Head of Growth: The Most Challenging Role in Startups

If you are frustrated as a Head of Growth, you’re not alone. The Head of Growth role is arguably the most challenging role at a startup. Drawing from extensive personal experience and conversations with growth leaders worldwide, it's clear: the Head of Growth is tasked with a monumental responsibility—to deliver tangible results. The difficulty lies in the fact that your success hinges on the collaboration and support of various functional leaders across your organization.

Because of these challenges, when I start a new interim growth leadership role, my contract always requires a growth alignment session within the first couple weeks of joining. While ideally, I push for a full-day session involving the entire company, this is not always possible. So, at the very least, I insist on running a program for the functional leaders that lasts at least a few hours to help them understand the importance of testing across the entire growth engine—including the areas they control. Broader testing necessitates fostering a deeper understanding of general growth principles and collaboratively discussing our unique growth drivers in the company.

Your frustration as a Head of Growth likely stems from a lack of this foundational groundwork early in your role. Attempting to implement it retroactively often backfires, perceived as a political maneuver for increased influence. Therefore, the wiser approach is to engage an external expert to enhance cross-functional alignment around growth. I've spearheaded such initiatives across various companies, ranging from funded startups that have achieved product/market fit to divisions at larger enterprises like Microsoft and eBay. While undeniably impactful, such programs require a significant investment, typically at least $40,000 for a full-day private program.

Recognizing the need for a more accessible solution, I've developed a cost-effective alternative at a small fraction of the cost. In my group workshops, up to ten companies attend simultaneously with their head of growth and functional leads. During the 8-hour program, I introduce concepts and coach the teams as they collaborate on implementing them. This inclusive format has been effective for startups and larger corporations, all seeking a more economical way to optimize a cross-functional approach to growth. When implemented correctly, the approach significantly accelerates growth rates sustained by a high-performing cross-functional team. Eventually, this builds the testing culture that has generated unprecedented growth rates at leading startups worldwide.?

If you’re a Head of Growth, I designed this program to make your life easier and increase your likelihood of success. I’m in India next week , and we still have some availability for my group workshop.? India is part of my worldwide tour , so check out when I’ll be in your area to join a keynote event and workshop. The financial and time investment of the workshop is well worth it!