Growth Leap

Hosted by Stun and Awe

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May 2025

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About the show

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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47 recent

May 13, 2025Episode 4752 min

Be Yoda, Not Luke: How to Use Story, Data & Advocacy to Win Hearts (Not Just Clicks)

Send a text In this episode, we sit down with Dario Berrebi to unpack one of the most overlooked shifts in brand storytelling: becoming the guide , not the hero. Think Yoda , not Luke Skywalker . We explore why purpose-driven brands struggle with positioning, how to tell stories that resonate without sounding self-important, and why solving boring problems beats chasing cool ideas. You’ll walk away with a smarter way to communicate your value, one rooted in empathy, simplicity, and timeless storytelling structure. WE COVERED: Why most purpose-driven brands get storytelling backwards The “Hero’s Journey” framework—and how to flip it for your customer How to stand out by solving boring , painful problems Real talk: what scrappy SMBs can do instead of trying to look “premium” Tactical brand building on a tight budget: second-hand gear, focused offers, and positioning How to make your brand feel human, not polished to death The power of telling the truth , even when it’s messy FOR WHO? If you’re a founder, marketer, or creative working on a mission-driven product, and you're tired of performative branding that doesn't convert, this episode gives you a more grounded, actionable playbook.Most brands position themselves as the hero. Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

April 2, 2025Episode 4611 min

How to Run Smart, Human, Scalable ABM Campaigns (Using AI + Psychology)

Send a text Account-based marketing (ABM) used to be expensive, slow, and reserved for enterprise teams. But that’s changed. In this solo episode, we walk through a smarter, faster, more human approach to ABM, one that even small B2B teams can run using AI, psychology, and clear structure. We break down how to build a focused account list, how to personalize outreach without sounding robotic, and how to align sales and marketing around real signals, not wishful thinking. You’ll learn how to combine AI agents and human-first strategy to warm up leads, engage buying committees, and track what actually moves the needle. If your team is sick of spraying cold emails and hoping for the best, this one’s for you. WE COVERED: Why modern ABM works best with small teams and smart tools How to build a high-intent target list using AI and intent data The psychology behind warming up accounts before outreach What real personalization looks like (and why most teams fake it) Why buying committees need tailored messages, not a single CTA How to use AI agents to do the heavy research for you The playbook for launching multitouch campaigns that actually convert How to measure success beyond clicks: engagement, velocity, and pipeline FOR WHO? If you’re a founder, GTM lead, or marketer inside a B2B startup (especially in tech, sustainability, or Web3), and you’re trying to make outbound work without burning your list or your reputation, this episode gives you the playbook. Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

February 27, 2025Episode 4551 min

The Growth Playbook You Actually Need in 2025: Lessons from Michael Maximoff

Send a text Michael Maximoff is the co-founder of Belkins, the #1 B2B appointment-setting agency, and a leader in revenue growth strategies. In this edition of Growth Leap , Michael breaks down how he scaled Belkins to 8 figures by focusing on acquisition, retention, and revenue alignment. We dove into why traditional marketing and sales silos no longer work, how to make outbound effective in 2025, and why retention is the key to sustainable business growth. Michael also shared insights on structuring sales teams, setting up shared KPIs, and integrating marketing, sales, and customer success into a single revenue engine. Michael discussed the importance of founder-led sales in the early years, how he structured compensation to drive retention, and why the best growth teams obsess over long-term value instead of short-term wins. We also covered the role of partnerships, content-driven outbound, and how to stay financially disciplined while scaling. We covered: Why acquisition and retention must go hand in hand for growth Outbound sales in 2025: How to make it work without spamming inboxes Sales and marketing alignment: How shared KPIs transform results Founder-led sales: Why early-stage CEOs must drive sales themselves Financial discipline: How tracking every dollar helped Belkins scale Building trust in B2B: Why relationships matter more than volume Whether you’re a startup founder, sales leader, or marketer looking to scale without burning cash on ineffective tactics, this episode is packed with insights on how to build a sustainable growth machine. Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

January 30, 2025Episode 441 hr 0 min

How to Prioritize, Experiment, and Build Products That Matter with David Pereira and Büşra Coşkuner

