Growthmates: Create and Grow Meaningful Products & Careers

In this FINAL episode of season "In the Company of Women", Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Sera Tajima, Conscious Tech Advisor, angel investor, and former product designer at Webflow and Zendesk, to explore her journey into climate tech advisory and angel investing. Sera shares how her father's passing became a pivotal moment that shaped her perspective, how her background in product design influences her approach to climate tech startups, and why authenticity is the key to finding meaningful partnerships in the conscious tech space.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—One more special update for you 🎓 Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Sera took an unconventional path, transitioning from product design at tech giants like Zendesk and Webflow to becoming a conscious tech advisor and climate tech angel investor. Her journey was shaped by personal loss, from the passing of her father to navigating health challenges that kept her away from work for a year. Instead of following traditional career paths, she built a multi-faceted approach centered on impact, authenticity, and sustainability.She also shares insights on making angel investing accessible (starting with as little as $400), incorporating indigenous knowledge into tech education, and finding purpose through conscious tech development.Tune in to hear Sera's perspective on feminine energy in leadership, finding your authentic voice on social media, and how investing in climate tech startups creates greater impact than individual sustainable practices alone.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Redefining Design: Sera expands design beyond interfaces to encompass customer research, UX, growth hacking, and activation points — often overlooked as "true" design work.* Accessible Angel Investing: "My first investment was $400," Sera shares, debunking the myth that angel investing requires wealth. She proves tech pros can start small to learn and scale.* Authentic Online Presence: "Posting ‘un-LinkedIn’ content feels risky," Sera admits, but prioritizes authenticity over virality — deeper connections > broad appeal.* From Designer to Climate Advisor: Sera shifts from product roles to impact-driven climate tech advising, helping startups amplify environmental solutions beyond individual action.* Indigenous Knowledge in Tech: Sera integrates native Hawaiian frameworks like PICO into her courses, tying business strategy to generational stewardship — even in technical contexts.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Sera Tajima:* Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/seratajima/* Website: https://seratajima.com* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima/* Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@seratajima * Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seratajima * Advising: conscioustechventures.com* Conscious Tech Newsletter: https://seratajima.substack.com—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction (01:32) Sera's career journey from product design to climate tech (04:04) Defining conscious tech and its impact (07:17) The transition from full-time job to entrepreneurship (10:03) Building a community of like-minded founders (12:39) Breaking into angel investing with minimal capital (17:06) Authenticity on social media (21:43) Creating educational content and courses (27:27) Incorporating sustainability and indigenous knowledge (34:33) Dealing with feedback and vulnerability (42:42) What the world needs more of—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* Design for Conscious Product-Led Growth: seratajima.com/growthdesign* Personal website: seratajima.com/advising—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.—Today, we close the final chapter of "In the Company of Women"— a season that redefined what’s possible when strength, grace, and brilliance collide.Every guest, from visionary founders to fearless investors, taught me that true growth blooms where courage meets authenticity. I’m leaving these conversations not just as a host, but as someone who’s glimpsed the future they’re building.Thank you for being part of this journey. You’re the ones turning “impossible” into “already here.” While we prepare for what’s next, remember: your ideas are changing the world. Just keep going.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together!Growthmates with Kate Syuma is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Jennifer Phan, CEO and Co-Founder at Passionfroot, and former Venture Capital investor, to explore the unconventional path from corporate career to creator to tech founder. Jen shares how her immigrant family's entrepreneurial journey shaped her perspective, how her background in venture capital influences her fundraising and team-building approach, and why intentional growth and AI-powered efficiency are the keys to sustainable success in today's volatile tech landscape.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—Want to become a post sponsor and share your product story or a new job opening with 5,600+ subscribers from companies like Amplitude, Intercom, Miro, Atlassian, Grammarly, Framer, and more?I’m opening up the calendar and planning new sponsorships for 2025 — grab your slot here: https://calendly.com/kate-syuma/growthmates-intro?month=2025-04—Exciting news! I’ve launched a new cohort of my 3-week growth course, and there’s still time to join! Dive into proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples to build your growth roadmap with hands-on feedback from me. