How I Grew This: Real Stories of Digital Growth

Ever wondered how to navigate product development in highly regulated industries while still driving innovation? Join Amanda and Adam as they chat with Patrick Wesonga, Senior Product Leader, who shares two decades of invaluable product management wisdom. From hypothesis-driven development to building mission-driven products, discover how to balance regulatory compliance with rapid innovation, the key traits of exceptional product managers, and why curiosity is the cornerstone of product success. Whether you're an aspiring product manager or seasoned professional, this episode delivers practical insights on making impactful product decisions while staying true to your mission.

• Balancing innovation with regulatory requirements in healthcare and fintech
• Creating successful products across B2B, B2C, and B2B2C models
• Transitioning from engineering to product management
• Building mission-driven products that make a real impact
• Essential traits and skills for successful product managers
• Navigating the future of product management in the age of AI

What You'll Learn:

• How to navigate product development in regulated industries without sacrificing innovation
• The key differences between B2B, B2C, and B2B2C product development approaches
• Why hypothesis-driven product development is crucial for building successful products
• How to leverage data to challenge executive decisions and validate product strategies
• The essential qualities to look for when hiring product managers include curiosity and technical acumen
• Why understanding both the spirit and letter of regulations leads to better product outcomes
• How to balance mission-driven work with business sustainability
• The future impact of AI on product management roles and responsibilities
• Why product success requires focusing on both emotional and functional customer needs
• The advantages and challenges of working in early-stage versus mature companies

 Episode Resources:

• Patrick Wesonga on LinkedIn
• Spring Health on LinkedIn
• Spring Health Website
• Amanda Vandiver on LinkedIn
• Adam Landis on LinkedIn
• Branch on LinkedIn
• Branch Website
• How I Grew This on Apple Podcasts
• How I Grew This on Spotify
• How I Grew This on YouTube 

From Oracle Sales to Digital Product Pioneer: Building a Sustainable Tech Agency in the Mobile Era.

In this episode of How I Grew This, host Adam speaks with Robert Armstrong, Co-Founder and CEO of Appstem, about his 15-year journey building a successful digital product agency from the early days of mobile apps to today's AI-driven landscape, alongside co-host Amanda.

In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam sit down with Jason White, Head of Acquisition at Policygenius, to explore the evolving landscape of digital marketing and SEO. Jason shares invaluable insights from his journey from a local bike shop to leading acquisition strategies, discussing why traditional marketing principles still matter in the AI era, how to effectively navigate the current "land grab" opportunity in digital channels, and practical approaches to testing and measurement. Whether you're a seasoned marketer adapting to AI-driven changes or looking to build a more resilient acquisition strategy, this conversation offers actionable insights on maintaining authenticity while embracing innovation. Tune in to discover why "doing real company stuff" matters more than chasing the latest marketing fads.

Join Adam and Amanda as they sit down with Shumel Lais, a mobile growth expert with over a decade of experience, to explore the essential strategies for launching and scaling subscription apps. From setting up proper analytics and understanding payback periods to navigating iOS challenges and leveraging AI, this episode delivers practical insights for both startup founders and established app developers. Learn why immediate ROI isn't always the goal, when to start paid acquisition, and how to build a sustainable growth strategy in today's complex mobile landscape.

Gamelight founder Günay Azer sits down with ‘How I Grew This’ hosts Amanda Vandiver and Adam Landis to reveal the remarkable journey of transforming a bootstrapped startup into a mobile marketing powerhouse. In this episode, Günay shares how Gamelight's AI-powered platform revolutionizes user acquisition through sophisticated data analysis and personalized app recommendations. The conversation offers invaluable insights for anyone interested in mobile gaming, adtech innovation, and the future of AI-driven marketing strategies. Learn firsthand how Gamelight's cutting-edge approach is reshaping the mobile app marketing landscape through the strategic intersection of artificial intelligence, user behavior data, and targeted recommendation algorithms.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Shobeir Shobeiri, Senior Director of Business Development at Mintegral, joins host Amanda Vandiver and Adam Landis to discuss the evolution of mobile advertising and what brand advertising means in the context of mobile.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Alexa Serrano, Director of Client and Product Growth at Simplii Financial, joins host Amanda Vandiver to discuss the challenges of managing generational dynamics in the workplace, with a focus on Alexa's experience as a millennial manager in the digital banking industry. They also share the importance of continuous learning, operational efficiency, mobile marketing trends, and personalized customer experiences.

Alexa is an experienced growth director with over 8 years of expertise in driving customer acquisition, retention, and revenue growth for retail products in the financial services industry. Before joining Simplii Financial, she was the Senior Marketing Manager at President's Choice Financial and CIBC, as well as the Marketing Director at S.E.E.D.S. (Science for Life), a non-profit science education organization based in Toronto.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Ariel Wengroff, VP of Marketing and Communications at Ledger, joins Mada Seghete to share thoughts on the intersection of blockchain, security, and marketing. They share how Ledger revolutionizes the digital asset security landscape, strategies for digital success, and the future of blockchain technology.

In her role at Ledger, Ariel leads global marketing and communications, focusing on educating and culturally integrating people into the world of digital asset security. She is also the Founder of Culture's Last Stand, a strategic partner to businesses and individuals, putting the consumer at the center of their practice.

Before that, Ariel was the Co-Founder and Chief Content and Community Officer at arfa and worked at VICE Media, where she was an Executive Producer of the Emmy nominated VICELAND show WOMAN with Gloria Steinem.

Ajey Gore is on a mission to grow through simplification. As a serial entrepreneur who’s led technology teams for companies like ThoughtWorks, Hopper, and most recently as the CTO of Gojek, he takes a thoughtful approach to bringing balance both in work and in life.

As a teenager he printed business cards but, after accidentally blowing up his brother’s computer, he signed up for the closest computer science class and was obsessed ever since. Fast forward to his time at Gojek where he oversaw 30 - 40 million app impressions a day, Ajey reveals that a focus on product market fit and delighting customers is the only north star one can follow.

More on Ajey’s story including what it’s like to prioritize new marketplaces when everything seems like green field, the importance of purposeful communication within an organization, and why formal education isn’t necessarily a great prerequisite for a career in technology.

All this and more on this episode of How I Grew This. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere you find your podcasts.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Brian Fenty, CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder of TodayTix Group, joins Mada Seghete to explore how the company disrupted the ticket-buying experience with their mobile-first platform. Brian also shares the importance of listening to their audience, constantly innovating, and his personal journey and love for theater.

Brian stands at the forefront of integrating technology, commerce, and culture with a decade of expertise. As the visionary behind a suite of brands and platforms, he leads a global audience toward premier live entertainment experiences offered by TodayTix, Secret Cinema, and Goldstar, among others.

Brian's contributions haven't gone unnoticed as he has earned a spot on Crain's "30 under 30," graced Variety's "Dealmakers List," has been honored on the Broadway Impact List, and has been further crowned by the Dramatists Guild Fund award. Moreover, under his leadership, TTG secured a place in The Andreessen Horowitz Marketplace 100.