marketing metrics obsession has gone too far. While CFOs salivate over spreadsheets demanding ROI calculations for every LinkedIn post and email blast, they're missing a crucial reality check: humans are gloriously unpredictable creatures who refuse to follow our carefully crafted attribution models. The digital advertising revolution sold us a compelling fantasy of perfect measurement, but reality stubbornly refuses to play along. After the "growth at all costs" party ended with a nasty hangover, companies sobered up and started demanding receipts for every marketing dollar spent. Logical? Sure. Realistic? Not even close. This myopic fixation on measurable channels creates a dangerous illusion of control. Paid search might give you beautiful conversion tracking, but try building a billion-dollar brand on Google Ads alone. Spoiler alert: it won't work. Real growth demands embracing the uncomfortable truth that some of your most powerful marketing moves will resist neat ROI calculations.Modern marketing success requires omnipresence, not just optimization. Your target audience bounces between platforms like a caffeinated pinball, interacting with your brand across countless touchpoints. Social media, influencer collaborations, and content marketing often defy precise attribution, yet they create the vital ambient awareness that drives long-term growth. The magic happens in the messy middle, where multiple channels work together in ways that no attribution model can fully capture.Getting leadership buy-in for this reality requi...

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

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

Georgiana is a strategic advisor, author and speaker who's passionate about turning customer value into revenue-generating outcomes. Marketing online since 2000, she began her track record as a marketing executive and product growth advisor in 2010 working with high-growth, B2B SaaS like Unbounce, Sprout Social, Bitly, Appcues, SparkToro, Invoice Simple and more. Questions and topics we covered in this interview include: The origins of Forget The Funnel (and why funnels are bad for business) What Customer-Led Growth is and why it comes before all other growth models (like product-led, sales-led, marketing-led, or community-led) How do marketers begin to learn from their customers?  What's the best way to collect product feedback? What's the best way to implement that feedback? + How does marketing champion and facilitate this process with other departments? You're a prolific advisor to several big name startups, what does it take to become one? Georgiana's advice on how to become a startup advisor And more! Important Links You can say hello to Georgiana on LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgianalaudi/ You can find me on LinkedIn here- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennysoto  Get her book on Customer-Led Growth™ here - https://www.forgetthefunnel.com/customer-led-growth/book Check out her podcast with cofounder Claire Suellentrop here - https://pod.link/1713510690 Past guests of The People of Digital Marketing include April Dunford, Amanda Goetz, Melissa Rosenthal, Bill Macaitis, Miruna Dragomir, Andrew Capland, Erik Newton, Andy Crestodina, Sarah Bedrick, Michael Wieder, Dan McGaw, Kathleen Booth, Foti Panagiotakopoulos, Tommy Walker, Lea Pica, Maya Grossman, Sara Pion, Margaret Kelsey, and more. Music for this podcast comes from www.davidcuttermusic.com 

We're back with the first episode of our second season of Shifting Priorities. This time, we're talking to Margaret Kelsey. Margaret is the Founder of TatCo and Co-host of Don't Say Content.Previously, she worked for companies like OpenView, Appcues, and InVision.In this week's episode, Margaret and I tackle important topics, including...Starting your own business and prioritizing working less but taking on more impactful projectsThe importance of being authentic and relatable with your team while still holding strong emotional boundariesHow to price out your services to ensure you're making more than enough to live comfortablyWhy more women need to remember to be gentle with themselves, and how to do soPlus, there's a little update from me about what I've been up to these last seven months. 

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

Welcome to Growthmates with 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. Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).—In this episode, I chat with Amy Bucher, Chief Behavioral Officer at Lirio and author of Engaged. We delve into the world of behavioral design, exploring how understanding human behavior can lead to more ethical and effective product development. Amy shares her journey from academia to leading behavioral design teams, and how frameworks like the COMBEE model and Behavior Change Wheel are essential tools for influencing user behavior.By the end of this episode, you'll learn how to apply behavioral science principles to your product, understand the importance of ethical design, and gain insights into leveraging AI for personalized user experiences

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

Welcome to Growthmates with 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. Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).—In this episode, I chat with Jochem Van Der Veer, co-founder and CEO of TheyDo, about his journey from UX design to leading a successful B2B SaaS company. We dive into the triple diamond framework, customer obsession, and key strategies for scaling a product. By the end, you'll gain actionable insights on how to align business goals with customer outcomes and effectively grow your company.By the end of this episode, you'll learn about the triple diamond framework for design thinking, the importance of customer obsession, and practical strategies for scaling a B2B SaaS company