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Jennifer took an unconventional path, transitioning from venture capital investor to co-founder of Passionfroot — a platform empowering creators to monetize and brands to discover talent. Her journey was shaped by pandemic reflection, from newsletter creator to identifying a critical gap in the creator economy. Instead of following traditional playbooks, they built a lean, intentional company centered on creator needs, data-driven decisions, and sustainable growth.They also share insights on building a two-sided marketplace, leveraging VC experience for fundraising, and maintaining founder wellbeing through structured routines.Tune in to hear Jen's perspective on immigrant entrepreneurship, the power of intentional choices over sacrifices, and why small, effective teams outperform bloated startups.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Entrepreneurship as Necessity vs. Self-Actualization: Jen contrasts her parents’ survival-driven entrepreneurship with her own path, driven by passion — revealing what fuels different types of founders.* "You don't need to call it sacrifice": Jen reframes founder struggles as conscious choices, not sacrifices — a mindset that helps preserve agency and resilience.* Counterintuitive Growth Strategy: Instead of overhiring, Jen’s team focused on lean, intentional growth — avoiding common pitfalls of the 2020–2022 startup wave.* From Creator to Founder: Starting with a newsletter, Jen built a platform by focusing on creators first — a user-led approach to marketplace success.* Founder Morning — 3 rituals: Jen starts her day with mindfulness, movement, and mindset — a daily ritual that brings clarity before the work begins.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Jennifer Phan:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferphn/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/jenpphan* Passionfroot: https://www.passionfroot.io—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction (03:40) Jen's entrepreneurial family background (07:15) From necessity to self-actualization: different paths to entrepreneurship (09:55) Starting a Substack newsletter during the pandemic (15:28) The creator economy's monetization challenges (20:05) Building Passionfroot: from idea to product (24:50) Advice for founders: "This too shall pass" (26:57) Passionfroot's evolution into a two-sided platform (35:35) Intentional growth: why small teams can create big impact (40:52) Work-life integration as a founder (43:08) Morning routines for founder wellbeing—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* Passionfroot: https://www.passionfroot.me/* Creators on Air by Passionfroot: https://www.youtube.com/@passionfrootxyz* The Evolution of B2B Content Marketing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFXE7cX4xpU&ab_channel=Intercom* Building Software to Create more Brand Deals, with Jen Phan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbwSQgewH0&ab_channel=RobBalasabas—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together!Growthmates with Kate Syuma is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Lexie Barnhorn, former Head of Social and Influencer at Notion, to discuss her journey from small-town Ohio to the heart of San Francisco’s tech scene. Lexie shares how she built Notion’s social presence, infused B2B marketing with pop culture, and launched viral campaigns like "Notion Faces." She also offers practical advice for startups on influencer marketing and opens up about maintaining mental health in high-stress roles, including her experience using AI as a self-therapy tool — ultimately leading her to her next chapter at Anthropic.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — check their Session Replay, which lets you watch real user sessions right inside your analytics flow: https://amplitude.com/session-replay—Exciting news! I’ve launched a new cohort of my 3-week growth course, and there’s still time to join! Dive into proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples to build your growth roadmap with hands-on feedback from me. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Lexie took an unexpected path from consumer marketing to leading social and influencer strategy at Notion, where she built viral campaigns like "Notion Faces" and collaborated with cultural icons like Snoop Dogg. She shares her approach to community-led growth, structuring influencer partnerships for maximum impact, and why authenticity matters more than polished scripts.Lexie also opens up about balancing high-stress roles and how using AI as a self-therapy tool led her to her next chapter at Anthropic.Tune in to hear her insights on building standout marketing strategies, fostering genuine brand connections, and navigating career transitions in tech.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Let influencers be themselves: Lexie emphasizes that the best campaigns allow influencers to speak in their own voice instead of sticking to rigid scripts.* Building a viral movement: At Notion, she structured influencer marketing as a pyramid — key opinion leaders at the top (like Snoop Dogg), mid-tier and micro-influencers amplifying reach.* More than just transactions: Successful influencer marketing starts with real relationships — lunches, personal outreach, and nurturing super fans who genuinely love the product.* The impact of thoughtful campaigns: Notion’s "Faces" campaign leveraged LinkedIn influencers and synchronized launches to maximize engagement, while gifting partnerships like the Funny Face Bakery created tangible brand connections.