Growing Forward: Lead like the top 1% in growth, marketing, & product

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 balance

2. Be candid with your boss about what you can and can’t commit to as early as possible

3. Never forget to remain humble and curious, regardless of your company’s growth

Things 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 feedback

2. Identifying your learning pattern allows you to better structure your self-education and retain the things you consume

3. It’s important to understand and notice your emotions and talk about them with others

Things 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 presentations

Resources:

- 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

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 burnout

2. Moving fast can be detrimental if you aren’t doing it thoughtfully

3. Broadcasting your wins to the company can help get people energized about the work you do

Things 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 skills

Resources:

- 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 personally

2. Real world experience can be an invaluable substitute for formal education

3. Don’t let the unknown unknowns stop you from moving forward

Things 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 patterns

Resources:

- 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

It’s stating the obvious but leadership is tricky. You’ve got to find a balance between creating space for open dialogue while also filtering how much you actually share.

Margaret Kelsey, Founder and Marketing Advisor at TatCo, was forced to take a step back and look closely at her team culture when she got some very disheartening feedback during her time at Appcues. She quickly came to realize she’d created a toxic mini culture in her team by expressing frustration with the organization in an unproductive way.

In this episode, Margaret shares some of her struggles in aligning her team with the larger company and getting buy-in from higher ups on their strategies. She also discusses how she’s learning how to detangle her personal and work identities. Listen to discover how you can become more self-aware as a leader to lead teams effectively and continue being satisfied with your work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. As a leader, you need to be responsible about what messages you filter through to your team

2. Every piece of feedback you receive is optional

3. It’s better to think of your company as a sports team rather than a family

Things to listen for:

[11:14] Rethinking hustle culture

[15:25] Filtering frustrations and leadership messages to your team

[18:22] Navigating the challenge of misaligned values at work

[28:49] Detangling your work and personal identity

[32:01] Dealing with “Executive thrashing”

[37:13] Leaning into your feelings rather than judging them

[40:04] Building self-awareness as a leader

[41:13] Setting boundaries and choosing what feedback to accept

Resources:

- Connect with Margaret on LinkedIn

- Check out Margaret’s podcast

- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

- Learn more about Appcues

When you’re leading a small growth team, every time someone leaves it can feel like a gut punch. That’s what Connor Bradley, Director of Product Growth at Jobber, felt when a member of his team left at the beginning of the pandemic. And then another person exited and Connor felt lower than low.

In this episode, Connor discusses the emotions he’s had to go through and process while building a growth team from scratch and overcoming the struggles, unexpected and otherwise, that comes with that path. Listen in to learn how you can build more tight knit teams and form solid connections to handle the ups and downs of a career in growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn how:

1. Approaching growth problems calmly allows you to remain focused on what’s most important for your company

2. Vocalizing your feelings is critical in remote work since so much non-verbal communication is lost through video calls

3. Building solid relationships at work helps you overcome the common problems of growth

Things to listen for:

[03:33] Why curiosity is critical to growth

[06:44] The period of his career Connor’s most proud of

[10:27] Hitting your lowest low and what comes next

[14:24] Maintaining a 10,000 foot view

[19:21] Advice for anyone feeling lonely or isolated

[22:49] Struggling with self-doubt

[26:55] Avoiding a reactive mindset

[30:41] Being okay saying “not right now”

Resources:

- Connect with Connor on Linkedin

- Connect with Andrew on Linkedin or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

- Learn more about Appcues

When you see someone with an impressive resume, it’s easy to think they’ve got it all figured out. But Patrick Moran, Head of Growth Marketing at Robinhood, shows that can be a pretty misleading indicator. Working at massive companies like Netflix, eBay, and Reforge has taught him valuable lessons that he carries with him to this day.