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 and support my work.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, I met Lena Kul — a seasoned design recruiter with vast experience at companies like N26, Miro, and now a User Researcher. Lena shares her journey from design recruitment to user research, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to shift careers or land a job in the current competitive market.By the end of this episode, you'll learn how to make your job search more effective, craft a compelling portfolio, and negotiate your worth confidently

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

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 and support my work.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, I met Bruno Berger — a VP of Design and Product Management who worked in companies like Google, Metabase, and now he's teaching “Design for PMs” on Reforge. We discuss Bruno's career journey, the integration of design and product management, and best practices for improving collaboration between designers and PMs. We also explored Bruno's strategies for combining design and product management to enhance team collaboration and project success.By the end of this episode, you can learn how to make your PM and Design collaboration better by adjusting the ways of working, building trust, and how to align faster to make it the most rewarding thinking partnership.This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences.Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption for free. Check out the template that I created to help companies uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesKey highlights from this episode that you can implement right away

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 and support my work.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, I met with Behzod Sirjani — a leader in Research space who worked in companies like Slack and Facebook, and currently supporting the broader community as an Advisor and Reforge partnerResearch is one of my favourite topics, and we discussed how different companies should approach: from Startup to Scale up. By the end of this episode, you can learn how to get customer insights even in a small team, when it's the right moment to bring a dedicated researcher, common mistakes, and how to scale the research forward.This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences.Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption for free. Check out the template that I created to help companies uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesKey highlights from this episode that you can implement right away

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

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 and support my work.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).To celebrate the first Growthmates anniversary, we prepared a gift to our community — “The Holistic Playbook for Growth Teams”. It's a reflection of industry trends, in-depth interviews with our guests, and insights gathered from a hundred companies. You can get this playbook for free on our new website → growthmates.club. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Capland, Coach for Heads of Growth, previously Director of Growth at Wistia, and one of the most supportive people I've recently met in the advising community. We explored some burning questions I recently used to survey 100 companies. I asked some of these questions to Andrew to get his wisdom.By the end of this episode, you can learn about new rituals to introduce in your Growth teamwork, the most impactful experiment on pricing from Wistia, and more ways to uncover Growth opportunities if you feel stuck.  If you find this show valuable, please share it with a colleague or friend — it greatly supports our efforts to continue creating it for you. To receive all episodes directly in your inbox, subscribe to growthamtes.club This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences.Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption for free. Check out the template that I created to help companies uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesKey highlights from this episode:* Challenges in Product-Led Growth: We discussed key growth challenges with Andrew from the recent industry research I facilitated with 100+ companies. He shared a bunch of insights and his practical experience from Wistia and works with clients.* Building Growth Processes: A practical ritual Andrew recommends is "Full Story Fridays," where teams review user interactions to identify valuable improvements.* Driving Monetization: At Wistia, Andrew led pricing experimentation efforts, which involved diverse strategies to adjust pricing structures and packaging (listen more in a full episode). * Acquiring New Users (No Sign-Up Required): Andrew cites examples of products that have interactive versions on their websites, allowing potential users to engage with the product directly and enhancing the conversion rates dramatically .* Improving Activation and User Onboarding: To define the "aha" moment in user onboarding, Andrew suggests starting with qualitative insights from users who have recently engaged meaningfully with the product or upgraded. * and much more!Follow Growthmates updates on:* NEW! Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club * Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find our guests:* Andrew Capland LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/ * Andrew's Newsletter “Delivering Value” on SubstackWhat we've covered in this episode:00:00 Journey from Growth Leader to Growth Coach08:49 Challenges and Successes in Product-Led Growth15:10 Building Growth Processes for Success25:38 Acquiring New Users and ICP25:53 Improving Activation and User Onboarding26:39 Navigating Growth Challenges: Defining Metrics and Research Methods31:42 Uncovering Growth Opportunities: Strategies and Tools36:41 The Role of Advisors and Consultants in Growth39:47 Building Growth Processes and Driving MonetizationResources Referenced:* “The Holistic Growth Playbook” with insights from 100+ companies, expert takes from Dropbox, Amplitude, Loom, and more: growthmates.club/playbook* "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898* "Crossing the Chasm" by Geoffrey A. Moore: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Chasm-Marketing-High-Tech-Mainstream/dp/0060517123* "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" by Nir Eyal: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788* "Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love" by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Create-Products-Customers-Love/dp/0981690408* Andrew's Newsletter “Delivering Value” on Substack: media.deliveringvalue.coThank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you find this valuable, please share it with your friends and colleagues, and subscribe to this show on your favourite platforms to get new episodes. Let's keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to hello@growthmates.club Thanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katesyuma.substack.com

