Here are the 28 Growth Mentors of August 2024

1. Alex Pantich

Describe yourself

I am a generalist who loves building businesses and teams. I’ve worked in pretty much every area of building a technology business and enjoy diving into problems in any discipline though I’m often not an expert many problems can be solved through a combination of intuition, process, and troubleshooting.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’d like to help the next generation of up-and-coming entrepreneurs and builders and also learn from mentees (I find you often learn almost as much from mentees as they learn from you).

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Always looking for new paths to growth but intentionally testing what paths will work best and trusting those on your team who are closer to problems to propose and enact good solutions.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Taking a business from a small team to 100 employees and all the challenges it entails.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

We had issues with the worker users of our app (Upshifters) canceling shifts too often more than 24 hours before the shift starts. We had a penalty that resulted in account suspension for cancellations under 24 hours in advance, but for cancellations over this, there was no consequence. We implemented a reliability rating system (like a credit score for hourly workers) that was impacted by any cancellation even if the cancellation didn’t result in account suspension. After implementing this, we saw these cancellations decrease by over 50% and as an added benefit we saw additional engagement from the Upshifters who opened the app each week when we notified them their reliability rating score was updated.

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2. Andreea Moise

Describe yourself

I’m a very purpose-driven person and there’s nothing that motivates me more than learning and helping people. If I can make even a small impact on someone’s thinking or growth, I consider the day an absolute win.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I genuinely love sharing my knowledge and some of the best learnings I got were from consulting or simply talking to people about their influencer marketing struggles. I want to give more of my time to people who want to learn more about this space and help them get unstuck.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Always open to learning, willing to ask unconventional questions, and being okay with being uncomfortable. That’s it 🙂

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

I love influencer marketing and that’s a topic I could listen to and talk about for hours.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I can set up the entire structure of an influencer marketing function in anywhere from 24hrs to 3 days depending on the complexity and size of the team. Think plug-and-play influencer marketing. It uses a mix of frameworks I’ve created while starting and scaling programs in 2014.

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3. Anna Laura Rocchino

Describe yourself

I am a passionate and curious person which is why in the last few years I lived between Milan, Stockholm, and Munich: discovering new places gives me energy. I have experience in product development (consumer goods) and category management and I like to share my professional knowledge with others, that’s what I do with my team!

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to share my business experience with people willing to start their own businesses and learn from them at the same time. As well I see this as an opportunity to grow my network.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

The growth mindset is the ability to try, learn, and repeat. Stay curious and see how all the experiences can enrich our future selves.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product and portfolio strategy

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

1. Deep understanding of the problem, highlighting the main criticality and why the problem is defined as such (e.g. which issues are causing).
2. Analysis. Collect qualitative and quantitative feedback and try to understand the pattern and anomalies
3. Discuss the hypothesis with key stakeholders to get a different point of view if needed
4. Define an action plan to solve the problem with a timeline and observe improvement if any
5. Understand if the defined action plan is the right one or needs to be adjusted 6. Once the solution is identified, derive the learning for a future situation

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4. Artur Koter

Describe yourself

Hi, my name is Artur and I am a Senior Product & Growth Manager at Pleo (previously Blinkist), with a focus on product-led growth. I am a product enthusiast and entrepreneur with over 13 years of experience in startups. One of my biggest passions is working with other creative minds on complex problems and building outstanding products that customers love. I have a background in online marketing, conversion rate optimization, and topical SEO and have been focusing on product-led growth strategies for B2C and B2B products for the last seven years.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I have a great passion for working creatively with others and co-creating solutions, which is why I want to 1) help others build products customers love, 2) expand my personal network and 3) learn from other use cases.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

1. Obsession with customers and their pain points
2. Continuous experimentation, testing and learning
3. Accept failures and see them as part of the learning curve
4. Understand the big picture and know which customer actions have which impact on the business
5. Building products cross-functionally with the holistic customer experience in mind

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product-led growth – strategies for building highly efficient and effective customer journeys from acquisition and activation to engagement, retention and adoption.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

First principle thinking is a way of problem-solving where you break the situation down into its fundamental parts and then reconstruct them to arrive at a solution.

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5. Caterina Toniolo

Describe yourself

I am an analytical and data-driven growth executive with over 20 years of experience in driving sustainable product, brand, and revenue growth across various channels and regions. My expertise lies in developing and executing effective growth strategies, managing large-scale marketing budgets, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve significant business milestones.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

To expand my network and be exposed to new challenges.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is what is needed to build sustainable growth that lasts over time by creating a product that delivers real value to customers. It means being customer-centric, data-driven, and embracing experimentation to continuously innovate and improve.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

If I could mentor someone on just one topic, it would be developing and executing a sustainable growth strategy. My extensive experience in leading growth across various hyper-growth tech companies has consistently shown that a data and insights-driven approach is paramount.

This strategy ensures that decisions are based on robust insights, fostering sustainable growth, enhancing customer-centricity, and driving continuous improvement through experimentation. This holistic approach is crucial for achieving product-market fit, optimizing resource allocation, and ultimately creating lasting value for customers.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I would approach pinpointing the root cause of a problem by combining a data-driven methodology with strategic thinking. I’d leverage the data and insights available, identify what would be meaningful indicators, and utilize research and experimentation to test different hypotheses. At the same time, it’s important to understand the business context and collaborate cross-functionally to get different perspectives.

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6. Charlotte Mason-Curl

Describe yourself

I spent 10 years riding the rollercoaster of in-house marketing for high-growth SaaS businesses. Having been hands-on across almost every aspect of marketing, leading and growing teams to drive growth – I get it! Now, I’m a strategic B2B marketing consultant, helping start-up’s fledgling marketing teams to flourish.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

To be the supportive person I had (and needed) when I was working in-house at start-ups!

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Have a go. Take a risk. Keep trying and learning.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Marketing strategy for start-ups

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

When COVID hit, my team and I designed, built and launched an online training program to help L&D teams shift from face-to-face to online training. We helped our target audience through the turbulence and built an awesome community at the same time.

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7. Dawid Zimny

Describe yourself

Since 2018, I progressed from writing freelance blog articles for NerdCow to becoming a Product Manager for our web agency. I work closely with B2B SaaS stakeholders to understand their businesses and prioritize website changes that deliver the most value. Internally, I worked with our founder to make NerdCow an agile agency. We’re intentionally a boutique agency, so my responsibilities also include overseeing our content strategy. This includes multiple press mentions secured for myself and the team, including publications like Lifewire, and Built-In. I have 6 years of experience in executing SEO foundations.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I help run a company with a mission to “build a better Web” – GrowthMentor sessions would contribute to that.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Growth mindset means that there’s never a moment where you stop and think “I did it!” The context always changes, either directly for you as a person/company (especially when growing), or indirectly for the people around you. This requires an agile, iterative approach and continuous learning, something I learned early on in my life when I was playing online poker for a living.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

It’s a tough choice for a generalist like me, but I’d say agile and how to apply the mindset beyond engineering. I have experience transitioning to agile in a very waterfall industry (web agencies), and getting external stakeholders on board with the new approach.

Our mindset transcends any specialization so I find it key to everything you do, no matter if it’s SEO or product marketing.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I enjoy finding root causes through workshops and user research. One of my favorite methods is comparing the same research survey answers between the target audience and the key stakeholders. It’s perfect for showing misalignment between the company and the people they sell to.

Co-facilitating user tests and workshops helped me learn the types of questions that get closer to the subconscious, root cause-related answers, rather than superficial and obvious reasons.

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8. Gennady Lemud

Describe yourself

I enjoy helping to solve a variety of business-related issues, including growth marketing problems.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

In addition to being involved with a number of startups directly in the past, I have been a startup mentor with Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) for over a year now, and I truly enjoy it on many levels.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Getting a strong product-market fit and the ability to find effective ways to see that fit improve and market expand over time, is a good growth mindset direction, in my view.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

The topic that the mentee needs help with the most.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Sometimes the root cause of a problem can be hidden where it is not obvious to search for it. Defining and doing a deep dive into the entire chain structure or a process that has an undesirable outcome can be helpful in finding a weak or missing link.

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9. Giovanni Baraldi

Describe yourself

I’m part of the Growth Mentor community, I’m a growth ‘scientist.’ I enjoy experimenting and testing using a scientific approach. I have experience as a growth and marketing professional. I like engaging with others, learning from different perspectives, and helping others (which is a great way to learn myself).

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I truly like to meet new people, share my experiences help others, and learn from them.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Having a growth mindset means looking for and acting to be better each day than the previous day.
Looking at the business: studying the company’s growth levers (what really matters); understanding what could make a difference and prioritizing the options; executing and analyzing the results. Everything repeated at a high frequency.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

How to set a growth framework. It’s what I studied and applied most.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Firstly I start to look at the problem (most of the time the first step is the hardest). Then, if it’s possible, I decompose the problem into smaller problems to understand what is really the problem, and its cause.

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10. Guy Fitzpatrick

Describe yourself

Hello! I have been working in marketing and growth for the last 15 years. I’ve worked primarily with startups but also with established tech companies such as 99designs and Mozilla. I’m passionate about building out acquisition, retention, and monetization strategies that develop into growth engines for businesses.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I would like to share my knowledge, grow my network and ‘keep sharpening the saw’

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset means deeply understanding the customer profile, and lifecycle journey and focusing on what will have the greatest long-term impact.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Growth Marketing

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

It comes down to first understanding the strategy, goals, customer profile, and competitive landscape and mapping out the customer lifecycle journey to identify potential growth levers.

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11. Harsh Daiya

Describe yourself

I am a passionate software leader, with a knack for Fraud, Risk, and compliance across commerce platforms, safer e-commerce for all is something I strive to achieve. I love working with high-energy people on innovative solutions that tend to break barriers.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Share my knowledge & learning with others and in the process learn something myself.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Perseverance is the key to unlocking and that to me is a growth mindset, one may fall & crawl but never quit.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Scaling solutions, all sorts of problems arise when we do not give scale a seat at the table and that is something we need to work on from first principles.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Questioning the status quo, asking “why” a lot, it could be for process, problems, usually by 5-7 why you will have a clear understanding of the underlying systems and cause.

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12. Iman Bayatra

Describe yourself

Hey – I’m Iman. I’ve enjoyed developing products and driving growth in the tech sector for over 15 years, working with both high-growth startups and giants like Google and Microsoft. To succeed in product marketing, one needs customer-centric insights, strategic GTM plans, and the ability to connect the right product with the right audience at the right time, with the right message, through the right platform. I look forward to helping you expand globally, unlock growth, and share the lessons I’ve learned along the way!

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

To help innovators leverage data-driven marketing strategies and rapid experimentation to build and grow their businesses successfully.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is about constantly seeking new knowledge, taking calculated risks, and iterating on ideas to reach your full potential.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Developing winning, customer-centric Go-To-Market strategies including product launches to effectively connect the right product with the right audience at the right time, with the right message, through the right platform to accelerate growth.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

My approach to pinpointing the root cause of a problem is systematic and data-driven. I start by defining the problem and gathering initial data to frame it accurately. I collect and analyze quantitative data using tools like Google Analytics and Pendo, supplemented by qualitative research such as customer surveys and feedback. I use techniques like the “5 Whys” and Fishbone diagrams to explore possible causes, and segment analysis to identify specific issues. I develop and test hypotheses through A/B testing and user experiments. Collaborating with cross-functional teams ensures all perspectives are considered. After identifying the root cause, I implement targeted solutions and continuously monitor their effectiveness while iterating and improving processes. Click here to check the process: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PX018Nu6YXgMEi8eG7W2Lf9MXV-oSKdB3sVMJXXfA3A/edit

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13. Jeni Miles

Describe yourself

14 years Big Tech + Behavioral Science = Growth for Your Mission-Driven Mobile SaaS! I led impactful Google Play programs (Subscription Conversions, Sustainable Growth) that empowered hundreds of mobile apps. With these strong product and business foundations, I apply a science-backed lens to help you craft effective, engaging, and impactful digital experiences.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to share my expertise on mobile app product/business strategies and behavioral science to empower innovators.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is a laser focus on effective, valuable experiences that scale.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Making behavioral science literature actionable and easy to embed into your core team processes!