* Mental health in high-stress roles: Lexie shares how she uses AI as a self-therapy tool and why prioritizing well-being is essential for showing up as your best self at work.* Her next chapter: Inspired by her own experience with Claude AI, Lexie made the leap from Notion to Anthropic — turning personal insight into her next big career move.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Lexie Barnhorn:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisbarnhorn/* Notion personal page: https://lexbarn.notion.site/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/lexxbarn* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexbarn/—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction & Meet Lexie Barnhorn(04:22) Mental Health and Work-Life Balance (12:14) Integrating Pop Culture into B2B Marketing (16:16) What Makes Influencer Marketing Work (19:50) The Notion Faces Campaign Success Story (29:06) In-Person Events and Community Building (36:27) Building Influencer Relationships from Scratch (51:47) Future of Creator Economy and Final Advice—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* Lexie’s Portfolio: https://lexbarn.notion.site/Lexie-Barnhorn-131343d3b07380a68cbbda3848ab4c6e* Notion Faces Influencer campaign: https://lexbarn.notion.site/Notion-Faces-Influencer-Campaign-17c343d3b073807da975d891dc25b387* Make with Notion event: https://lexbarn.notion.site/Make-with-Notion-User-Conference-131343d3b07380c5a88dc5361146b4d1—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together!Growthmates with Kate Syuma is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Mallory Contois, Head of Community & Mercury Raise at Mercury, and founder of The Old Girls Club, to explore her journey from Pinterest to building a thriving community. Mallory shares how overcoming cancer shaped her perspective, how her psychology background influences product and community growth, and why empathy is the key to creating meaningful connections in tech.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — сheck new Guides and Surveys to deliver helpful, well-timed messages: https://amplitude.com/guides-and-surveys—One more special update for you 🎓 Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Mallory took an unconventional path, transitioning from a career in tech to founding Old Girls Club — a community-driven space for women in the industry. Her journey was shaped by resilience, from overcoming cancer to navigating diverse roles at major companies like Pinterest. Instead of following traditional playbooks, she built a movement centered on authenticity, connection, and the power of psychology in product and community growth.She also shares insights on fostering engaged communities, redefining success beyond corporate ladders, and using empathy as a tool for innovation.Tune in to hear Mallory’s perspective on building with purpose, leading with heart, and creating impact through community.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Turning trauma into a movement: "If you died tomorrow, what would people say?" Mallory revealed how surviving cancer at 25 shaped her legacy-first approach to work: rejecting stability, embracing fast failures, and prioritizing urgent impact over traditional career paths.* The "funeral test" framework: Mallory shared how a moment of career panic— feeling overwhelmed after raising $25M — led her to a raw LinkedIn post. This vulnerability sparked an organic movement, growing into the 2,100-strong Old Girls Club for women in male-dominated industries.* Why communities fail when brands act like corporations: Mallory challenges brands to treat digital interactions like real-life conversations: "Would you say this to someone at a coffee shop?" Her rule? Avoid “salesy” tactics — build trust through human-centric design, not referral bribes or forced funnels.* Redefining "job hopping" as intentional sprints: From Pinterest’s early days to gaming startups, Mallory reframes rapid career shifts as strategic impact sprints. Her focus? Loyalty to people and missions, not logos—a blueprint for thriving in today’s fluid tech landscape.* Launching terrified? Do this first: Mallory’s counterintuitive tactic for validating communities: Charge $10/month immediately. This filters casual joiners, surfaces true believers, and lets the community co-build its value — even before you feel ready to lead it.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Mallory Contois:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorycontois/* Personal page: https://www.mallorycontois.com/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/mallorycontois—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction (08:15) From Psychology to Tech (16:40) Pinterest Years (25:30) The Cancer Journey (34:15) Birth of Old Girls Club (43:20) Building Community (52:10) Psychology in Product Design—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* The Old Girls Club: https://www.jointheogc.com/* Mallory’s course “Community-led Growth”: https://bit.ly/4gZUjwy* Kate’s course: “User-centric Product-led Growth” with 100$ discount: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates* “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together!Growthmates with Kate Syuma is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

