Growth Leap
Stun and Awe
Welcome to Growth Leap, a Stun and Awe podcast that looks into how business builders design and grow their companies for performance and impact.
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Top 10 Growth Leap Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Growth Leap episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Growth Leap for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Growth Leap episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
05/30/24 • 45 min
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Kwan, co-founder and CEO of eWebinar. eWebinar is a platform that automates webinars using prerecorded videos. Melissa is a three-time bootstrap founder, digital nomad, and host of the Profit Led Podcast. As an entrepreneur, she's driven by her desire to create a business that aligns with her personal values and lifestyle. In our conversation, Melissa shared a wealth of insights on webinar automation, remote team management, and the importance of prioritizing happiness over revenue.
Key Takeaways:
- eWebinar's Automation: The platform automates webinars with prerecorded videos, saving time and enabling business growth without the need for constant live presence.
- Unique Approach: eWebinar offers a "Netflix of webinars" experience, featuring interactive elements, chat functionality, and a user-friendly design.
- High Attendance Rates: Thanks to flexible scheduling and on-demand options, eWebinar boasts high attendance rates, catering to various business verticals.
- Bootstrapped Growth: Melissa's zero-dollar marketing strategies include podcast marketing, LinkedIn engagement, and content SEO.
- Remote Team Management: Successfully managing a remote team of contractors requires clear communication and well-defined processes.
- Happiness Over Revenue: Prioritizing lifestyle and happiness is crucial for building a fulfilling and sustainable business.
- Aligning with Values: Align your business with your personal values and non-negotiables for long-term success and satisfaction.
- Continuous Improvement: Constantly refine your platform and deliver value to customers to drive growth and retention.
Where to find Melissa:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissakwan/
- ProfitLed Podcast: https://ewebinar.com/profitled-podcast
- Website: https://ewebinar.com/
Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: https://www.stunandawe.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- X: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
10/03/21 • 36 min
After a long and well-deserved summer break we're back in full force with another season of Growth Leap and we have somebody very special to kick things off.
Our guest today is Fabian Wesemann co-founder and CFO of wefox a Germany-based digital insurance company. wefox recently closed a $650 million Series C funding round led by Target Global and reaching a post-money valuation of $3 billion.
Founded in Berlin in 2015, wefox decided to make an important strategic bet. The company has focused on tech enabling insurance advisors instead of seeking to cut the middleman. The results so far have been quite positive. The company posted 119 million in revenues last year and is on track to reach 325 million this year.
We talk about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, wefox' journey to becoming a unicorn, and the importance of employee equity compensation.
What you will learn:
- Why Fabian decided to quit a corporate job and become an entrepreneur
- Key challenges and skills to have to be a successful entrepreneur
- wefox' strategic positioning and channel strategy
- How to build and grow your team
- Remote working, the pandemic, and preserving your company culture
- wefox' plan for the next 12-18 months
- The importance of employee ownership
Enjoy the show and happy listening!
For detailed show notes and relevant links, visit www.stunandawe.com
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
03/15/24 • 42 min
In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Matt Wolach, a seasoned SaaS sales coachand entrepreneur. With roles as CEO of ToroWave and Chief Revenue Officer at RingBot, alongside his B2B sales coaching at Xsellus, Matt brings a wealth of experience in dramatically scaling SaaS businesses. His insights into shortening sales cycles are critical for any SaaS company looking to accelerate growth.
Matt shared his journey from a hospitality management background to becoming a SaaS sales expert, highlighting the pivot points that led him to discover and refine his sales strategies. His DEAL process, centered around understanding customer pain points rather than pushing product features, will help you improve your close rate and shorten your sales cycle.
We cover:
- Understanding Customer Pain Points
- Mastering Discovery Calls
- Creating Urgency
- AI and Personalized Communication
- Fostering Cross-department Collaboration
- Building a Strong Brand
- Matt's D.E.A.L. Process
Tune in for a comprehensive guide on drastically improving your SaaS sales strategies.