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start with the human on the other side of the screen – what values, motivations, and ‘jobs to be done’ do they come to your product with?

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14. Joan Lockwood

Describe yourself

As a seasoned Head of Growth with a background in data-driven strategies, I’m deeply passionate about leveraging analytics to drive conversion tracking and revenue optimization. Over the years, I have honed my skills in identifying growth opportunities, implementing effective marketing strategies, and utilizing data to make informed decisions that enhance business performance.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to offer my insights as a growth marketer to business owners and/or others, expand my network, and learn what others are doing.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is about the relentless pursuit of improvement, a willingness to learn from every experience, and a commitment to leveraging data to drive meaningful outcomes.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Optimizing data, conversion tracking, GTM, GA4, (Heap/MixPanel) through product marketing to improve revenue.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Involves meticulously analyzing data patterns and trends to identify underlying issues and leveraging A/B testing and other analytical tools to confirm hypotheses and derive actionable insights.

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15. Karolina Szweda

Describe yourself

I’m a growth marketer turned transformative coach. On the marketing side, I can help you with strategy, content, analytics, and all things B2B. On the coaching side, I can help you build confidence, resilience, and your unique leadership style that will inspire and motivate your high-performing team and customers.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’ve been an active member of the London startup scene for several years now and these are my people – if I can support them with my knowledge and experience, I’d love to!

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Growth mindset enables you to see the world as endless opportunities. It’s about the abundance of lessons and progress that keeps you moving forward, even when making a mistake or failing completely.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Build confidence to communicate with your stakeholders and get the buy-in.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

As a professional coach, I use numerous coaching tools and frameworks to pinpoint the root cause of a problem. One of the most effective ones for a 30-minute call is called SMARTER where you ask specific, measurable questions about the objective and intention of a particular action that needs to be taken. The other tool could be the 7 whys where you keep asking why is this important, why is it urgent, why, why, why… The root cause appears within just a few minutes.

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16. Kaylee Mchugh

Describe yourself

Name a position at a startup, and I’ve probably done it. From answering customer service emails to writing code to creating multi-year budgets and marketing strategies as a CEO, I’ve been lucky enough to hone all these skills over about a decade of experience. I love talking to founders and startups not just to share my experience, but to learn from them as well.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

As a Director of Marketing with extensive software engineering experience in the startup space, I’m passionate about sharing this knowledge and expertise with others (plus, I used GrowthMentor when I was a founder and it helped so much!).

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is, above all else, focused on curiosity. To grow your company and skillset you must constantly be curious about what new concepts there are to learn, what others in the field are doing, and what else you can do to optimize your workflows and strategies.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

While I’ve held many positions at different companies and startups, I feel most experienced and confident in mentoring around company and product growth at B2B, technically focused companies. My current role is as the Director of Marketing in a highly technical industry (self-hosted software), and I can most be useful by helping people talk through marketing, sales, and product strategies in this space.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

At my current company, my team is really small and we don’t have as much bandwidth as we’d like to create new content. While on a company-wide meeting, I was listening to an engineer talk about a new feature we released and how they were using it internally, and I realized, that with the right pitch, we could start asking engineers to produce rough videos and transform them into marketing content. Voilà! We suddenly had a whole new set of marketing content without increasing our team size.

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17. Kosmas Mantsis

Describe yourself

I am an analytics professional with more than 8 years of experience in BI and product analytics for SaaS companies. My passion is experimentation and my goal is to facilitate data-driven decisions that can help companies grow.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Sharing insights and getting mentored was pivotal in my career, and I would love to return that to the community.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Challenge and test everything, and help your customers get the maximum value from your product.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product Led Growth with Experimentation is the topic I love and have the most experience with.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Automate experiment reporting, giving self-service analytics to everyone.