In this episode, Kate Syuma dives into a conversation with Marie Martens, co-founder of Tally, to explore the journey of building a profitable business around a product that is 99% free.Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — сheck new Guides and Surveys to deliver helpful, well-timed messages: https://amplitude.com/guides-and-surveys—One more special update for you 🎓 Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is where top product and growth leaders share real strategies and insights to help you turn ideas into successful products. Learn from experts at Dropbox, Adobe, Amplitude, Canva, and more in deep dive interviews with Kate Syuma, ex-Miro Head of Growth Design and founder of Growthmates.Marie and her co-founder Fillip — who is also her life partner — took the road less traveled, bootstrapping Tally after their first startup idea collapsed during Covid. Instead of chasing VC funding, they built a thriving product with no ads, no sales team, and no outside investment. She also dives into budget-friendly marketing tactics, lessons from scaling a startup without external investment, and the mindset shifts needed to make bootstrapping work.Tune in to hear Marie’s firsthand experience on building a sustainable business by focusing on users, not investors.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—In September, I focused on a few key conferences, prioritizing quality over quantity. While one event had 700 attendees, the smaller one with 150 offered a much higher ROI. The best part was meeting like-minded founders, Marie and Filip from Tally.so, whose journey from a failed idea to a bootstrapped success was truly inspiring.Their community-driven approach resonated with me and made the entire experience worthwhile. One of those connections made the entire emotional investment of speaking at that event worth it. So, I invited Marie to my podcast, and here we are.—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From a travel marketplace to a bootstrapped success: Marie started with a travel marketplace before pivoting to Tally. She shares how COVID reshaped their vision and led to a form builder loved by thousands.* Bootstrapping a $2M ARR business with no external funding: Marie and her co-founder bootstrapped their way to $2M ARR, relying on product simplicity, word-of-mouth, and community-driven growth.* Balancing parenting, life partnership, and building a startup: Marie shares how she balances entrepreneurship, parenting, and working with her life partner — plus the key habits that keep it all together.* Growing without ads: Instead of paid marketing, Tally scaled through influencer partnerships and organic community growth. Marie reflects on their Product Hunt launch and what she’d do differently today.* What makes Tally a "lovable" product? Simplicity, intuitive UX inspired by Notion, and transparent pricing (just one tier!)—Marie explains the key design and business decisions that made Tally stand out in a crowded market.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find Marie Martens:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariemartens/* X (Twitter): https://x.com/MarieMartens* Tally.so: https://tally.so/—What we covered:(00:00) Introduction & Meet Marie Martens (07:00) Starting Business in 2020 (15:29) Building Boundaries (20:46) Sacrifices To Be Made (30:53) Launching on Product Hunt (48:00) Zooming Out Is Important (53:00) Why Bootstrapped?—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* Marie Martens shares How We Bootstrapped to $50k MRR with Team of 2 at SaaSOpen 2023 in NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70uUNfpnWuI&ab_channel=NathanLatka * Marie Martens Tally's Product Hunt Launch: Our Checklist for Success: https://blog.tally.so/product-hunt-launch/ * Bootstrapping to $150K MRR by doing less, better: https://blog.tally.so/bootstrapping-to-150k-mrr-by-doing-less-better/ * Tally’s Bootstrapped Journey to 500,000 Users and $160K MRR: https://knowledge.gtmstrategist.com/p/tallys-bootstrapped-journey-to-500000-users —Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights.If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together! Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.This episode is brought to you by Amplitude — сheck new Guides and Surveys to deliver helpful, well-timed messages: https://amplitude.com/guides-and-surveys —Welcome to Growthmates with Kate Syuma — Growth Advisor, ex-Miro. This season, “In the Company of Women,” is about celebrating women who successfully balance work, family, and creative passions while building meaningful careers.Growthmates is a place to connect with inspiring leaders and help you grow—personally and professionally. Learn how companies like Dropbox, Adobe, Canva, Loom, and more build world-class products and growth cultures.In this episode, Kate Syuma and Elena Verna dive into a conversation about career evolution, growth strategies, and navigating transitions. With experience at SurveyMonkey, Miro, Dropbox, Reforge, and Malwarebytes, Elena shares her journey from leading growth at major companies to building a successful solopreneurship and transitioning back to a full-time role.They explore the non-linear career shifts, defining your "superpower zone," and setting boundaries for sustainable success. Elena also breaks down how companies can move from product-led growth to product-led sales, sharing insights on recognizing early signals and layering strategies for long-term growth.🔗 Find more insights on growthmates.club and follow on your favorite platforms for more episodes.