Send a text David Pereira is the CEO of Omoqo , and Büşra Coşkuner is a seasoned product coach, both experts in helping teams build products that actually matter. In this edition of Growth Talks, David and Büşra break down the biggest challenges in product management, from prioritization and experimentation to balancing discovery with execution. We dove into how to avoid wasting time on ideas that won’t work, test assumptions quickly, and make ruthless prioritization a habit. David and Büşra also shared insights on working with business pressures while maintaining a strong product vision and execution strategy. David discussed the importance of setting outcome-based goals instead of getting caught up in feature-building, while Büşra outlined a framework for effective assumption testing that ensures teams learn fast. We also covered how to prevent roadmaps from becoming feature factories and the common mistakes teams make when trying to scale their product development. We covered: ✅ Prioritization strategies: How to decide what’s worth building (and what’s not) ✅ Experimentation 101: How to validate assumptions before committing resources ✅ Balancing discovery vs. delivery: How to manage roadmaps without overloading teams ✅ Ruthless focus: How saying no leads to better, faster decisions ✅ Real-world case studies: Examples of what worked—and what failed—in product teams ✅ Managing business pressure: How to balance leadership expectations with product strategy Whether you’re a product manager, startup founder, or team leader trying to build high-impact products without drowning in unnecessary work, this episode is full of actionable strategies to help you focus, learn fast, and execute effectively. Follow David & Büşra on LinkedIn 🔹 David Pereira 🔹 Büşra Coşkuner Where to Find Michel: 📰 Newsletter: Stun and Awe 🔗 LinkedIn: ichel Gagnon 🐦 X (Twitter): @michelgagnon 📢 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your team! Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

January 6, 2025Episode 4346 min

Why Traditional Sales Tactics Are Dead (And What Social Selling Does Better) with DreamData’s Laura Erdem

Send a text Laura Erdem is a Sales Manager - Americas at DreamData and a social selling powerhouse who’s helping redefine how B2B companies connect with their audience. In this episode, Laura shares her journey from traditional outbound sales to building a multi-million-dollar pipeline through LinkedIn and social selling strategies. We dove into how Laura uses LinkedIn to create meaningful connections with buyers, track measurable revenue impact, and build trust through authentic, human-centric content. Laura also discussed the balance between structured and flexible approaches to social selling, offering practical advice for sales teams and leaders alike. Laura highlighted how DreamData aligns sales and marketing efforts to drive results, with shared reporting and insights that ensure everyone is pulling in the same direction. She also gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how DreamData is expanding into the U.S. market and adapting its sales processes to meet the demands of a fast-moving, transactional environment. We covered: Social Selling 101 : How Laura’s approach to LinkedIn has generated over $2 million in measurable revenue for DreamData. Metrics that Matter : Beyond likes and comments—tracking engagement, clicks, and conversions that drive real business results. Cold Outreach vs. Warm Outreach : Why traditional outbound sales is struggling and how social selling creates higher-quality leads. Scaling Social Selling : Practical tips for sales teams to personalize and implement social strategies at scale. Aligning Sales and Marketing : How DreamData creates shared goals and accountability between teams to drive growth. Market Expansion : Lessons from DreamData’s move into the U.S. market, including the importance of hiring local expertise. The Future of Social Selling : How AI is enhancing social strategies while keeping human connection at the center of sales. Whether you’re a B2B sales pro, marketer, or founder looking to build stronger relationships with your customers and scale your pipeline, this episode is packed with actionable tips and insights to help you take your sales game to the next level. Where to Find Laura LinkedIn: Laura Erdem DreamData: dreamdata.io Where to find Michel: Newsletter: Stun and Awe LinkedIn: Michel Gagnon X: @michelgagnon Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

December 3, 2024Episode 4237 min

How Purpose-Driven Marketing Leads to Measurable Climate Action with Ecologi CMO Adam Boita

Send a text Adam Boita is the Chief Marketing Officer at Ecologi and a seasoned marketing leader with over 17 years of experience across iconic brands like PlayStation and Pernod Ricard. In this episode, Adam shares his journey from consumer marketing to leading climate action initiatives, guiding businesses to embed sustainability into their operations. We discussed how Ecologi helps companies fund high-impact climate action projects, tackle the complexities of carbon credits, and leverage innovative tools to integrate sustainability seamlessly. Adam shared insights into Ecologi’s transparent approach, the importance of trust in climate action, and how his team ensures businesses achieve measurable impact. Adam also highlighted the role of creative storytelling and humor in climate messaging, showcasing how Ecologi’s campaigns inspire businesses to take their first steps toward sustainability. He provided practical advice on balancing brand-building with performance marketing, creating awareness campaigns that drive long-term results. We covered: Climate action for businesses : Ecologi’s transition from consumer subscriptions to B2B solutions, empowering companies to fund impactful sustainability projects. Navigating carbon credits : Tackling controversies and ensuring transparency and quality in climate action initiatives. Engaging messaging : Using humor and wit to break down barriers and inspire businesses to act. Campaign planning : How Ecologi balances brand awareness and performance marketing to drive measurable results. Lessons for startups : Building trust through transparency, investing in brand identity early, and aligning profit with purpose. Practical insights : Strategies for integrating sustainability into operations and communicating impact effectively. Whether you’re a startup founder, marketer, or corporate leader looking to align your business goals with meaningful climate action, this episode will give you the insights and actionable strategies to achieve the impact you're aiming for. Where to find Adam: LinkedIn: Adam Boita Ecologi's website: https://ecologi.com/ Where to find Michel: Newsletter: Stun and Awe LinkedIn: Michel Gagnon X: @michelgagnon Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

