Growth Department

Chelsey Reynolds
  • 5.0 (9)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Growth Department is a business podcast for founders and business leaders who are actively building and want to keep learning as they grow. Each week, host Chelsey Reynolds talks with operators, executives, and entrepreneurs about how real businesses are built and scaled. These conversations focus on the decisions, tradeoffs, and systems that shape growth over time. You’ll hear practical insight on finding customers, building teams, scaling operations, and leading well, alongside honest discussions about how personal growth shows up in professional work. Growth Department slows the conversation down so you can go further, faster.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Future of Marketing: Category Creation, AI, and Brand Humanity (with Anthony Kennada)

    Marketing is shifting faster than most teams can process. AI is automating the mechanics. Performance channels are more crowded than ever. And founders are asking the same question: what actually creates durable advantage now? In this episode, Chelsey sits down with Anthony Kennada to unpack what he learned building the Customer Success category at Gainsight, why category creation is harder than people admit, and why he believes the next era of marketing belongs to brands that embrace what machines cannot replicate. From conferences that built movements to the 95–5 rule and the rise of analog experiences, this conversation connects the dots between strategy, storytelling, and staying human in an AI-driven world. You’ll walk away with practical insight on: What category creation really requires and when it makes senseHow to build trust with the 95% of buyers who are not ready yetWhy 80% of marketing may be automated and what remainsWhat Brand Humanity means for founders and CMOsHow smaller companies can compete without massive budgets If you’re building, repositioning, or preparing for the next shift in marketing, this one is worth your time. About Anthony Kennada Anthony is a B2B marketer who believes business brands should feel human. As the first Head of Marketing at Gainsight, he helped build the Customer Success category and scale the company from early stage to over $100M in ARR and a $1.1B acquisition. He later served as CMO at Front and Hopin, founded AudiencePlus, and now leads Goldenhour, a movement helping founders and CMOs put Brand Humanity into practice. LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/akennada/ X:  https://x.com/akennada Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/akennada Anthony's site: https://www.kennada.com/ goldenhour website:  https://goldenhour.net/ Check out Anthony's podcast, Brand Humanity:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brand-humanity-show/id1830643380 Thank you for listening! If you liked the ep, we'd love to have you along for the ride! You can subscribe, follow, and share with a founder who is thinking about the future of their brand. Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    32 min

  2. FEB 12

    Why Great Products Get Ignored: The Context Problem in Product Positioning (with April Dunford)

    Even world-class products can struggle when buyers don’t know where to place them. In this episode, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with globally renowned positioning expert, April Dunford, to unpack why great products get ignored and how positioning, when done well, sets the context that makes value instantly obvious. April shares how she defines positioning, why it’s more than messaging, and how misaligned context can flatten even the strongest product story. Drawing from her work with hundreds of technology companies and the expanded edition of Obviously Awesome, she breaks down what founders and leaders need to decide before they ever touch a positioning exercise, and how to avoid the traps that slow teams down or send them back to square one. You’ll hear practical guidance on how positioning evolves as products ship faster, markets change, and competitors multiply, plus how to know when it’s time to revisit your positioning and when to leave it alone. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why positioning is about context, not clever messagingThe critical decisions to make before starting any positioning workHow to choose between head-to-head, big fish small pond, or category creation strategiesWhen positioning should change and when it should stay putWhat founders often miss when positioning for customers versus investors If this conversation resonates, follow or subscribe for more leadership-focused conversations on growth, positioning, and building products people understand and love. About our Guest: April Dunford is the world's foremost authority on product positioning. As a consultant, April helps companies make complex products easy to understand and love. After a 25-year career as a VP of Marketing at various rapidly developing technology firms, she has consulted with 300 technology companies, including Google, Epic Games, Postman, and others. April is the acclaimed author of the best-selling book, "Obviously Awesome," which delves into the art of positioning, and the newly released, "Sales Pitch," which unveils the secrets to crafting a winning sales narrative in the market. April's Website: https://www.aprildunford.com/ SubStack:  https://aprildunford.substack.com/ Follow her on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprildunford/ Follow her on IG:  https://www.instagram.com/aprildunford Her Book, "Obviously Awesome!" Her fun book she's reading right now: Children of Time Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    46 min

  3. FEB 5

    What Is Category Design? Why Defining the Market Creates Category Kings (with Jason Wellcome)

