My Career Journey: Maryna Stavnycha, Chief Marketing Officer

Introduction

Maryna, could you share more details about your current role and the key responsibilities you have? 

As the Chief Marketing Officer, I’m managing three incredible verticals: Digital Marketing, Performance Marketing, and Creative. Every day is packed with brainstorming sessions and lots of calls with the team to identify blockers and figure out how we can do things better. Besides that, I am still learning and adapting to the company culture. 

How do you feel about the workload and such a fast-paced environment?

It’s definitely challenging but I’m always up for it. I see how our results align with the company’s goals, and it motivates me to push even harder.

Let’s Reflect

What convinced you to join the company when the role of CMO was suggested to you?

That’s an interesting story to tell. Before I joined SupportYourApp, I was working at another company when someone recommended me to Daria, our CEO and Managing Partner. A few weeks later I found myself in an interview with her, talking about professional growth, the challenges this role would bring, and even a bit about personal life. Daria and I share the same vision, values, and energy, so how could I say no?

That’s true! Do you remember what your Onboarding and first days at the company were like?

I remember reading the policy that said no break should exceed 15 minutes, and I was shocked. Little did I know I wouldn’t even have 15 minutes for a break because of constant back-to-back meetings. After Onboarding, I dived right into learning the departments’ processes, meeting the teams, and developing action plans.

Make a Difference: Career Insights

As the Head of the newly created department, how did you manage this merger? Any lifehacks or interesting insights?

I strongly believe that communication is the key to success. We have a lot of meetings: daily stand-ups, weekly check-ins, 1:1s, and retrospectives. This way, everyone stays aligned on tasks, blockers, and future plans. Retrospective meetings are particularly valuable, as we focus on what went well and what can be improved. On top of that, I’m deeply involved in developing new strategies and initiatives, particularly in the approval process. With my hands-on experience in sales, advertising, referral programs, and email marketing, I can consult and advise effectively to ensure we’re on the right track.

These are so useful! Do you have a phrase that would best describe your approach to work?

My credo is simple: I don’t want to just be one of many, I want to make a difference. 

Wow, that’s inspiring! What would you recommend to a person aspiring to become a Chief Marketing Officer one day?

First and foremost, develop your people management skills, hands-on experience, common sense, and logical thinking. If a leader doesn’t think logically, their teams may end up doing unnecessary extra work. I highly recommend Simon Sinek’s book “Start with Why”, which highlights the importance of understanding the purpose behind your work. Second, don’t be afraid of making mistakes — marketing thrives on experimentation and risk-taking. Finally, maintain a helicopter view to ensure your work aligns with the company’s goals. 

Can you recommend some books or sources that you love about marketing? 

Absolutely! I’m a big fan of marketing books, as they serve as both inspiration and practical resources. Many of them include real-life cases that I can apply in my daily work. Some of my favorites are “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini, “This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See” by Seth Godin, and “The Visual MBA” by Jason Barron.

Outside the Office

Now it’s time for some personal questions. If you could have chosen another profession, what would it be?

I’m not sure I would choose another field, as I’m truly passionate about marketing. It’s such a multifaceted area, consisting of account-based marketing, SEO optimization, email marketing, exhibitions, targeting, and so much more. However, if it weren’t IT, I would probably pursue marketing in the fashion industry. Few people know that I’m a huge fashion fan: I even have an Outfit of the Day highlight on my social media.

Great choice! What about hobbies or passions outside of work?

I believe that mental health is closely connected to physical health. Every day, I do one of my favourite sport activities: functional training, jogging, or tennis. Jogging serves as my meditation, functional training keeps me in shape, and tennis is a fantastic workout which engages both hemispheres of the brain. Additionally, I’m a mother to two kids and have a bunny, a cat, and a dog.

It’s intense! Where do you find time for all of that? 

I plan everything very carefully. I don’t like wasting time on things like watching movies or scrolling social media, I’m all about quality time. Plus, I am a multitasker, so I try to combine activities whenever possible. For example, I will go for a run while listening to an audiobook. This way, I am staying active while learning something new at the same time.

Aaaand the last one... Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself that most people don’t know?

I am not afraid of mistakes and even have a list of my failures to help analyze and learn from them. I am very open and sometimes have difficulties filtering my thoughts and language, which results in “Oh my god, did I really say that?”. Also, I’m a huge buckwheat tea lover, and no one can convince me it tastes like feet.

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