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

Welcome to Growthmates — the place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Subscribe to get all episodes right to your inbox on katesyuma.substack.com.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Janie Lee, Head of Product at Loom. We explored the evolution of Loom's growth strategy, especially post-acquisition by Atlassian. By the end of this episode, you can learn how to start performing as a new leader and build the Growth function, how to hire for Growth and Core product roles, and my favorite insight about the most impactful experiment for Loom in the last year.If you find this show valuable, please share it with one of your colleagues or friends — it gives huge support to continue creating it. To receive all episodes right in your inbox — subscribe to katesyuma.substack.com This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences.Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption for free. Check out the template that I created to help companies uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesKey highlights from this episode:* Strategic Use of Product Critiques at Loom: Janie Lee describes how Loom conducts strategic product reviews to evaluate high-stakes projects, using tools like Loom for efficient communication and decision-making, highlighting the importance of structured feedback.* Building Loom's Growth Team: Janie narrates the evolution of the growth team at Loom, starting from small-scale initiatives to establishing a dedicated growth team focused on customer journeys and business metrics, demonstrating the iterative process of growth strategy implementation.* Data-Informed Culture and Customer Insights: She discusses embedding a data-inforemd decision-making culture at Loom by creating a growth dashboard and prioritizing customer insights, which align product development closely with user needs and business objectives.* Core and Growth Teams: discussing differences in hiring approach and how both Core and Growth collaborated on some initiatives at Loom.* Most successful Growth experiment at Loom in the last 12 months: We discussed a significant growth experiment at Loom that adjusted anonymous viewer interactions, showcasing the trade-offs between enhancing user engagement and satisfying content creators, reflecting the nuanced decisions involved in growth strategy.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).Follow Growthmates updates on:* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syuma* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find our guests:* Janie Lee, Head of Product at Loom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janiejlee/What we've covered in this episode:[01:11] A Day in the Life of a Product Director [03:27] Strategic Product Critiques [04:55] The Joy of Management [06:20] Path to Leadership [08:30] Early Days at Loom [11:33] Data-Driven Insights [19:39] Significant Impact Changes [23:01] Product-Led Acquisition Insights [24:52] Core vs. Growth Product Teams [28:34] Successful Partnerships in Product Development [31:15] Hiring for Product and Growth [37:31] Adapting to Acquisition by Atlassian: Growth Perspectives [41:34] Maintaining a Growth Mindset in Large Organizations [44:11] Navigating the New Corporate Landscape [46:38] Lightning Round: Unexpected InspirationsResources Referenced:* How to make an impact in your first 90 days by on :* Various Reforge courses: https://www.reforge.com/If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and like-minded friends. For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to ekaterinasyuma@gmail.com.Subscribe to get more episodes right in your inbox: katesyuma.substack.comThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katesyuma.substack.com