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18. Meg Adams

Describe yourself

Mentorship has been a fantastic accelerator in my career. I avoided repeating the mistakes of my mentors, armed with their learnings. I was able to move faster and more effectively as I pivoted with their advice. And I believe my perspective has been sharpened with the additions of their valuable insights. I hope I can offer similar value to peers on their entrepreneurial path.

I’ve had the privilege of working at some incredible companies (Shopify, Wealthsimple, lululemon) and have learned a lot about how these businesses have approached opportunities, challenges, and ultimately scaled aspects of their offerings.

I’ve also operated as a sole proprietor, offering services and consulting to Shopify agencies and merchants. During this time, I’ve been able to learn a lot about the SMB market and about how to market myself as a service provider and trusted advisor.

My career mission: I care deeply about getting to the core of a customer’s needs. I’m motivated by working with teams to develop scalable and creative processes. I see myself as a leader who embraces diverse perspectives and encourages the delivery of responsible innovation.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Entrepreneurship does not need to be a lonely journey. I want to be in a mentee’s corner, offering them perspective, encouragement, and insight.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

I believe that a growth mindset is one that helps you succeed. But, more importantly, it is one that helps you sustain. It is not just about tenacity and resiliency. I have learned from experiencing burnout in myself and from witnessing others who have experienced it, that a growth mindset is only powerful if applied not only to how you optimize your approach to your career but also to how you approach your wellbeing. A growth mindset has helped me endure and overcome many challenges and opportunities, but the true value it has provided me is in the grace I’ve given myself to sustain a lifestyle uniquely tailored to my needs.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Strategy/Positioning

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I’ve taken most of my roles only if I knew the learning curve would be steep and that I would be surrounded by folks who are incredibly smart, keeping me on my toes. This has afforded me quick and rewarding growth but also presented plenty of challenges. My ability to succeed, despite the ups, downs, and pressures, has kept me motivated.

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19. Nash Haywood

Describe yourself

With 12+ years in B2B SaaS growth and revenue marketing roles, I’ve built high-performing teams and marketing programs that consistently deliver revenue in some of the most competitive industries.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’ve driven growth strategy at some of the fastest-growing tech companies and believe I can help earlier-stage companies with those insights.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Having a growth mindset means always looking for incremental improvement and understanding that everything is a connected system.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Paid media strategy because most of my career has involved success here in some shape or form.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Work backward from the outcome.

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20. Ovidiu Mihai-Marginean

Describe yourself

As a marketing leader with over 8 years of industry experience, I oversee a dynamic team in developing and executing data-driven strategies for demand generation, marketing lifecycle management, and marketing operations. My areas of expertise encompass growth marketing, marketing automation, and agile leadership, underscored by certifications such as ICAgile Leading with Agility. Proficient in tools like HubSpot and Zapier, I apply a professional touch to automate and scale marketing efforts effectively.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I am passionate about marketing and technology and believe in their power to drive business success and foster sustained growth.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset is embracing challenges as opportunities for learning and continuous improvement.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Marketing operations, since it streamlines operations, enhances efficiency, and enables data-driven decision-making for more impactful marketing initiatives.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Implementing a demand generation strategy that has resulted in an increase of 48% in marketing-driven revenue.

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21. Peter McAvoy

Describe yourself

I spent most of my career at Google advising clients on Business/Marketing strategy, building Sales, Go to Market & Customer Success teams, and I am currently enjoying helping early startups figure out Product/Market Fit or build their Go to Market strategy.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I find helping founders leverage my experience to solve business challenges really fulfilling.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

It’s about continuously challenging yourself to keep growing and learning in order to avoid settling into a comfort zone and seeing your performance plateau.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Go to Market Strategy – figuring out your target market and appealing to them through targeted Marketing activities.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I would ask questions to ensure that we’re correctly defining the problem, and how significant it is (preferably with data), then use tools such as the 5 whys to understand the root cause.

