How I Grew This

In this episode, Amanda and Adam welcome Cooper Simpson, Portfolio Manager at Martell Ventures, to discuss how to build sustainable AI-first SaaS companies for small and medium-sized businesses. Drawing from his experience launching an AI grant-writing startup and now scaling portfolio companies, Cooper breaks down the strategic frameworks, defensibility principles, and go-to-market tactics that separate winners from casualties in the AI boom.

In this episode of HIGT, hosts Adam and Amanda sit down with Lindiwe Stenberg, newly promoted Chief of Staff to the VP of Marketing at Venmo (formerly Growth Marketing Operations Lead), to explore her unconventional career journey from multimedia design to nursing school to fintech marketing, her philosophy on continuous learning, and practical strategies for building high-performing marketing stacks and cross-functional teams.

Building a Sustainable Agency Through Values-Driven Leadership and Specialist Focus. In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam speak with Mick Rigby, founder and CEO of Yodel Mobile, about his 20-year journey building a specialist mobile app marketing agency. From launching just before the iPhone's debut to being recently acquired by NP Digital, Mick shares insights on sustainable growth, maintaining company values, and adapting to industry changes.

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.

Building successful products requires a delicate balance of innovation, regulation compliance, and customer-focused development, especially in highly regulated industries. In this episode of How I Grew This, hosts Amanda and Adam chat with Patrick Wesonga, Senior Product Leader, who shares his 20-year journey in product development across various industries and company stages, from startups to enterprise organizations.

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.

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.