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

Welcome to Growthmates — the place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Subscribe to get all episodes right to your inbox on katesyuma.substack.com.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).This time I had a chat with 2 fantastic leaders from SurveyMonkey — Brad, currently Director of Product, and Erica, who was a VP of Design and Research and recently started a new role at Intuit. Both Erica and Brad spent more than 7 years in the company, and we explored the evolution of Growth at SurveyMonkey over these years, and discussed significant chapters in the company's growth journey, including their legendary transition to a product-led growth model.My favorite part of the conversation was when Brad and Erica shared their expectations of ideal partnerships with each other, and how to build and maintain that partnership at a huge scale over the years.If you find this show valuable, please share it with one of your colleagues or friends — it gives huge support to continue creating it. To receive all episodes right in your inbox — subscribe to katesyuma.substack.com This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences.Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption for free. Check out the template that I created to help companies uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesKey highlights from this episode:* Optimization of Key Touchpoints: SurveyMonkey's significant growth was driven by the optimization of survey end pages and the homepage, which were critical in enhancing user engagement and conversion rates.* Product-Led Growth Transition: The company successfully transitioned to a product-led growth model, focusing on refining trial experiences, optimizing pricing structures, and improving conversion flows to better meet user needs and drive growth. Brad shared the evolution of Growth at SurveyMonkey since the time he joined and learned from . * Integral Role of Design and Research: Design and research functions were crucial in providing insights that drove the company's strategic decisions, fueling innovation and idea generation essential for growth.* Collaboration Between Product and Design Teams: Erica and Brad openly shared expectations towards each other on the episode — listen to this part! * Cultural Emphasis on Collaboration: we discussed the importance of incorporating collaborative practices like design rituals, which include peer critiques and shared design systems, to maintain alignment and visibility across teams.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).Follow Growthmates updates on:* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.com* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find our guests:* Bradley Belford, Director of Product at SurveyMonkey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-belford/* Erica Weiss Tjader, ex-SurveyMonkey VP of Research and Design: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericatjader/What we've covered in this episode:[02:14] Welcoming Erica & Brad[06:02] SurveyMonkey Growth Chapters and Pivotal Moments[08:11] Transition to Product-Led Growth[10:15] Every Team as a Growth Team[17:19] Role of Design and Research in Strategic Moments[28:59] Product and Design Collaboration at Scale[37:10] Aligning User and Business Outcomes[43:41] Fostering Relationships Between Product and Design Functions[47:36] Balancing Deadlines and Iteration in Growth Initiatives[50:18] The Importance of Collaboration and Design Rituals[51:28] Resources and Key TakeawaysResources Referenced:* "Inspired: How To Create Tech Products Customers Love" by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Create-Tech-Products-Customers/dp/1119387507 * "Continuous Discovery Habits" by Teresa Torres: https://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Discovery-Habits-Discover-Products/dp/1736633309* "Empowered: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Products" by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/Empowered-Ordinary-Extraordinary-Products-Silicon/dp/111969129X* UX Collective Community: — a platform for product designers and UX practitioners to share insights, articles, and resources (I also published 2 articles on their Medium).If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and like-minded friends. For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to ekaterinasyuma@gmail.com.Subscribe to get more episodes right in your inbox: katesyuma.substack.comThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katesyuma.substack.com

In this conversation, Alex and Ramli John discuss their experiences with podcasting, the evolution of content creation, and the importance of standing out in a crowded market. They also touch on the concept of product adoption and the goals of the Product Adoption Academy within AppCues. In this conversation, Ramli John and Alex discuss the concept of product-led growth and its misconceptions. They explore the role of marketing and sales in a product-led growth model and the importance of personalized user experiences. They also touch on the use of AI in content creation and the potential impact on the value of human creators.Key TakeawaysBuilding relationships with podcast guests can lead to valuable connections and friendships.Creating a unique and memorable brand for a podcast can help it stand out in a crowded market.There is value in embracing your own weirdness and personality when creating content.Creative and unconventional marketing approaches can help brands differentiate themselves and capture attention.Formalizing and educating around a specific role or craft can bring more weight and seriousness to it.The goals of the Product Adoption Academy include course completion, customer acquisition, and impact on marketing metrics.Being product-led means prioritizing the success of the end user and creating a positive user experience. Product-led growth is about making it easy for users to achieve what they want and be successful with the product.Product-led growth does not necessarily mean freemium or free trial, but rather a focus on user success.Sales and marketing play important roles in a product-led growth model, including guiding users at key moments and personalizing the user experience.AI tools can be used to repurpose content, create summaries, and enhance content creation workflows.The value of human creators in the face of AI lies in their ability to provide unique perspectives and experiences.Show LinksVisit AppCuesConnect with Ramli John on LinkedInConnect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or TwitterPast guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEOShould You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?How Do Growth and Content Overlap?Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:Twitter: @beomniscientLinkedin: Be OmniscientListen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

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

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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

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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