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22. Rebekka Orth

Describe yourself

Hi, I’m Rebekka! I’m a passionate product manager with a focus on early-stage startups, where I’ve been developing and continuing to build products ranging from B2C and B2B mobile apps to SDKs, incorporating blockchain and AI technologies.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Support people to achieve what they set out to do.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

To see every challenge and roadblock as a positive learning opportunity, consider the bigger picture and how all the pieces connect.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Being the bridge between tech, design, and business wearing different hats, because it’s one of the most crucial and most rewarding roles you can have and I love it.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Break it down piece by piece, questioning the assumptions and why things are the way they are. Identify the source of the problem and analyze whether it’s truly an issue or simply a fear.

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23. Sarah Potemkin

Describe yourself

I’m a media and ad tech executive with a 20+ year track record of driving substantial business growth for global advertisers and a special knack for navigating through times of challenge and reinvigorating organizations. This ability is driven by strong relationships and operational rigor, including processes honed from 10 years of leading scaled programmatic execution. I quickly assess complex situations and lead diverse teams through aggressive yet pragmatic growth plans founded on years of global paid media strategy, planning, and best-in-class execution.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I have over 20 years of experience, including 5 years creating Google’s performance marketing practice, and want to help individuals and companies navigate this time of significant technological change for growth marketers.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Growth mindset means having ready access to the right data and an open mind in interpreting it, as well as the people and process acumen to drive sustainable business performance and growth.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Operationalizing products and processes across complex organizations.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start with stakeholder interviews, conduct research, review all data and dashboards available, and pressure-test assumptions with the original interview set to ensure that I have the correct understanding of an issue, and continue revising until I have clearly articulated what has been said — as well as what has been implied.

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24. Scott Gabdullin

Describe yourself

I am a Canadian entrepreneur and marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in SEO, SEM, and analytics. Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with companies of all sizes, from small local businesses to major corporations such as Toyota, KPMG, TD Bank, and many others.

My passion for marketing goes beyond helping other companies grow; it extends to building my own portfolio of businesses, ranging from a health and wellness company to a 3D printing venture. This journey has equipped me with the skills and experience to apply marketing expertise to projects of all sizes.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I’ve been teaching digital marketing at various educational startups (e.g. BrainStation, Concordia, Jelly Academy, etc.) for over 6 years now and the most rewarding, life-long connections I’ve ever built came from teaching/mentoring others.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Always embrace new ideas, never fear to fail, and no matter what, learn quickly.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

The area I truly excel in is Search Marketing, encompassing both SEO and SEM. I’ve focused on intent-based marketing since the start of my career, making it an integral part of my daily work and life.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I like to begin by understanding the problem at a macro level, grasping the full scope of the issue. Then, I break it down into smaller components to identify where the process falters and uncover the root causes.

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25. Sergio Luna

Describe yourself

I am a product leader in tech with expertise in building (zero-to-one) digital CX in e-commerce and streaming industries (B2C/B2B). I specialize in defining product vision, launching quick and low-cost MVPs, and driving growth. I have been a mentor in career growth and product management since 2018, including teaching at institutions and facilitating product certifications. Outside of product, I am an advocate of DEI centered on developing and promoting the Latino community in Europe.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to help people discover and succeed in the product management role, as the world is shaped more and more by such functions.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A growth mindset means a combination of humility, confidence, and action to continuously learn and improve: humility, so you have an open mind to different perspectives and know when to change views; confidence, so you overcome challenges; and action, so you can make things happen by experimenting different avenues.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Product Management, particularly in developing a product vision, defining and experimenting with low-cost MVPs. I have 8+ years of experience in the field, including building platform products (B2B), internal tools, customer-facing experiences, and automation of processes. In addition, I have similar experience mentoring people in product, including (a) helping them to transition to product, (b) growing as product managers, (c) facilitating online certifications for product owners, and (d) teaching at universities.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I first start by understanding in detail the context of the situation. This includes asking about the expected outcome (vs what is happening in reality), what is the impact of the current situation, and who are the people/processes involved. Afterwards, I reframe the problem statement in a sentence based on the additional context and start formulating a hypothesis that could explain the gap between expectations in reality. Usually, these hypotheses would fall under the dimensions of people, process, wrong assumptions/expectations (e.g. misunderstanding between teams), or wrong problem-solution fit. As a rule of thumb, I tend to re-run (thought exercise) the sequence of events and evaluate expectations vs outcomes in different steps, which normally surfaces a hint (i.e. smoking gun) and thread to keep pulling from.

