Delivering Value: Tough Career Moments - Lessons from Growth, Marketing & Product Leaders This VP’s Direct Report Asked: “Am I Getting Fired?” — Her Answer Changed Everything (Shannon Curran)
What happens when you finally land the leadership role you’ve been working toward—only to realize it’s not what you imagined?
In this episode, Shannon Curran—former VP of Marketing at MadKudu and now founder of SSC Consulting—opens up about the real moments that shaped her career. From growing up as a risk-averse high achiever to becoming a solopreneur trusted by founders, Shannon shares the feedback that shook her, the environments that helped her grow, and the human-first leadership lessons she learned the hard way.
We unpack why cultural fit isn’t fluff, how to build trust in hard conversations, and why you don’t need to have all the answers to be a great leader. Whether you're in-house, managing a team, or building something of your own, this conversation offers something real.
In this conversation, you'll learn:
- Why Shannon left higher ed and nonprofit work for tech
- The real story behind inheriting a leadership team without training
- How to navigate feedback that questions your identity
What she learned from a rocky client relationship early in her consulting career
Things to listen for:
(00:00) Intro
(01:25) Business education for the risk-averse
(05:04) Career beginnings in tech
(09:12) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic and Appcues
(11:50) Facing speed bumps and feedback
(20:48) Managing and letting go
(26:49) Sensing trouble and taking action
(27:45) Navigating tough conversations
(30:10) Handling team changes and communication
(31:48) Learning from mistakes and setting expectations
(45:33) The myth of the all-knowing leader
(52:59) What’s next: parental leave, peace, and building enough
This episode is presented by:
- Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value
- Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value
Resources:
- Connect with Shannon:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/
- SSC Consulting: https://shannonscurran.com/
Connect with Andrew:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/
- Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co
- Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching