“I thought layoffs were for underperformers. Then it happened to me.” (Growth PMM, Vimeo) (Don McGray)

In this episode, Don McGray, product marketing leader and Head of Growth PMM at Vimeo (formerly Dropbox and Airtable), shares how to separate identity from performance without dialing down ambition. From being told his launch plan was “C-plus work” to navigating a surprise layoff, Don shares the inner-game shifts that helped him rebuild trust, make cleaner calls, and keep moving in high-stakes environments.

Don gets specific about executive alignment (and the invisible pre-meeting “backchannel”), the moment he realized he was in the wrong role—and said it out loud—and why cultivating distance from work (and toward real hobbies) made him a steadier operator when pressure spiked.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to detach self-worth from outcomes so feedback, layoffs, and big swings don’t break your momentum.
• How to earn executive buy-in before “the meeting” and turn harsh input into an actionable A-grade plan.
• How to diagnose a role misfit early, have the hard conversation, and land where your strengths actually compound.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:10) Don’s early career

(04:37) High stakes and career growth at Dropbox

(09:42) Thank you to our sponsor, Navattic

(13:50) Lessons from Airtable: handling tough feedback

(18:31) Navigating executive expectations

(25:04) Facing imposter syndrome

(25:25) Struggles in a new role

(28:19) The importance of vulnerability

(30:10) Navigating career changes

(38:32) Handling layoffs and job insecurity

(42:58) Balancing work and personal life

A huge thanks to this episode’s sponsor:

Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value

Resources:

Connect with Don:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donmcgray/

Connect with Andrew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/

Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co

Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

Join Growth OS: https://deliveringvalue.co/growth-operating-system