My Career Journey: Roman Bednarchyk, Chief Growth Officer

Introduction

Q: Roman, could you tell us what your day-to-day looks like as Chief Growth Officer? What are your core responsibilities?

My core focus is closing clients and mentoring the Business Growth department, which includes four verticals. There’s the Business Growth vertical: everything from negotiations to finalizing agreements. Then Business Growth Operations, where we handle systems, processes, automation, and analytics. The Enablement vertical, a hybrid team that partially includes the Director of Learning and our Operations team, that focuses on training of new team members and performance management. And the SDR vertical manages lead distribution and outreach. 

On top of that, I’m involved in strategic planning, analysis, and the broader responsibilities every Head of department has.

Q: What truly excites you about being in this role?

My favorite part is definitely the opportunity to engage with diverse businesses. Such interactions provide a constant stream of insights into business models and growth strategies. Just imagine that one day you can speak to an aerospace company and another day you get in touch with a large bank. Such perspective is valuable because it sharpens my ability to adapt, innovate, and create diverse solutions. On a strategic level, the role gives me space to think big, move fast, connect dots across markets and lead teams towards measurable results.

Let’s Reflect

Q: It’s always interesting to hear success stories. Could you share your journey with  SupportYourApp?

Back in 2018, I joined the company through the referral program as a remote Customer Support Consultant. After 8-9 months of work as a CS, I noticed an internal vacancy posting for Service Delivery Manager and Business Development Manager. The latter really sparked my interest, so I applied and went through several interviews before having the offer. 

Q: You mentioned seeing openings for both Service Delivery and Business Development. What specifically attracted you to the BD path?

I already had experience in Project Management, so I was looking to try something completely different. Back in the day, our CEO and Managing partner, Daria, was leading the department and I learned a lot from her. With hindsight, the training was intense; but it was worth every minute of it. Honestly, I feel that my learning never stops. Every day brings something new and exciting to absorb.

Q: And once you stepped into Business Development, what made you stay all these 7 years?

In the beginning, it was the drive to close clients. Then came the ambition to close bigger ones. Later, it became about leading a team, and eventually, stepping back from closing clients myself so I could train others to do it. If there’s a red thread in all of this, it’s the pursuit of challenge and constantly stepping out of my comfort zone. SupportYourApp creates space for all of that. 

Finding Balance: Career Insights

Q: In the fast-paced world of IT and Business Growth, perfectionism can be both a blessing and a curse. What’s your take on it?

Seeking perfection is great, but not always practical. In business, timing matters just as much as quality. Sometimes it’s better to get something done and adapt it later, rather than spend too much time making it perfect and risk it becoming irrelevant. It’s all about finding balance. Start with a small idea, test it, see if it works for us, then fine-tune and grow from there. That flexibility is key in such a dynamic environment. 

Q: Apart from finding that balance between perfectionism and “better done than perfect”, what skills do you think are key for someone in Business Growth?

I’d name three: stress resistance, discipline, and emotional intelligence. And they’re all interwoven. For example, you might easily connect with a lead but if you lack the discipline to follow up regularly, they’ll simply forget about you. I once sent around 270 emails over the course of 3 years to close a single client. That’s the level of discipline it takes.

Emotional intelligence is also crucial. You need to ask the right questions, sense the mood, and use a human approach. 

And it’s not just about understanding others, you also need to sense yourself. Business Growth takes serious commitment and mental resource, so knowing when it’s time to pause and recharge is crucial to prevent burnout.

Q: Thank you for insights! You’ve worked with clients from all over the world, how do cultural differences influence your business approach?

There are definitely differences, but simply knowing they exist doesn’t bring much value. What really matters is how you adapt your communication so that any client, regardless of background, feels comfortable with you. For instance, it’s not enough to know that some cultures appreciate small talk, you need to genuinely engage with that style and make it part of your approach. 

Q: There’s a common belief that Business Growth is a world for extroverts. Do you think introverts can succeed in this field?

Absolutely. It’s not really about being introverted or extroverted, it’s about your skills, mindset, and willingness to grow. I read a book some time ago, “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain, and it really stuck with me. It talks about how introverts often have this calm focus, great listening skills, and the ability to build deep connections — things that are incredibly valuable in Business Growth.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you face in the field of Business Growth?

One of the biggest challenges is setting up the right priorities. In a world that’s constantly changing, whether it’s due to COVID, AI, or urgent tasks, figuring out how to position ourselves in a way that’s attractive to clients can be tough. It’s about being one step ahead and continuously experimenting with new ideas. 

Another challenge is finding simple solutions that can have a big impact. For instance, moving the entire company to AI is a massive task that requires a lot of resources and time, but for me, it’s crucial to identify small AI solutions we can implement quickly, even in just a few days, to kickstart the journey toward AI.

Outside the Office

Q: Now it’s time for a round of personal questions. If you weren’t in this profession, what career would you have pursued and why?

If I weren’t in this profession, I would probably be doing something in science, where I can experiment, test, and validate. The methods and approaches are very similar to business, which makes it so fascinating to me. I’m not sure which scientific field exactly but definitely something in the realm of hard sciences. It’s all about curiosity, and that’s what drives me in both science and business.

Q: You’ve mentioned before how important it is to recognize when to take a break. How do you personally manage stress in such a high-pressure role?

Intensive sports like high-intensity interval training really help me reset. Also, travelling with my family is another way I recharge. And to think of more… I also find that doing something physical and hands-on, like playing with Lego or working on small physical tasks, helps me relax and focus. 

Q: To wrap things up on a fun note, is there an interesting fact about yourself that might surprise most people?

Absolutely! I’ve got around 50 pages of sketches and essays I’ve developed over the years. Whenever inspiration hits me, I jot down funny or ironic situations I’ve encountered. Who knows, it might be a potential material for some TV show or a movie!

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