Where to find Matt:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwolach/
- Website: https://mattwolach.com/scale-time
- ToroWave: http://www.torowave.com/
- Matt's podcast: Scale Your SaaS
- RingBot (text widget): https://www.ringbot.io/
Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: https://www.stunandawe.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- X: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
05/26/20 • 36 min
With the rise of AI and robots, what’s the future of work for us mere mortals? Our guest today has an answer to that question. Sallyann Della Casa is Founder and Chief Identity Hacker at GLEAC, an edtech company based in Dubai who benchmarks, maps, develops, and measures soft skills to current and future jobs.
We talk about:
- The courage it takes to become an entrepreneur and follow your own path
- The challenges and pitfalls of launching a tech startup when you’re a non-tech founder
- How GLEAC helps Prada, Accenture, and Deloitte with sales training and augmented reality
- How GLEAC tackles the forgetting curve and differentiates itself from well established players with a clear USP
- Sallyann's growth mindset and approach to going for the $1 million deal
- How to scale and manage a distributed team
- The challenges of product development when you’re a non-tech founder
- How the COVID-19 crisis impacted the GLEAC business
- What GLEAC is doing to help people develop 21st century skills.
- Sallyann’s not-to-do list and why dropping sales leads is sometimes the right thing to do
- Which tools Sallyann uses to manage product development with teams in different time zones
- The challenge of building a company culture in distributed team
- Sallyann’s advice to other startup leaders on managing their own psychology
For detailed show notes and relevant links, visit www.stunandawe.com
If you want to accelerate traction, hit the growth stage, and upgrade your scaling skills, check out our Growth Leap online course. It’s a step-by-step guide to design your tech startup for high performance and impact. It’s packed with actionable and proven frameworks and tools to improve your startups performance, from better customer acquisition to clear prioritization and more productive meetings.
Learn more here: https://growth.stunandawe.com/course
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
02/17/23 • 15 min
Design a digital channel strategy to gain leads and win new customers.
We don’t talk enough about how a smart digital channel strategy can drive customer acquisition, retention, and overall satisfaction. I have probably wasted months of my life on either the wrong marketing channel or doing a poor job using one of them. And I still cry sometimes alone in my bed, thinking about it ;)
Marketing channels are how you get your message to prospects and customers. Picking the right channels and using them properly can help you find new customers, increase sales, and build your brand.
You're probably already using email marketing, social media, and maybe podcasts or video. They are many ways for you to make the same mistakes I’ve made.
Many people often waste time trying to increase their productivity per channel. It's not necessarily wrong, but your first step should be to have a coherent digital channel strategy. You can then avoid wasting time on the wrong channels.
In this episode, I cover:
- What are marketing channels, and how to think about them
- What are the top marketing channels
- All marketing channels have distinct cost structures, reach, and ROI.
- Typical mistakes people make with channel strategy
- An overview of our own marketing channel strategy example for 2023
Selected Links:
- Arvid Kahl's book The Embedded Entrepreneur
- Arvid on Twitter
- Luca on Twitter
- Luca's lead generation product: https://www.hivoe.com/
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
Revolutionizing Office Sustainability through Circular Economy with Reseat CEO Brandi Susewitz
Growth Leap
04/03/24 • 44 min
In this episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Brandi Susewitz, the founder and CEO of Reseat, a groundbreaking marketplace that aims to solve the pressing issue of office furniture waste. Brandi's journey from industry expert to tech entrepreneur is a testament to her passion for sustainability and her commitment to driving positive change.
After being laid off during the pandemic, Brandi recognized two key problems plaguing the office furniture industry: the lack of a plan for existing furniture when companies move or renovate, and the staggering statistic that 98% of all contract furniture ends up in landfills, with less than 2% being properly recycled or given a second life.
This realization sparked the idea for Reseat, a platform that connects companies with excess furniture to those in need, fostering a circular economy and reducing waste. As Brandi eloquently stated, "I really believe with all of my heart and soul that reuse is the future. It's the only way to really save this planet."