—🚀 User-centric Product-Led Growth Course starts on 24th March!Level up your growth with a 3-week cohort-based course with proven strategies, behavioral science insights, and real-world examples. Use promo code "growthmates" for $100 off and create a growth roadmap with feedback from Kate: https://maven.com/growthmates/user-centric-product-led-growth?promoCode=growthmates—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From full-time to solopreneur: Elena shares her first shift from a full-time role at SurveyMonkey to starting building a solopreneurship career (for 5 years!), highlighting the lessons learned about balancing work, life, and boundaries.* How to define Superpower zone: Elena discusses how identifying her "superpower zone" of deep expertise and passion has been key to making impactful career decisions and maintaining sustainable growth.* Boundary-setting for long-term success: Elena talks about the importance of establishing non-negotiable boundaries — like no work after 6pm and prioritizing fitness — to avoid burnout and stay productive in both personal and professional spheres.* From product-led growth to product-led sales: Elena explains the shift many companies are making from PLG to a hybrid model with product-led sales and offers advice on how to recognize when it’s time for this change.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growthmates-podcast/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmates/* X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kate_syumaWhere to find Kate Syuma:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-syuma/* Newsletter: katesyuma.substack.comWhere to find Elena Verna:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaverna/* Newsletter: https://www.elenaverna.com/—What we covered:[00:00] Introduction & Meet Elena Verna[01:11] From Corporate to Solopreneurship[03:12] Why “Try Before You Buy” Works for Jobs[09:45] Setting boundaries in a workspace[12:15] Work-Life Boundaries: Saying No to CEOs[26:55] How to find your superpower zone[46:40] Advice for product leadership[50:00] Future of AI for your career—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:* “10 growth tactics that never work” on Lenny Rachitsky Podcast: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/10-growth-tactics-that-never-work-elena-verna* “(How to) Growth Solopreneur” on Leah Tharin Podcast: https://www.leahtharin.com/p/s2e17-leah-and-elena-verna-how-to* “What is Product-led Growth?” on Leah Tharin Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RrgQCkl53Q&ab_channel=ProducTeawithLeah* Why product-led growth is the future on Lenny Rachitsky podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTmFuSZfJ9U&ab_channel=Lenny%27sPodcast * “Why I’m Unquitting Full-Time Roles” on Elena Verna Newsletter: https://www.elenaverna.com/p/why-im-unquitting-full-time-roles—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the free playbook with frameworks and insights. If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you 💜For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected]’s keep growing together! Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

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 — growthmates.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: We’re wrapping up this incredible season with a special twist! For the first time, host Kate Syuma switches roles and becomes the guest. Kate is interviewed by her friend and former colleague, Lana Kul, in an honest and vulnerable conversation about her first year as a solopreneur.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇Reflections on a Transformational Year:* Recognizing the importance of building social capital and meaningful connections.* Taking time for reflection by blocking off two weeks to recharge and reassess priorities.* Acknowledging gratitude for support amidst challenges and moments of rejection.* ⭐️ “End of Year” Reflection framework: https://growthmates.notion.site/End-of-Year-Reflection-framework-15fadc80326980178cbff3754b6932b1?pvs=4This reflection framework includes five elements: Results, Gratefulness, Goodbyes (limiting beliefs), Dreams, and Priorities. Use it to structure your reflections and create a meaningful plan for the year ahead.—👉 Plan your 2025 with us — Join with 150$ discount before 31 Dec 🎁How do you decide where to grow? IC vs. Manager, in-house or solo? For 6+ years, we have supported career growth and hired 10+ people at Miro, helped with coaching and mentorship people from Loom, Intercom, Mentimeter, and more. Now, we want to share these practices with everyone who are on a cross-way in planning the next career step. For that, we created a special 1-week Design Career Accelerator (promo “endofyear”, valid by 31 December): https://maven.com/lena-kul-kate-syuma/product-design-career-accelerator?promoCode=endofyear —Embracing Creativity and Personal Growth:* Creativity stems from making space, allowing boredom, and trusting intuition.* Identifying limiting beliefs through self-reflection and aligning personal interests with professional goals.* Recognizing the importance of courage, consistency, and commitment in personal and professional endeavors.Navigating Professional Aspirations:* Combining growth advising and user experience to align with authentic goals.* Revisiting and redefining dreams regularly while accepting the evolution of aspirations.* Creating a structured approach to prioritize focus, recovery, and sustained creativity.Building Community and Expanding Horizons:* Building meaningful connections through community-driven initiatives.* Enhancing cultural understanding through conscious traveling experiences.* Leveraging platforms like podcasts to create unexpected opportunities and broader impact.Balancing Professional and Personal Priorities:* Prioritizing personal growth alongside professional aspirations for a well-rounded life.