[Greatest Hits] Senior Product Manager at RTL2: Ben Okkenga - What It Takes to Become a Star Product Manager in the Television Industry

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.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Daniel Krauss, Founder and Chief Organizational Plumber of Flix, joins Mada Seghete to unveil the world's leading ground transportation platform growth strategy, future expansion plans, and commitment to sustainability by expanding a battery-powered electric fleet. Daniel Krauss has vast experience in IT, having worked with companies like Marquardt Group, IFS, and Siemens. Before starting FlixBus with his school friend, André Schwämmlein, Daniel worked as a Technical Account Manager at Microsoft for three years, where he gained valuable insights from the corporate world.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Farhad Massoudi, Founder and CEO of Tubi, joins Mada Seghete. They cover the success journey of Tubi, a free streaming service disrupting the industry, and its growth hack strategies involving content, viewership, and advertising. Farhad shares his journey as an entrepreneur and his approach to leveraging the power of AI in media distribution. Tubi is the leading free, premium, on-demand video streaming app. With its expansive library of films and shows, Farhad has successfully bridged the gap between Silicon Valley and Hollywood, building strong partnerships with top studios and using proprietary technology to personalize the viewing experience. Before Tubi, he was the Founder and CEO of AdRise, the largest provider of video-on-demand applications on connected devices.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Lee Anne Grant, Chief Growth Officer of Babylist, joins Mada Seghete to discuss the growth and marketing strategy of Babylist, the leading digital destination for growing families. Lee Anne also shares insights on the website's founding, growth, and marketing channels, including their focus on search, social, and affiliates. With an illustrious career spanning multiple consumer companies, Lee Anne brings a wealth of expertise in partnerships, marketing, and driving cross-functional growth. Before Babylist, she was the Chief Business Officer of The Assembly, Head of Business Development and Social Impact at Brandless, and Vice President of Business Development and Sales at POPSUGAR.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Hovhannes Avoyan, Founder and CEO of Picsart, joins Mada Seghete to share how his daughter's negative experience led to the creation of Picsart, the platform's growth and unique features, as well as how to use AI to drive more growth for their app or companies. Hovhannes is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, having founded several successful startups, including Sourcio, Monitis, and CEDIT. His extensive experience encompasses building enterprise software, SaaS web platforms, and consumer mobile products, showcasing his diverse expertise in these domains.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Mauricio Monico, Chief Product Officer at Wish, joins Mada Seghete to delve into Mauricio's career journey, the growth and challenges of Wish, and the role of a product manager in the tech industry. Mauricio is a product leader and entrepreneur with over twenty years in the tech industry. Mauricio's professional journey encompasses a rich spectrum of experiences, from his tenure in enterprise product management at Microsoft to his pivotal contributions to consumer growth strategies at Facebook.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Deepak Nair joins Mada Seghete to discuss how banks can drive digital transformation and innovation strategies and deliver a best-in-class digital experience to customers. Deepak is the Experience Transformation Leader at Citizens Bank and is responsible for managing enterprise transformation journeys that produce exceptional customer experience while reducing operational costs. He has twenty-plus years of experience in digital, marketing, CX, communications, and analytics and has been nominated for being one of the most influential industry contributors by the San Francisco Charter of Digital Analytics Association.

In this episode of How I Grew This, Benjamin Chemla, CEO and Co-founder of Shares, joins Mada Seghete to share practical insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, trading, and the startup ecosystem. They dive into the success story of the Shares platform, the differences between the startup ecosystem in Europe and the US, and the importance of attracting a supportive and committed initial user base when launching your product. Benjamin is a seasoned French serial entrepreneur and AMF-certified business angel with a remarkable track record of building cohesive teams and companies from scratch and rapidly scaling them across Europe and the US for over a decade. One of his notable ventures was the on-demand delivery platform Stuart, which secured an impressive €22 million in funding before its official launch. Eventually, the company's outstanding growth attracted the attention of La Poste, leading to its acquisition.