Building Reseat from the ground up was no easy feat, but Brandi's determination and industry expertise paved the way. By leveraging technology and forging strategic partnerships, Reseat has become a driving force in the circular economy, enabling companies to track their carbon emissions and make informed decisions about their furniture assets.
Brandi's journey from industry expert to tech entrepreneur is a testament to her resilience and unwavering commitment to sustainability. As she navigates the challenges of scaling Reseat, her vision for the future is clear: a world where every piece of furniture has a unique identifier, enabling companies to track their assets and make informed decisions about their environmental impact.
In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of Reseat's business model, the role of technology and partnerships in enabling a circular economy, and Brandi's insights on the future of sustainable office furniture solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Addressing Office Furniture Waste: Reseat tackles the critical issue of office furniture waste, providing a platform for companies to repurpose excess furniture and reduce their environmental impact.
- Enabling a Circular Economy: By connecting buyers and sellers, Reseat fosters a circular economy, giving furniture a second life and reducing the strain on landfills.
- The Power of Technology: Leveraging technology and partnerships, Reseat enables companies to track their carbon emissions and make informed decisions about their furniture assets.
- Brandi's Entrepreneurial Journey: From industry expert to tech entrepreneur, Brandi's story is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and a commitment to driving positive change.
- Envisioning a Sustainable Future: Brandi's dream of a world where every piece of furniture has a unique
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
06/14/24 • 37 min
On this episode of the Growth Leap Podcast, I chat with Christian Hoppe, co-founder of Forwrd Agency. This digital marketing agency has cracked the code for driving revenue for sustainable e-commerce brands with YouTube ads. With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing and advertising, Christian shares how he discovered the power of YouTube ads as a performance channel and his unconventional approach to designing effective creatives.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube ads are a powerhouse for direct response marketing, driving significant revenue for e-commerce brands.
- Success hinges on precise targeting and smart creative content. The goal is to engage the right audience and prompt action, not just chase high view-through rates.
- Start your YouTube ad budget at $10,000 to $20,000 monthly, but ensure your product or service truly fits the market.
- Quality and structure of creative content are critical to ad performance.
- Close collaboration with clients on creative development and media buying is essential for achieving top results and exceeding client expectations.
Where to find Christian:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmhoppe/
- Forwrd Agency: https://www.forwrd.agency/
- Blog & Newsletter: https://www.forwrdthinking.com
Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: https://www.stunandawe.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- X: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
Understanding the environmental impact of your online shopping with Neutral Co-founder Marissa Liu
Growth Leap
09/10/20 • 35 min
In this episode, our guest wants to bring transparency to the environmental impact of our online shopping. Marissa Liu is Co-Founder of Neutral, a browser extension that allows users to understand and offset the CO2 emissions generated by the products they buy online. The startup is on a roll. Neutral has been selected by the Mozilla Builders Incubator and was recently featured in Fast Company.
We talk about:
- Neutral’s unique selling proposition and business model
- The challenges of feature prioritization in product development
- Finding product/market fit
- What’s the company’s vision and true north
- The importance of rapid feedback loops
- Neutral’s key metrics to measure impact and progress
- The most challenging part of building a startup
- Neutral’s approach to user feedback
- Marissa's view on the progress of women in tech
For detailed show notes and relevant links, visit www.stunandawe.com
If you want to accelerate traction, hit the growth stage, and upgrade your scaling skills, check out our Growth Leap online course. It’s a step-by-step guide to design your tech startup for high performance and impact. It’s packed with actionable and proven frameworks and tools to improve your startups performance, from better customer acquisition to clear prioritization and more productive meetings.
Learn more here: https://growth.stunandawe.com/course
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
04/19/24 • 54 min
I had the pleasure of speaking with Kjael Skaalerud, seasoned sales executive, investor, and President of Skaling Ventures. He has found success in acquiring and growing micro SaaS companies.
