Messy Growth

Syed Asad

Building businesses isn’t clean. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of mistakes. Messy Growth features growth operators, founders, and leaders building B2B companies - from Poland and beyond - scaling from $1M to $50M+ ARR (and everything in between). Most guests are based in Poland - my home base - but I also sit down with founders and operators across Europe and globally. What you’ll get: → Real GTM strategies (not theory) → How to scale sales without burning cash → The uncomfortable truth about building in public → Honest operator stories from the trenches No fluff. No fake metrics. Just

  1. 6D AGO

    Why Relationships Matter More Than Strategy in Business | Atul Sood

    Most people think growth comes from strategy.Atul Sood thinks it comes from relationships.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sat down with Atul Sood, a fractional Chief Business Officer, former Google Ventures-backed startup operator, former McDonald’s global business development leader, founder, advisor, and someone who has lived through both massive wins and brutal personal setbacks.This conversation goes far beyond business tactics.We talk about:- Why relationships compound harder than money- The emotional cost of leadership- Why founders overestimate their chances of success- The rise of the white-collar gig economy- Why empathy disappears in leadership- The reality of layoffs and executive pressure- How to know if a company will actually scale- Why vulnerability is a superpower in leadership- What fractional executives really solve inside companies- Why most people should build a side hustle nowIf you're a founder, operator, executive, or someone trying to figure out what matters long-term in business and life, this episode is for you.

    1h 1m

  2. MAY 13

    Viral Content Doesn’t Mean More Customers | Ademola Adelakun

    Most B2B companies are creating content.Very few are creating content that actually drives revenue.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sat down with Ademola Adelakun, founder of A2 Media and former professional magician turned B2B video strategist, to break down why most SaaS video marketing fails, what companies misunderstand about content, and how to create videos that actually build trust and pipeline.We go deep into:- Why most B2B videos never convert- The real role of storytelling in SaaS marketing- Why viral content often means nothing for revenue- The biggest mistakes founders make with video- Why production quality matters less than people think- The psychology behind attention and content- AI-generated content and the rise of “content slop”- Short-form vs long-form content in 2026- How SaaS companies should approach YouTube and video marketing- Why understanding your ICP changes everythingAdemola has helped companies like Shopify, Okta, Reveal and other B2B SaaS brands build research-led video systems designed to generate actual business results - not vanity metrics.If you’re a founder, marketer, sales leader, content creator or anyone trying to figure out how to stand out online in a world drowning in noise, this episode is for you.

    50 min

  3. MAY 8

    Marketing Is Broken. This Is Why Everything Feels Fake | Aleksandra Gierok

    This episode of Messy Growth goes deep into one of the biggest problems in modern marketing: everything sounds the same.I sat down with Alexandra Gierok, a creative strategist, founder of One Man Orchestra, and artist with over 2M+ streams to break down why authenticity is disappearing and what actually works today.We talk about creativity, psychology, and performance marketing and why most SaaS companies completely misunderstand all three.If you’ve ever felt like:* Content is becoming repetitive and forced* “Authenticity” is just another buzzword* Social media is turning into noiseThis conversation will hit.We cover:* Why creativity can’t be forced (and why companies try anyway)* The real meaning of authentic marketing in 2026* Why most brands sound identical online* The dark side of social media and content burnout* Whether emotional connection can be engineered* Why consistency is overrated (and what matters more)Aleksandra also shares her perspective from both sides, building brands and building an audience as an artist.This is not a “tactical tips” episode. It’s a reality check.

    53 min

  4. MAY 6

    How to Sell in 2026: Sam McKenna on Buyer-First Sales, LinkedIn & Outbound

    Most sales teams think they’re “buyer-first.”They’re not.They’re running outdated playbooks, using scripted language, and wondering why nothing lands anymore.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sat down with Samantha McKenna - founder of #samsales, former LinkedIn enterprise sales leader, and one of the most respected voices in modern sales.This isn’t theory.This is what actually works right now.⸻💥 What we get into:* Why most “personalization” is fake (and how to do it right)* The real reason your outbound isn’t working* Why Sam believes cold calling is broken* How to stand out when everyone is using AI and automation* The exact mindset shift top 1% sellers have* What founders consistently get wrong about sales* How to actually use LinkedIn to drive revenue (not just post content)⚡ One line that stuck with me:If you wouldn’t say it in real life… don’t send it.Sam has trained tens of thousands of sellers and worked with hundreds of companies globally.But what stood out most in this conversation?She strips sales back to something most people forget:👉 Be human.If you’re building a sales team, running outbound, or just trying to close more deals without sounding like everyone else — this one’s worth your time.

