Great work happens at the intersection of enthusiasm and conviction.

In this week’s episode of Growth Talks, Mallory Contois, VP of Growth at Maven, joins host Krystina Rubino to discuss her marketing philosophy for building brands and communities that people love.

Drawing on lessons from her time at Pinterest and Mercury, Mallory shares how a customer-first approach fosters genuine connection and lays the foundation for long-term success.

At Maven, Mallory is now focused on championing adult learning, bringing more smart people together to teach and learn from one another. And as Founder of The Old Girls Club, she unpacks why and how she’s built a thriving network where women in tech can connect, grow, and support one another.

🗝️Key Takeaways:

• Deep user empathy is a competitive edge. The best products aren’t built on assumptions; they’re built by teams who truly understand their users.
• Authenticity scales when it’s real. Pinterest’s early growth came from real users sharing what they loved. No incentives, no performance, just authentic enthusiasm.
• You can’t buy community. Real community-led growth starts with showing up, listening, and earning trust—not with events, swag, or splashy budgets.

• The best work happens at the intersection of belief and passion. When you have both conviction that something will work and personal enthusiasm for it, you’re in the sweet spot.
• Learning is the new currency. Great leaders don’t just hire talent; they cultivate it. Teams that prioritize upskilling outperform when the market shifts.
• Experience is the best teacher. Setbacks aren’t failures, they’re feedback. The best marketers use them to adapt fast and make better decisions.

⏰  Timestamps

01:56 Lessons from Pinterest’s Early Growth

05:20 How Social Platforms Shape User Behavior

10:05 Leveraging Data for Smarter Marketing

12:12 Scaling Community on a Startup Budget at Mercury

17:02 Maven and the Future of Upskilling

20:06 Balancing Enthusiasm and Conviction in Work

32:24 How Old Girls Club Helps Women Thrive

46:23 Favorite Growth Marketing Non Hack

🔗  Mentioned in this episode:

• Maven: https://maven.com/
• Mercury: https://mercury.com/
• The Old Girls Club: https://www.jointheogc.com/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
• Cameo: https://www.cameo.com/

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