In this episode, Patrick shares three things he’s learned from the different mistakes he’s made in his career. Listen in and realize that no one’s career is perfect and you aren’t alone in your struggle to find success in your growth role.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Your relationship with your manager is definitely two-way

2. The company shouldn’t guide or dictate your career - that’s in your hands

3. Understanding first principles is crucial to your growth in a company

Things to listen for:

[07:01] Realizing the importance of unit economics for growth roles

[12:31] Learning the value of managing up

[17:35] Balancing your career priorities with the company’s priorities for you

[19:58] Understanding the value of first principles thinking

[23:47] Adapting to a role you didn’t ask for

[26:44] Knowing when it isn’t the right fit

[30:12] Navigating doubts at work

Resources:

- Connect with Patrick on LinkedIn or the Finding Market Fit podcast

- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

- Learn more about Appcues

Starting growth from scratch in your company is a big responsibility. Not only do you have to teach people about its processes, but you also have to evangelize it, letting them know why they need it in the first place. It has plenty of ups and downs. Lauren Schuman, former growth at Sidebar, Mural, and Mailchimp) knows all too well.

In this episode, Lauren shares her story of starting growth from nothing at a growing company and how she’s learned to take feedback from other people. Listen to learn how you can effectively evangelize growth in your company while developing your internal relationships.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Speaking a common language is essential to educating your team on the value of growth

2. Finding a professional peer group provides you with the support you need to push through tough situations

3. You shouldn’t apply every piece of feedback you receive, but know that each has some truth to them

Things to listen for:

[10:20] Starting growth from scratch at Mailchimp

[17:40] The value of a professional peer group

[19:51] Swallowing brutally honest feedback

[21:32] Dealing with significant changes within a company

[32:08] Being selective about the feedback you apply

[35:17] Finding the company that meets your standards

[36:42] Knowing when it’s time to move on

Resources

- Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn

- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

Working in a new company means your day-to-day responsibilities have to be tied to a larger goal. But when you’re fresh out of college in your first role, it’s hard to understand that perspective and how others work towards it. Claire Suellentrop, Co-Founder and COO of Forget the Funnel, knows the struggle.

In this episode, Claire talks about how valuable an outside perspective would’ve been to her growth when she was starting out. Listen to learn how you can set up your network to create a foundation for your growth in the industry.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Understanding how different people approach work will save you from miscommunications and wasted work

2. The best people to give you advice are the ones who are only a few steps ahead

3. An outside perspective of your problems will help you overcome them quicker

Things to listen for:

[04:25] How Claire fell backwards into growth

[11:39] Learning to catch up to a company’s pace

[14:47] The importance of learning from someone a few steps ahead

[18:11] Understanding everyone’s working styles

[23:46] Overcoming a skillset-company culture mismatch

[27:58] Leaning into your strengths

[30:23] Why heads of growth turnover so quickly

Resources

- Connect with Claire on LinkedIn or Forget the Funnel

- Forget the Funnel book

- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

- Learn more about MadKudu

Most growth roles are difficult to grasp and manage which makes mastering “soft skills” like communication, vital.

In this episode, Product Growth Advisor Rosie Hoggmascall shares her experiences around someone taking credit for her work, struggling with being put on the spot, and having the tough conversation about feeling stuck at work. Listen in to hear her tried and true phrases you can employ to avoid freezing in anxiety-triggering conversations at work and to be reminded why soft skills are what hard workers really need.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Writing your thoughts on paper before a hard conversation at work can help you show up with confidence and clarity

2. Communication and managing up are two soft skills you need to hone to be an effective head of growth

3. You don’t have to accept all the feedback you receive but pay attention if you’re hearing the same things over and over

Things to listen for:

[11:35] Why you should always be applying for jobs

[12:51] Dealing with disrespectful managers

[15:51] Preparing for difficult conversations

[19:16] Breaking your self-deprecating internal monologue

[22:29] Speaking with your boss after a big mistake

[26:55] Phrases to use to avoid freezing

[30:15] Sifting through contrasting feedback

[32:46] Honing your soft skills

Resources:

- Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn, Medium, or Growth Mentor

- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn or Twitter

- Learn more about Navattic

- Learn more about MadKudu