    1h 4m

  5. APR 28

    Why Most Startups Fail to Scale (Even When Revenue Is Growing) | Ned Arick

    Most startups don’t fail because they can’t grow. They fail because they can’t scale what’s already working.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sit down with Ned Arick (VP of Operations @ Acquisition.com) - someone who’s built and rebuilt revenue engines across multiple companies from $0 → $100M+.We break down: Why hiring more salespeople too early kills growthThe difference between real growth vs fake activityWhat founders get wrong about scaling revenue teamsWhy process is greater than people people (and when that flips)The biggest hiring mistakes early-stage founders makeHow to move from founder-led chaos → predictable systemsWhy most companies are solving the wrong problem entirelyThis isn’t theory. This is what actually happens inside companies trying to scale.If you’re a founder, operator, or building a SaaS company - this will save you months (if not years).

    1 hr

  6. APR 23

    Product Market Fit Is Dead? The Truth About AI, Moats & Growth in 2026

    Most startups still think:→ Find product-market fit→ Scale distribution→ WinThat playbook is breaking.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sit down (again) with Wiktor Sobolak - fractional Head of Product working with startups from Seed to Series B - to unpack what’s actually happening inside product and growth teams right now.We get into: Why product-market fit is now a moving targetThe uncomfortable truth: distribution alone won’t save you anymoreWhat used to be moats… and why they’re disappearing fastHow AI is reshaping product teams, roles, and decision-makingWhy most teams are wasting time on roadmaps, experiments, and documentationWhat actually matters now: speed, systems, and product judgmentThis is not theory. This is what’s breaking and what’s working inside real companies.If you’re building, scaling, or trying to stay relevant in SaaS… this one will challenge how you think.

    45 min

  7. APR 17

    From 0 to VP: What SaaS Founders Get Wrong About Growth | Emilia Korczynska

    Most SaaS companies think they’re doing “growth.”In reality? They’re just doing activity.In this episode of Messy Growth, I sit down with Emilia Korczynska (VP of Marketing @ Userpilot) to break down what actually drives sustainable growth in SaaS and what most teams are getting completely wrong.We go deep on: • Why most marketing efforts don’t translate into real growth • The biggest mistake between sign-up and activation • Why retention problems are often product problems • The truth about SEO, AI content, and “growth hacks” • What it actually takes to build a compounding growth engine • The mindset shift from IC → VP (and why most people struggle with it)Emilia also shares raw, practical insights on: • Delegation and leadership at scale • Why founders underestimate marketing effort • What separates average marketers from great ones in the AI eraIf you’re building, scaling, or stuck trying to grow a SaaS company, this is the conversation you need.

    55 min

  8. APR 7

    From Startup to Exit: What Building in AI Really Looks Like | Teo Borschberg

    AI is everywhere but very few people actually understand what’s happening under the surface. In this episode, I sit down with Teo Borschberg, Co-founder & CEO of Ogment AI, to break down what AI agents actually are, how companies are using them today, and where this is all heading next. Téo has been building in AI long before it became mainstream founding and exiting an AI company to Unity, and operating across global markets like Hong Kong, Shanghai, Lisbon, and San Francisco. This is not theory. This is real-world execution. 🔍 What we cover: • What AI agents actually do (and why they’re different from ChatGPT) • Why most companies are getting AI adoption wrong • The real risks of giving AI autonomy inside organizations • How to stay relevant as AI reshapes knowledge work • Why face-to-face trust still beats Zoom in business • The future of teams: humans + AI agents working together • Whether AI will actually replace jobs—or just reshape them • What skills matter now (and what’s becoming obsolete) • Lessons from building, scaling, and exiting AI companies ⚠️ Key Insight AI isn’t just a tool - it’s a force multiplier. The people who win won’t be the ones who ignore it, but the ones who learn how to use it strategically and think critically. 👤 About the Guest Téo Borschberg is the Co-founder & CEO of Augment AI, focused on deploying AI agents safely across organizations. Previously founded an AI voice analysis company acquired by Unity Technologies.

    44 min
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About

Building businesses isn’t clean. It’s messy, uncertain, and full of mistakes. Messy Growth features growth operators, founders, and leaders building B2B companies - from Poland and beyond - scaling from $1M to $50M+ ARR (and everything in between). Most guests are based in Poland - my home base - but I also sit down with founders and operators across Europe and globally. What you’ll get: → Real GTM strategies (not theory) → How to scale sales without burning cash → The uncomfortable truth about building in public → Honest operator stories from the trenches No fluff. No fake metrics. Just

Information

  • Creator
    Syed Asad
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Syed Asad
  • Show Website
    Messy Growth