Welcome to Growthmates — the place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Subscribe to get all episodes right to your inbox on katesyuma.substack.com.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).This episode is supported by Appcues — the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences. Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption, and you can use it for free. Check out the template which I created to help companies connect growth hypotheses with behavioral patterns to uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmatesThis time we talked to Mohammed, formerly a Product lead on Apple Siri, Product Marketing Manager at Google, and currently a Co-founder of DesignPro. Mohammed shared his journey from studying at Stanford to building innovative products, and reflected on his time at Google and Apple, highlighting the different cultures and approaches to innovation. I felt so inspired after this conversation, especially when Mohammed shared how Steve Jobs entered their room to acquire Siri, how he embraced trial and error and be okay with failure, and how he uncovered that creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development. Here are some highlights you can find in the episode:— Embrace trial and error and be okay with failure in the process of product design and development.— Customer obsession and understanding their desires and needs are crucial for successful innovation.— Timing is key in launching products, and being able to tell a compelling narrative is essential for engaging customers.— Creativity is a fundamental aspect of human nature and should be prioritized in product development.— Combining the disciplines of product design and product management can lead to more successful and innovative products.If you find this show valuable, please share it with one of your colleagues or friends — it gives huge support to continue creating it. To receive all episodes right in your inbox — subscribe to katesyuma.substack.com Share this episode with your like-minded colleagues and friends!Follow Growthmates updates on:* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Mohammed Abdoolcarim (DesignPro, ex-Apple & Google):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscarim/* DesignPro: https://designpro.ai/Where to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.com* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhat we've covered in this episode:01:26 Studying at Stanford University03:09 Creating Products at Stanford04:44 Working at Google08:14 Building Siri and Joining Apple12:29 Apple's Unique Culture13:57 Combining Product Design and Product Management19:16 Apple's Approach to Building Products22:14 Adapting to the Trend of AI26:38 Transitioning to a Founder Role29:35 Creating DesignPro35:05 Balancing Creativity and Operational Tasks40:42 Fulfilling Creative Routine as a Founder43:09 Memorable Moments at Apple45:14 Book Recommendation: Shoe DogResources referenced:* 15% discount for Self-serve Onboarding course (starts on 15th of April!): https://maven.com/growth-course/self-serve-onboarding?promoCode=growthmates* How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley: https://www.amazon.com/How-Innovation-Works-Serendipity-Technology/dp/0062916599* Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: https://www.amazon.com/Creativity-Inc-Overcoming-Unseen-Inspiration/dp/0812993012* Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135929If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and like-minded friends. For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to ekaterinasyuma@gmail.com.Subscribe to get more episodes right in your inbox: katesyuma.substack.comThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katesyuma.substack.com

Welcome to Growthmates — the place to connect with inspiring leaders to help you grow yourself and your product. Here you can learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and many more are building excellent products and growth culture. Subscribe to get all episodes right to your inbox on katesyuma.substack.com.Listen now and subscribe on your favorite platforms — Apple, Spotify, or watch on YouTube (new!).This episode is supported by Appcues — make your product adoption easy!Appcues is the platform that helps you design, deploy, and test captivating onboarding experiences. Appcues created the Product Adoption Academy to help you level up your product adoption, and you can use it for free. Check out the “5-step Growth Flow Review” template which I created to help companies connect growth hypotheses with behavioral patterns to uncover meaningful improvements. Find an example of Dropbox Onboarding inside the template and apply it to review any growth flows: appcues.com/growthmates Get a 15% discount for my Self-Service Onboarding courseIf you're keen on Mastering Product Growth and User onboarding, join the upcoming course starting on the 15th of April. You will get personal guidance to create a stellar onboarding experience and frameworks to turn it into live. Get a 15% discount with promo code “growthmates”. Learn more and get early access → https://maven.com/growth-course/self-serve-onboardingThis time we talked to Rob Litterst who is leading HubSpot media and Building an insightful newsletter about Pricing in SaaS. We discussed his journey from sales to writing, the emerging trend of employee-generated content and a lot of things connected to user-centric pricing. If you listen to this episode, you will learn about:— Unethical pricing practices we should avoid— Why companies started shifting from Freemium to speed up monetization— And a dozen newsletters that Rob recommends to stay informed on important industry newsIf you find this show valuable, please share it with one of your colleagues or friends — it gives huge support to continue creating it. To receive all episodes right in your inbox — subscribe to katesyuma.substack.com Follow Growthmates updates on:* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://katesyuma.substack.com/podcast* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates_/Where to find Rob Litterst (HubSpot media):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roblitterst/* Newsletter: goodbetterbest.substack.comWhere to find Kate Syuma, Growth Advisor (ex-Miro):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.com* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhat we've covered in this episode:00:00 Introduction and Background01:30 The Importance of Pricing in SaaS06:17 Employee-Generated Content11:15 Creating the Newsletter Good Better Best16:35 Introducing Newsletters in Companies34:14 Issues with Amazon Prime and Black Friday Strategies36:15 Ethical Pricing Practices38:04 Transparency in Pricing42:55 Trends in Pricing Pages50:05 The Rise of Subscription ModelsResources referenced:* 15% discount for Self-serve Onboarding course (starts on 15th of April!): https://maven.com/growth-course/self-serve-onboarding?promoCode=getteamdiscount* “Good Better Best” Newsletter: goodbetterbest.substack.com* Ben Thompson's Stratechery: https://stratechery.com/* Newsletter: https://www.packym.com/newsletter* Big Technology Newsletter: bigtechnology.com* James Clear's “The 3-2-1 Newsletter”: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1* Chris Black's “How Long Gone” podcast* Pulling Weeds With Chris Black: https://www.gq.com/about/pulling-weeds-with-chris-blackIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to share it with your colleagues and like-minded friends. For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to ekaterinasyuma@gmail.com.Subscribe to get more episodes right in your inbox: katesyuma.substack.comThanks for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katesyuma.substack.com