* Emphasizing recovery and self-care to sustain long-term productivity and creativity.—⭐️ Some exciting plans for Growthmates’ next season:“In the Company of Women,” premiering in January 2024. This season will spotlight amazing women leaders, like Elena Verna, Marie Martens, Jennifer Phan and explore their journeys in building groundbreaking products and organizations.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery):https://www.growthmates.news/p/what-4-years-of-advising-35-companies* 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/* Growthmates website: https://growthmates.club/* Newsletter: https://www.growthmates.news/Where to find — Lena Kul:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-kul/—What we covered:[00:00] Introduction & Reflection on GrowthMates[03:02] One Year as a Solopreneur[06:12] Building Social Capital & Unlocking Creativity[09:49] Planning for the Future[13:11] Support Systems and Gratitude[15:06] Lessons Learned from Challenges[18:06] Embracing Courage and Consistency[21:14] Turning Negatives into Positives[34:04] Dreams and Aspirations: A Year in Reflection[38:55] The Impact of GrowthMates: Stories of Connection[45:04] Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Embracing Change[54:01] Prioritizing Personal and Professional Growth [01:03:38] Exciting Announcements and Future Directions—📕 Useful Resources:* ⭐️ “End of Year” Reflection framework: https://growthmates.notion.site/End-of-Year-Reflection-framework-15fadc80326980178cbff3754b6932b1?pvs=4This reflection framework includes five elements: Results, Gratefulness, Goodbyes (limiting beliefs), Dreams, and Priorities. Use it to structure your reflections and create a meaningful plan for the year ahead.* Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés – A powerful guide on reconnecting with intuition and creativity. https://www.amazon.com/Women-Who-Run-Wolves-Archetype/dp/0345409876 * In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney – A collection of stories from 100 inspiring creative women. https://www.amazon.com/Company-Women-Inspiration-Artists-Entrepreneurs/dp/1579655971* Slow Productivity by Cal Newport – Insights on balancing work and intentional living. https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Productivity-Accomplishment-Without-Burnout/dp/0593544854* The Art of Accomplishment Podcast – A favorite for personal development and building a supportive system. https://www.artofaccomplishment.com/podcast—💫 Before the new season — check our featured 2024 episodes:* The Role of Design in PLG: Embracing Quality and Non-Linear Paths with David Hoang (ex-Webflow, VP at Replit): https://www.growthmates.news/p/the-role-of-design-in-plg-embracing* Top 1% Talent Tactics: Navigating Startup & Scale-up Hiring | Tom Scott, Founder at Verified: https://www.growthmates.news/p/top-1-talent-tactics-navigating-startup* How to Get Your Dream Job and Stand Out in the Crowd | Lena Kul (ex-Miro): https://www.growthmates.news/p/how-to-get-your-dream-job-and-stand* Unpacking a New Growth Playbook with Andrew Capland (Growth Coach, ex-Wisia): https://www.growthmates.news/p/unpacking-a-new-growth-playbook-with* Making Decisions with User Research from Startup to Scale-up | Behzod Sirjani (Advisor & Partner at Reforge, ex-Slack): https://www.growthmates.news/p/making-decisions-with-user-research—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the 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 favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together, and see you back in 2025!For sponsorship and other inquiries, reach out to [email protected] for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

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 — growthmates.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, Kate speaks with Chetana Deorah , a seasoned design leader who shares her journey across renowned companies like Yahoo!, Netflix, and Coursera, along with her transition to building a community-driven vegan pizza initiative. Chetana opens up about navigating the intersection of creativity, leadership, and self-reflection while balancing corporate and personal passions.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From Binge Watching to Binge Learning: Chetana reflects on her career’s evolution—from binge-watching at Netflix to binge-learning at Coursera—and how aligning with personal values reshaped her path.* Belonging vs. Fitting In: Drawing from @Brené Brown’s work, Chetana shares insights into workplace culture and how recognizing the difference between belonging and fitting in shaped her professional growth.* Balancing Creativity with Corporate Leadership: Creative professionals often feel stifled in structured environments. Chetana provides strategies to thrive without losing your creative spark.* The Power of Mentorship and Self-Reflection: Chetana emphasizes the importance of mentorship and learning to ask yourself the right questions to unlock growth opportunities.* From Corporate to Community: Discover how Chetana co-founded Pizza Valley, a vegan and sustainable initiative that fosters community and connection.