    Category design shows up in a lot of founder conversations, but few teams understand how to actually use it. In this episode, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Jason Wellcome to define what category design is, why it matters, and how it helps companies shape markets instead of competing inside them. Jason brings nearly two decades of experience working with global brands, high-growth startups, and category-defining teams behind Play Bigger. Together, we break down why competing on “better” leads to incremental progress, while designing for “different” creates leverage, belief, and long-term market leadership. This conversation explores the traps of existing markets, the role of leadership conviction in category creation, and what it actually takes to align a company around a new point of view. If you’re building something that doesn’t fit neatly into today’s boxes, this episode will help you rethink how you frame the problem, the market, and your position within it. In this episode, you’ll learn: What category design is and the specific problem it solvesWhy positioning alone keeps companies anchored to existing marketsHow founders unintentionally fall into the existing market trapWhy leadership belief and commitment matter more than tacticsWhen creating a new category makes sense, and when it doesn’tSubscribe to the Growth Department podcast for conversations with founders and operators shaping what comes next. If this episode sharpened your thinking, share it with someone navigating growth and market positioning right now. Connecting with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wellcome/ https://www.playbigger.com/  (lots of resources and their newsletter ^ here) Also mentioned:  What Jason's listening to and reading these days https://libraryofminds.com/ https://www.bg2pod.com/ Monetizing Innovation book Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    34 min
  4. The Best Growth Lessons From 2025, Real Operator Takeaways

    12/24/2025

    The Best Growth Lessons From 2025, Real Operator Takeaways

    We started this podcast in July 2025 with a bold goal:  Hit 50 episodes by the end of the year Why? Ambitious goals can help you figure things out faster. I had to learn how to Do. The. Thing. and not let my fear or shyness get in the way.  The purpose of the podcast is to bring true, trusted, vetted business advice and leadership advice to the world, where more and more ai slop and hype messaging is sending founders in dangerous, costly misdirections. Plus, it is a blast to geek out on topics and meet cool founders and operators from all over the world! What Happened? As I went through these 6 mos, I learned a great deal from all the guests, and I've been able to apply these lessons to the podcast along the way. What Were the Lessons? When we pull all the transcripts from the 49 guest episodes, common themes emerged. We analyzed the number of times words and phrases came up, categorized the "mistakes" and "wins", and put together this short and sweet episode to summarize. 1. Lack of effort isn't getting in your way of growth. Likely lack of scalable systems is likely at the heart of that slowing down or stalling you're feeling. 2. Alignment is crucial for growth. Not only does each role and piece of your business need clear systems, they need to be rowing in the same direction (or towards the same targets) as your other teams and pieces of the business. Misalignment can sneak up on you. If you're just a hair's width off track in a space ship, you may wake up one day in the wrong galaxy.   3. Leadership growth (mindset, skills), is not to be ignored. Get a coach, get a therapist, work on your limiting beliefs. Many leaders we interviewed had "aha!" moments when they realized "oh boy, I AM THE PROBLEM".  What's Next? You can enjoy all of 2025's episodes and articles anytime you'd like. Refer back to all these different topics whenever you feel stuck. In 2026, we are going to do deep dives into specific topics, one per month starting in February. Our first topic is Category Design & Go To Market (defining each, IDing how they overlap/differences, and meeting people who wrote the book on AND are living examples of each of these through their career success) Thank you for continuing to join us here. A like, subscribe, or share helps others find us, and I appreciate it very much. If you have any topics you're interested in or challenges you want us to unpack in 2026, shoot us a note at hello@growthdepartment.com Happy New Year, and see you next time! xo Chelsey Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    16 min
  5. How to Build Consistency After a Layoff When You’re Starting Over

    12/19/2025

    How to Build Consistency After a Layoff When You’re Starting Over

    Consistency is rarely flashy. It's little actions you take again and again (even if boring or hard), and finally... momentum clicks.  In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down again with Dee Henry, founder of The Sales Loft and creator of Boundaries, to unpack what actually happened after her layoff story went viral. Dee returns to share how “The Great Lock In” became her personal operating system for growth. From building two businesses at once to landing brand partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Coursera, this conversation is about what happens when you pair courage with structure and let sales math do the heavy lifting. You will hear how Dee turned consistency into a competitive advantage, why community from the internet outpaced expectations from real life, and how Boundaries evolved from a personal need into a startup built to help founders with ADHD protect their time, energy, and revenue. This episode is for founders, operators, and creators who want proof that steady action compounds faster than motivation alone. What you’ll learn in this episode: How “The Great Lock In” created momentum across content, sales, and speakingWhy consistency beats intensity when building a startup and a personal brandHow Dee balanced a consulting business while self-funding a SaaS productThe role community played in accelerating confidence and opportunityHow to turn overwhelm into systems that support growthWhere to find Dee: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidremhenry/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deidreofficial Threads: https://www.threads.com/@deidreofficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deidreofficial/ Thanks for listening! We have one more episode in 2025, and are so happy you chose to come on this journey with us. Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    50 min
  6. Change Management That Drives Adoption and ROI