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

Margaret has spent the last decade building scalable, effective marketing programs—and teams—for B2B SaaS companies like OpenView, Appcues, and InVision. She now advises founders on how to do the same. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast called "Don't Say Content" with Devin Bramhall.  Questions and topics we covered include: Why Margaret took the plunge to become a soloprenuer?  Her recommendations for where to upskill as a marketer The characteristics of high-performing marketing teams?  Why marketing teams need to have fun to thrive.  The importance of knowing the differences between “Shared Language” and Institutional Knowledge… The key questions individual contributors should be asking their bosses to get a better understanding of company strategy… The skills Margaret would be learning this year if she had to start her career now… Why founder-led marketing still works, regardless of company size… How to think about “playbooks”… What are the major pitfalls that arise within the Head of Marketing and CEO relationship? Why is it important to have a focus on longer timelines as you move up the management ladder? Why strategy is supposed to take into account triaging “urgent” tasks… And more! Connect with Margaret on Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey-104abba/  Connect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennysoto/ Here's Margaret's podcast if you want to get even more of her knowledge - https://www.dontsaycontent.com Want to learn the best ways you can produce and grow an effective podcast for your business in 2024? Check out https://www.brandpodcastsummit.com!  On January 24th we're hosting The Brand Podcast Summit, a free-to-attend virtual event designed exclusively for marketers and comms people to succeed in podcasting in 2024. Speakers include Ann Handley, Rand Fishkin, podcast producers from NPR, the BBC, podcast growth pros, AI and automation experts…One attendee also has the chance to get $500's worth of podcast equipment! Shoutout to a previous guest of the show, Harry Morton, for sharing this. Past guests of The People of Digital Marketing include April Dunford, Amanda Goetz, Melissa Rosenthal, Bill Macaitis, Miruna Dragomir, Andrew Capland, Erik Newton, Andy Crestodina, Sarah Bedrick, Michael Wieder, Dan McGaw, Kathleen Booth, Foti Panagiotakopoulos, Tommy Walker, Lea Pica, Maya Grossman, Sara Pion, and more. Music for this podcast comes from www.davidcuttermusic.com

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 along the way.In this episode, you'll learn:1. Surrounding yourself with people who love you for who you are is essential to avoiding burnout2. Moving fast can be detrimental if you aren't doing it thoughtfully3. Broadcasting your wins to the company can help get people energized about the work you doThings to listen for:[09:45] Nothing replaces hard work[13:38] Moving too fast[15:17] Processing critiques and feedback[27:38] Balancing how much effort to give[28:24] Finding work that combines your expertises[30:13] Avoiding the health risks of overwork[33:45] Realizing the value of soft skillsResources:- Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn- Subscribe to Brendan's newsletter for the secret recipes of how SaaS companies *actually* get customers- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