—⭐️ Special announcement — Join the Design Career Accelerator, coming in January ❄️ How do you decide where to grow? IC vs. Manager, in-house or solo? For years, I’ve collected frameworks that helped me and my coaching clients from Loom, Intercom, and more. This year I want to share these practices with everyone who are on a cross-way in planning the next career step. To help you dedicate time for that at the end of the year, we created a special 1-week Design Career Accelerator — learn more about the program and grab your slot in December with 120$ discount: https://maven.com/lena-kul-kate-syuma/product-design-career-accelerator?promoCode=growthmates—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/p/what-4-years-of-advising-35-companies* 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 guest* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/—What we covered:[00:00] Introduction[03:42] Career journey[07:41] Pizza business[12:19] Work culture[15:15] Fitting in[29:26] Mentorship[35:08] Recharge & reflect[37:58] Yoga asana[42:05] Lifestyle[48:52] Favorite app[52:22] Chetana suggestion[53:49] Outro—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:The Culture Map by Erin Meyer – A guide to navigating cultural differences in global business.The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin – Insights into nurturing creativity and finding inspiration in life.Dare to Lead– Brené Brown’s podcast exploring leadership, values, and human connection.—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the 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 favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to [email protected] for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

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 — growthmates.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, Kate speaks with Benjamin Humphrey, founder of Dovetail, who opens up about his shift from corporate design roles to the challenges and rewards of startup life. Benjamin's story began as a designer at Atlassian before taking the leap into the unknown to create Dovetail, a user-focused product built to simplify research and UX processes. He delves into the defining moments that guided his journey, as well as the challenges of moving from a structured corporate environment to the entrepreneurial world.—Dovetail’s mission is to improve the quality of every thing through the power of customer insights. In only six years, Dovetail has grown to drive research innovation at over 3,700 organizations including big brands like Harvard Business, Universal, Deloitte, Porsche, Starbucks, Shopify, Atlassian, Shell and more. Dovetail was deployed early at global design software company Canva, who set up its customer insights hub. Canva’s product team has used Dovetail since the very beginning to analyze customer research data, uncovering insights that improve their product’s user experience. Try out and start collecting your insights here → www.dovetail.com—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇* From Designer to Founder: Benjamin shares his path from the corporate world of Atlassian to founding Dovetail. Leaving a stable, rewarding job to pursue a personal vision, he discusses the mental shift required to step into a startup's uncertain world.* Leadership and Team Building: Starting Dovetail required Benjamin to learn new skills quickly, from securing funding to making critical business decisions. Unlike his past roles where teamwork and large-scale collaboration were paramount, as a founder, he had to adapt to the demands of a smaller, more agile team.* The Value of Progressive Disclosure in Design: Benjamin introduces the principle of progressive disclosure—gradually revealing features to users as they explore. He emphasizes that this approach not only optimizes user experience but also aligns with Dovetail's vision of helping users discover tools contextually, when they’re most needed.* Insights on AI and the Future of Dovetail: With the release of Dovetail 3.0, enhanced with AI capabilities, Benjamin discusses the challenges and opportunities AI brings to his product. He shares his vision for responsibly integrating AI, ensuring it complements users’ research without sacrificing transparency or control.Special announcement 🚀 Join the Design Career Accelerator on December 2-6!How do you decide where to grow? IC vs Manager, in-house or solo? There are so many paths. For years, I’ve collected frameworks that helped me and my coaching clients from Loom, Intercom, and more. This year I want to share these practices with Senior IC Designers, Leads, and Managers who are on a cross-way in planning the next career step. To help you dedicate time for that at the end of the year, we created a special 1-week Design Career Accelerator — learn more about the program and grab your slot before December 2!—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* 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 guest — Benjamin Humphrey (Co-founder and CEO of Dovetail):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humphreybc/* Website: https://dovetail.com/—Episode Timestamps:[01:18] Introduction by Kate[02:28] Benjamin's Journey[03:49] Leaving the job at Atlassian[05:19] Command AI[07:24] Deciding to go in another direction with Dovetail[09:38] If you wanna go fast, go alone[12:16] What was extremely challenging for you didn’t have your skill set as a designer[14:26] How you uncovered the problem that your product is currently serving for[20:06] Product-led model for Dovetail[24:07] Progressive disclosure[33:03] Core values of the product[34:53] How to speed up time and get to the aha moment[35:52] Future of Dovetail and the element of AI[40:57] What one piece of advice would you like to give?[44:40] Outro—📕 Useful Resources and other related Podcasts:Revealing 3 myths about User Research and start easy | Jason Giles (VP of Product Design at UserTesting)Making Decisions with User Research from Startup to Scale-up | Behzod Sirjani (Advisor & Partner at Reforge, ex-Slack)Driving a Positive Behavioural Change with Your Product | Amy Bucher (Lirio, Author of "Engaged")"How Dovetail CEO Benjamin Humphrey Scaled an Australian Startup to Global Success" on Fund/Build/Scale: Listen here"Product Management with Benjamin Humphrey" on UI Breakfast Podcast: Listen here—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the 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 favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to [email protected] for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe

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 — growthmates.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, we chat with Yuriy Timen, Advisor Ex-Growth Gramnarly. Yuriy shares his inspiring journey from corporate roles to becoming a sought-after growth advisor. With eight years at Grammarly, Yuriy helped scale the company to half a billion in revenue, leading a team of over 40 people in marketing and growth product. Since moving into advisory roles, he’s worked with over 35 companies, like Airtable, Canva, Whimsical, Flo Health, bringing invaluable growth insights. In our conversation, Yuriy delves into the challenges of shifting from corporate to advisory work, the importance of setting boundaries, and the mindset shifts essential for independent success.—Brought to you by Command.ai — a user-focused platform offering an alternative to traditional popups or chatbots. Their AI “Copilot” answers questions, performs actions, and simplifies complex tasks. Use “Nudges” to guide users with timely, relevant messages, all within a no-code platform. Perfect for Product, Support, and Marketing teams to positively influence user behavior while respecting their needs:—Key highlights from this episode 👇* Embracing Focus in Advisory Work: Transitioning from a corporate role to an advisor meant Yuriy had to shift from multitasking to a more focused approach. He now dives deeply into fewer projects at a time, fostering a more meaningful impact. This journey away from the “corporate hustle” was driven by a desire to keep learning and make a direct impact.* Setting Boundaries as an Advisor: Yuriy discusses how he quickly learned to set clear boundaries in his advisory role. Without these boundaries, his time risked being overextended. Establishing expectations has been essential in balancing his work with personal life and enhancing the quality of his engagements.* Unlearning Corporate Habits: One of Yuriy’s biggest adjustments was unlearning some corporate habits, like reliance on large teams for delegation. In his advisory role, he learned to focus on projects that energized him, rather than draining him, and adopted new ways to work independently, including thoughtful delegation when needed.* Finding Your Unique “Why”: Yuriy and Kate reflect on the importance of defining a personal “why.” For Yuriy, this clarity helped shape his positioning and differentiate him as an advisor. Knowing what drives you is key to building trust with clients and bringing authenticity to advisory roles.* Managing the Pressure of Advisory Work: Yuriy talks about the high stakes of providing strategic advice, where a mistake could significantly impact a client’s growth. He shares how aligning expectations and focusing on data-driven decisions helps him manage this responsibility without feeling overwhelmed.* Non-linear Career Paths as a Strength: Yuriy’s career showcases the value of a non-linear path, from corporate roles to fractional advisory. This diverse experience has helped him bring unique perspectives to growth challenges, reinforcing the idea that embracing a range of experiences can lead to profound personal and professional growth.—Follow Growthmates updates on:* Growthmates website with “The Holistic Growth Playbook”: https://growthmates.club* Substack Newsletter (for instant inbox delivery): https://www.growthmates.news/* 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 guest — Yuriy Timen (Growth Advisor, ex-Grammarly):* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuriytimen/* Website: https://www.yuriytimen.com/—What we’ve covered in this episode:[00:00] Opening by Kate[00:13] Yuriy’s journey from corporate to fractional advisor[02:19] His career highlights and insights from Grammarly[05:00] The leap into independent advisory work[10:25] Importance of setting boundaries[18:41] Relearning delegation and independence[28:21] Shifting from multitasking to focused work[36:33] Managing the stakes of advisory work[42:15] Reflecting on teamwork and corporate dynamics—📕 Useful Resources and other Podcasts with Yuriy:* I was known as the “intense guy” - with Yuriy Timen on Delivering Value with Andrew Caplandhttps://media.deliveringvalue.co/p/i-was-known-as-the-intense-guy-yuriy-timen* Leah Tharin in & Yuriy Timen on “Product Tea”https://www.leahtharin.com/p/season-2-plg-episode-6-leah-and-yuriy?utm_source=publication-search* What is a good activation rate by Yuriy Timen and Lenny Rachitskyhttps://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/what-is-a-good-activation-rate* Yuriy Timen: Lessons from the busiest Growth Advisor in the industry on @TheGrowthloop by Eugene Segalhttps://www.thegrowthloop.io/p/e02-yuriy-timen-lessons-from-the—Thank you for listening! Subscribe to the show on growthmates.club and get the 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 favorite platforms to get new episodes. Let’s keep growing together!For sponsorship and other inquiries reach out to [email protected] for reading Kate's Syuma Newsletter & Growthmates! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to Growthmates with Kate Syuma at www.growthmates.news/subscribe