    12/17/2025

    Change Management That Drives Adoption and ROI

    Successful growth depends on more than new technology or big initiatives. It depends on people.  In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with Scott Sheinbaum, Founder and Senior Managing Partner at Anthros Partners, to unpack what truly drives adoption and ROI during organizational change. Scott brings nearly three decades of consulting experience, having led transformation initiatives at firms like KPMG, IBM, Wipro, and Cognizant. His work spans ERP implementations, digital transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and operating model shifts. Across it all, Scott is known for his servant leadership mindset and pragmatic, business-first approach to change. In this conversation, Scott explains why most transformation efforts stall, how leaders can reduce change fatigue, and what it takes to get teams bought in from day one. He also shares why change management should be part of every organization’s operating rhythm, not something brought in after problems appear. If you’re planning a major system rollout, introducing AI, or navigating multiple initiatives at once, this episode will help you lead change that actually sticks. What you’ll learn in this episode Why people, not technology, determine whether change succeedsHow leaders can spot early warning signs of poor adoptionPractical ways to reduce change fatigue and burnoutThe role managers play in building trust and alignmentHow to connect transformation efforts directly to ROI Learn more and connect with Scott here: Anthros Partners Website: https://anthrospartners.com/ Scott's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottsheinbaum/ Subscribe to the Growth Department podcast for conversations that help founders and executives scale with clarity, alignment, and confidence. Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    55 min
  7. How Leaders Get Their Personal Finances in Order to Lead Better

    12/15/2025

    How Leaders Get Their Personal Finances in Order to Lead Better

    Strong leadership does not start in the boardroom. It starts at home, with the personal systems that create clarity, confidence, and calm.  Are you taking care of yourself first? In this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Chelsey Reynolds sits down with financial advisor Jessica Scola, CFP®, to talk about the five personal finance systems every leader needs in place. This conversation is practical, human, and refreshingly shame free.  Jessica brings her experience as a former Big Four CPA and her lived experience through major life transitions to help leaders simplify their financial lives so they can show up stronger for their teams, families, and futures. Rather than focusing only on wealth or retirement, this episode walks through the foundational systems that reduce stress, free up mental bandwidth, and support better decision making at work and at home. What you’ll learn in this episode The five essential financial systems that support clear, confident leadershipWhy estate planning and insurance matter at every income levelHow an emergency fund changes the way leaders make decisionsWhat an annual financial review should actually includeHow removing shame from money conversations creates momentum and calmThis episode is a must listen for anyone who wants their personal finances to support the life and leadership they are building and maybe has been kicking that can down the road long enough. Where you can find Jessica: www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaaikenscola instagram & facebook: @jessicascola jessica@jessicascola.com jessicascola.com Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    30 min
  8. How to Lead Remote Teams at Scale Without Losing Culture

    12/12/2025

    How to Lead Remote Teams at Scale Without Losing Culture

    Get ready to rethink how you lead, hire, and scale for remote businesses.  On this episode of the Growth Department podcast, Dennis “DM” Meador returns to share the mindset and systems that helped him grow the Legal Podcast Network to nearly 60 remote team members in under two years. Dennis is the founder of The Legal Podcast Network and a nationally recognized expert in legal marketing. With more than 25 years of experience helping law firms grow with clarity and credibility, he brings a rare blend of entrepreneurial vision and bold creative strategy. His company helps attorneys build authority-driven podcasts that attract ideal clients and elevate their reputation, and his leadership philosophy reflects the same mix of innovation and simplicity. You will hear how he builds trust across global teams, why delegation starts with knowing your metrics that matter, and how culture becomes the backbone of a high performing service business. If you are a founder aiming to scale without burning out, this conversation will feel like a reset button. What you’ll learn in this episode: • How life flow leadership helps you delegate with confidence • The simple metrics Dennis uses to unblock departments and grow faster • Why culture determines whether your customers stick around • How remote teams can outperform traditional companies • A fresh way to think about failure by replacing it with lessons Follow DM here:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennismeador/ Legal Podcast Network: https://www.thelegalpodcastnetwork.com/ Growth Department slows the conversation down so founders and business leaders can go further, faster. If this episode helped you think differently, follow the show and share it with someone building alongside you.

    39 min
See All (53)

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Growth Department is a business podcast for founders and business leaders who are actively building and want to keep learning as they grow. Each week, host Chelsey Reynolds talks with operators, executives, and entrepreneurs about how real businesses are built and scaled. These conversations focus on the decisions, tradeoffs, and systems that shape growth over time. You’ll hear practical insight on finding customers, building teams, scaling operations, and leading well, alongside honest discussions about how personal growth shows up in professional work. Growth Department slows the conversation down so you can go further, faster.

Information

  • Creator
    Chelsey Reynolds
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Growth Department
  • Show Website
    Growth Department