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 learn how she overcame tough feedback from her mentor about her experience and the mindsets you need to succeed in your career.In this episode, you'll learn:1. Mentors won't always support your ideas, don't take it personally2. Real world experience can be an invaluable substitute for formal education3. Don't let the unknown unknowns stop you from moving forwardThings to listen for:[06:07] Taking on bigger problems[13:03] Receiving tough feedback from a trusted mentor[24:03] Does starting your own business make you unemployable?[25:28] Unlocking new levels in your life[26:36] Meeting impossible goals in a toxic work environment[32:49] Advice for people working at roles misaligned to their values[35:42] What to do when you don't know what to do[38:28] Breaking old thought patternsResources:- Connect with Asia on LinkedIn or Twitter- Check out Asia's newsletter- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn and Twitter- Learn more about Navattic- Learn more about Appcues

Dave is joined by John Short (CEO of Compound Growth) once again, and they discuss:  The shift from solopreneurship to building a business Techniques for managing the team effectively and setting up processes vs doing the work yourself What makes a great VP of Marketing in SaaS Working the middle manager position effectively, and all the nuance that comes with different companies Send guest pitches and ideas to hello@exitfive.comExit Five on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitfive/Exit Five on Twitter: https://twitter.com/exitfivemediaJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter***Today's episode is sponsored by Revenue Hero. RevenueHero is the easiest way for B2B marketers to qualify and route leads directly to their sales rep's calendars. RevenueHero turns days of follow ups between a prospect and a sales rep into seconds.Hundreds of businesses automate their request a demo workflow with RevenueHero including Okendo, Inflection, Ultimate.ai, Customer.io, Appcues and Rebrandly. You can get a free trial of RevenueHero at revenuehero.io.Thanks to our 2023 presenting sponsors Demandwell, and Zapier.Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production. They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast. Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest. Visit hatch.fm to learn more

In this week's episode, Dave talks with Janine Anderson about her Content Operations Manager role Zapier, and the career moves that led her to this point. They cover:  How content should meet the intent of the searcher Distribution to get in front of the right people if inbound isn't an option Re-optimizing content when it falls out of the SERPs How Zapier thinks about measuring content How content influences behaviors later in the funnel And other content rants from Dave and Janine that you don't want to miss  Send guest pitches and ideas to hello@exitfive.comExit Five on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitfive/Exit Five on Twitter: https://twitter.com/exitfivemediaJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter***Today's episode is sponsored by Revenue Hero. RevenueHero is the easiest way for B2B marketers to qualify and route leads directly to their sales rep's calendars. RevenueHero turns days of follow ups between a prospect and a sales rep into seconds.Hundreds of businesses automate their request a demo workflow with RevenueHero including Okendo, Inflection, Ultimate.ai, Customer.io, Appcues and Rebrandly. You can get a free trial of RevenueHero at revenuehero.io.Thanks to our 2023 presenting sponsors Demandwell, and Zapier.Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production. They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast. Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest. Visit hatch.fm to learn more

This week, Dave and Amrita Mathur catch up since their last podcast, and since Amrita started her new VP of Marketing job at ClickUp.There are some great nuggets in here for how to start out as a VP of Marketing in a new role.They also cover topics like:  Personal LinkedIn strategy  How proactivity is one of the keys to being successful  Optimizing for learning in your career, and staying in roles for a long time vs not Figuring out product market fit Send guest pitches and ideas to hello@exitfive.comExit Five on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/exitfive/Exit Five on Twitter: https://twitter.com/exitfivemediaJoin the Exit Five Newsletter here: https://www.exitfive.com/newsletter***Today's episode is sponsored by Revenue Hero. RevenueHero is the easiest way for B2B marketers to qualify and route leads directly to their sales rep's calendars. RevenueHero turns days of follow ups between a prospect and a sales rep into seconds.Hundreds of businesses automate their request a demo workflow with RevenueHero including Okendo, Inflection, Ultimate.ai, Customer.io, Appcues and Rebrandly. You can get a free trial of RevenueHero at revenuehero.io.Thanks to our 2023 presenting sponsors Demandwell, and Zapier.Thanks to my friends at hatch.fm for producing this episode and handling all of the Exit Five podcast production. They give you unlimited podcast editing and strategy for your B2B podcast. Get unlimited podcast editing and on-demand strategy for one low monthly cost. Just upload your episode, and they take care of the rest. Visit hatch.fm to learn more