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26. Vasco Bernardo

Describe yourself

I’m a global Influencer marketing manager at Opera GX where I’ve owned a performance-focused influencer marketing channel for 4 years, starting from very low spent to 8 figures yearly with positive ROI.

Influencer marketing is somewhat of a new channel and at times difficult to find good reliable advice so I’d like to be of help to anyone who needs some advice.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

I want to share my expertise in influencer marketing from a brand perspective and hopefully help others avoid some of the mistakes I’ve learned from.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

Just the ability to be humble and realize there’s always room to grow and learn from others.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Influencer Marketing from a brand perspective with a focus on performance and conversion.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

I start by making sure I understand the problem correctly and clearly define it, I then create a hypothesis of what could cause this problem to go through data, and aim to find patterns to help validate them.

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27. Viola Eva

Describe yourself

My mentors are the reason I am who I am today. They have encouraged me, challenged me, and had my back for the last decade. Now, I would like to share what I have learned – building an agency and working with SaaS startups. My background is in Search marketing where I have been a speaker, writer, and teacher. You can ask me about this as well as B2B growth, sales-led go-to-market motions, content marketing strategy, or AI-powered Search.

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

It is a wild time for startups right now – I have been freelancing, consulting, running an agency, and working with startups for the last 10 years, I am here to share my experience, offer support, and lift up others.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

I want to be 4% better every week. Make tweaks and iterate. No big resets or one-off breakthroughs. Consistently growing and evolving. Progress leads to perfection.
And 4% every week compound.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

Content marketing strategy – there is no one playbook or checklist. If anything, these templates and checklists are probably distracting you by making you busy. Instead – with the right focus and strategy you will be able to a) capture existing demand and b) enable future sales through memorable content.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

Ask 5x why before coming up with a solution.

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28. Ward van Gasteren

Describe yourself

Hi there! I’m Ward. You might know me from Grow with Ward, my blog with 25K readers per month, where I’ve been sharing my knowledge for 10+ years. I’ve always worked as an independent growth consultant for awesome companies like TikTok, Unilever and Pepsi. I’m currently starting my own YouTube channel and creating more content to teach growth hacking. Always happy to help others!

I can mostly support you with:

• Getting started in Growth Hacking
• How to work as a Growth Freelancer
• Creating a Growth Strategy
• Setting up a proper Growth Experimentation process
• Growth Loops from A to Z
• And my favorite marketing channels are SEO, YouTube and Building Side Tools (no-code w/ Bubble)

In just one sentence, why do you want to become a growth mentor?

Meet more growth people & share my knowledge/experience as a growth consultant.

In your words, what does a growth mindset mean to you?

A Growth Mindset to me means always being open to learning and testing to find the best way.

If you could mentor a startup on one topic, what would it be?

This really depends on the person: With founders & marketers, I love talking about Growth Experimentation and how to set up a great process to test all possible ideas quickly. But every now and then I talk to other growth hackers, and then the conversation quickly moves to growth freelancing, so I love to help others and share any secrets or templates from my side. I honestly don’t think anybody has been doing growth freelancing as long as I have with 11 years and 100+ client projects, so happy to share my learnings.

Describe an out-of-the-box solution to a complex problem that made you proud of yourself.

First the question is ‘what’ or ‘where’ things go wrong, so this is a lot about quantitative research. I try to go as narrow as possible. Then it moves to ‘why’ things go wrong, which is a qualitative question: talk to some people to get a better understanding of why they’re not moving on. From there you’ve often pinpointed a problem pretty well and then you can move on to solution-thinking.

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Interested in becoming a growth mentor?

What we’re looking for:

• Growth marketers, product managers, and designers, with extraordinary track records of success
• Inspirational founders that have “been there and done that.”
• Friendly people that take joy in helping other people.
• At least 5 years of demonstrable experience working in growth.
• GrowthMentor is a #givefirst platform. You should be cool with mentoring for free until you have three reviews.