November 13, 2024Episode 4157 min

Blockchain Beyond Crypto: Real-World Web3 Solutions for a Sustainable Future with Mariana de la Roche Wills

Send a text 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 Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

October 24, 2024Episode 4046 min

How Startups Can Lead the Charge Toward a Regenerative Economy with Julia Zhou

Send a text In this episode, I spoke with Julia Zhou, co-founder of Tidal Impact, and President of the Sigma Squared Society. Julia shared her journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to co-founding Tidal Impact with a focus on shifting businesses from merely reducing harm to creating a meaningful impact. We explored how startups can play a pivotal role in building a regenerative economy and why they are uniquely positioned to adopt sustainable practices faster than larger corporations. Julia also explained the importance of redefining success beyond financial metrics, stressing the need to focus on the positive societal and environmental outcomes a company can achieve. We discussed the work of the Sigma Square Society, a network fostering connections among young entrepreneurs, and how building emotional intelligence and personal awareness are crucial for driving systems change. Julia emphasized the need for businesses to develop a theory of change to measure long-term impact and shared her thoughts on the evolving world of impact investing, where diverse funding models are necessary for different types of impact-driven companies. We covered: Tidal Impact’s mission: Helping businesses measure and manage ESG and create positive impact Startups' role: How they can lead the charge in building a regenerative economy Redefining success: Moving beyond financial metrics to focus on impact The Sigma Square Society: Supporting young entrepreneurs and fostering systemic change Theory of change: A framework for measuring long-term goals and impact Impact investing: The need for diverse funding models to support various businesses Personal stories: Julia’s journey and insights on aligning business goals with personal values Lessons learned: Challenges in systems change, team building, and securing funding Where to find Julia: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-zhou-3a94a5b3/ - Website: Tidal Impact , Sigma Squared Society Where to find Michel: - Newsletter: Stun and Awe - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

October 10, 2024Episode 3918 min

Speed Wins: How Entrepreneurs and Teams Can Execute Ideas at Lightning Speed

Send a text Ever feel like your team has the potential to be great, but you’re stuck in slow motion? I’ve been there. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my story of leading a tech company that was bursting with talent but got bogged down by endless discussions, bureaucratic red tape, and a mountain of old tech debt. It was frustrating to watch our competitors launch products while we debated—and missed opportunities. I’ll break down the common barriers that hold teams back, like “selling” ideas instead of truly assessing them, or letting the highest-paid person’s opinion dominate (a.k.a. HiPPO Syndrome). I’ll also share my approach to getting things moving again: creating a playbook that gets everyone from marketing to engineering on the same page and speeds up execution. Tune in to hear some hard-learned lessons, real-world stories from billion-dollar corporations and nimble startups, and actionable strategies that can help turn your team into an execution powerhouse. If you want to break free from innovation paralysis and get your team’s great ideas to market faster, this episode’s for you. Let’s dive in! Check out our Fast-Track Innovation Workshop if you'd like your team to execute faster. Where to find Michel: - Newsletter: Stun and Awe - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter

September 23, 2024Episode 3858 min

How Blockchain is Fueling Regenerative Finance: A Look at Coral Tribe NFT and ReFi Hub

Send a text I sat down with Christian Chegne and Avery Schwartz, co-founders of Coral Tribe NFT and ReFi Hub. They are using blockchain to push forward regenerative finance and make a big impact on sustainability. They shared how they raised $1 million from their Coral Tribe NFT and used part of the proceeds to fund five major impact environmental restoration projects. They are now launching ReFi Hub, a marketplace that enables members to invest in vetted businesses that fight climate change, promote clean energy, and foster sustainable development. We dove into the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), which allows for fractional ownership and opens up new ways for entrepreneurs, especially in the Global South, to get more attractive access to funds than through traditional very-high-interest bank loans. This approach makes high-impact investments more accessible and strengthens the connection between communities and environmental causes. Christian and Avery highlighted how building strong communities has been critical to their projects' growth. Their stories offer some great insights for anyone curious about how blockchain can drive both sustainability and local business support. We covered : Coral Tribe NFT: Raising $1M and funding coral restoration and other impact projects Tokenizing real-world assets: How it democratizes access to sustainable investments ReFi Hub’s mission: Supporting small businesses and sustainable growth in emerging markets Regenerative finance: Applying it to ecosystem restoration, carbon credits, and beyond Community building: How platforms like Discord and Twitter play a key role in Web3 success Personal stories: Christian and Avery’s path from traditional industries into blockchain Lessons learned: Building teams, securing funding, and overcoming challenges The future: How blockchain and tokenization can reshape global sustainability Where to find Christian and Avery: - LinkedIn: Christian Chegne , Avery Schwartz - Twitter: Christian , Avery - Website: ReFiHub , Coral Tribe NFT Where to find Michel: - Newsletter: Stun and Awe - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheljgagnon/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/michelgagnon Support the show 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 marketing@stunandawe.com . Support the show on Patreon Follow us: LinkedIn Twitter