Kjael's contrarian approach focuses on small, profitable, and enduring businesses rather than chasing larger, venture-backed companies that often prioritize growth over profitability.
Kjael shares his insights on why micro SaaS companies can be just as safe and stable as their larger counterparts, despite conventional wisdom suggesting otherwise. With lower valuations and less competition from institutional players, these businesses present a unique opportunity for investors like Kjael.
We dive into his first acquisition, a vertical niche SaaS for photographers and creative professionals that had been profitable for years and boasted impressive retention rates - a clear indication of the product's usefulness and the founder's deep understanding of their target market.
Key Takeaways:
- Micro SaaS companies can be just as safe and stable as larger businesses, offering lower valuations and less competition from institutional players.
- Founder-product fit is crucial, as founders solving their own problems often create useful products with great retention.
- Founder burnout can be a buying signal, indicating a solid business with a founder ready to move on.
- The first 90 days post-acquisition should focus on visibility, documentation, transition, and validating diligence assumptions before pursuing growth.
- Building transparently and maintaining open communication with users post-acquisition helps preserve the human element and avoid the pitfall of going silent.
- Simplicity equals mastery - if it takes a complex explanation to justify an acquisition, you probably don't fully understand the business.
- Establishing reasonable incremental growth goals based on baseline performance (systems over goals) is more effective than setting arbitrary targets.
- Fostering a culture of care and respect enables honest feedback and allows teams to move faster through a shared commitment to truth-seeking.
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
11/13/24 • 57 min
Mariana de la Roche Wills is the founder and CEO of de la Roche W Consulting and a leading voice in the blockchain and Web3 space. Mariana shared her journey from law and public policy to becoming a prominent advocate for using blockchain technology to address global challenges.
We discussed how blockchain empowers individuals by returning control of data to the people, creating opportunities for financial inclusion, and fostering transparency and accountability. Mariana highlighted the transformative potential of blockchain through projects like Ethic Hub, focused on agricultural financial inclusion, and the Demia, which leverages blockchain for carbon credits and sustainability.
Mariana also explained the role of stablecoins in driving financial inclusion in underserved regions and how startups can responsibly implement blockchain technology. We explored governance models, open-source tools, and the importance of aligning blockchain solutions with real-world problems.
We covered:
- Blockchain’s potential: Empowering individuals and fostering transparency in critical sectors
- Real-world applications: EthicHub’s decentralized finance solution for Global South farmers and Demia, focused on enhancing carbon credits.
- Financial inclusion: How stablecoins are reshaping access to financial tools in underserved regions
- Best practices for startups: Leveraging blockchain thoughtfully to address real needs
- Governance and collaboration: The importance of open-source tools and community-driven decision-making
- Mariana’s insights: Lessons from her work with INATBA, BC100+, and global blockchain initiatives
- Practical advice: Balancing innovation and regulation while aligning blockchain solutions with long-term impact goals
If your a startup, innovator, or impact-driven leader looking to use blockchain and Web3 to create meaningful change, this episode is for you.
Where to find Mariana:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-de-la-roche-es/
- Website: De la Roche W. Consulting
Where to find Michel:
- Newsletter: Stun and Awe
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon
- Do you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast or feedback to share? Leave me a message here.
- You'll find all the show notes, transcripts, and past guests at stunandawe.com
- Up your growth game with our hands-on Growth Marketing Course
- For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
- Support the show on Patreon
Follow us:
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FAQ
How many episodes does Growth Leap have?
Growth Leap currently has 42 episodes available.
What topics does Growth Leap cover?
The podcast is about Product, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Technology and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Growth Leap?
The episode title 'Wefox Fabian Wesemann on the inner game of entrepreneurship, culture, and the journey to a $3-billion valuation' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Growth Leap?
The average episode length on Growth Leap is 40 minutes.
How often are episodes of Growth Leap released?
Episodes of Growth Leap are typically released every 22 days, 18 hours.
When was the first episode of Growth Leap?
The first episode of Growth Leap was released on Mar 31, 2019.
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