Growth marketing & technology

Growth marketing is problem solving.

I help businesses decide where to invest in marketing, then lead the work to make that investment pay off.

13+ years across consumer brands, B2B SaaS, and agencies. I’ve built marketing functions from scratch and overseen eight-figure annual paid media programs.

Ryan Connors hiking above the clouds in New Hampshire
Ryan ConnorsManchester, New Hampshire

Selected work

PetSafe Brands · Current role

Where the next marketing dollar goes.

Performance Marketing Manager

A global, multi-brand consumer business.

At PetSafe, I connect budgets, marketing activity, and sales results across brands and product lines. I build reporting around the decisions leadership needs to make, with a consistent view of performance that goes beyond what individual advertising platforms report.

I plan campaigns around customer acquisition cost relative to lifetime value, marketing efficiency ratio (MER), contribution margin, and net profit, with an eye on EBITDA. The aim is straightforward: back what’s working, stop spending on what isn’t, and keep testing for the next opportunity.

I work with Marketing, Sales, and Product to plan, launch, and improve campaigns. Incrementality testing helps separate additional growth from results that would have happened anyway. I use AI to automate repeatable reporting and speed up analysis, then check the data and assumptions before putting recommendations into practice.

“He has a rare ability to move between the details of paid media and the broader business picture. ... I would recommend him without hesitation to any organization looking for a growth leader who combines hands-on expertise with sound judgment and collaborative leadership.”
Ian HoeySenior Global DTC Manager
PetSafe Brands

Decisions · B2B SaaS

Rebuilding paid acquisition.

Performance Marketing Lead

45%
Lower paid social
CPA
384%
Higher YoY
ROAS

Selected paid social results from a defined reporting period. The ROAS improvement is year over year; the work involved Marketing, Sales, and RevOps.

I reorganized campaigns by country and go-to-market motion, refined targeting with intent data, and tested the ads and the experience after the click.

I built a HubSpot pipeline dashboard so Marketing, Sales, and RevOps could work from the same numbers.

“Ryan brought a deep understanding of both brand and demand platforms to Decisions ... always eager to test new creative, explore emerging platforms, and find fresh approaches to challenges.”
Patrick GilloolyFormer CMO, Decisions

Background

gen.video

Building the marketing function.

Marketing Director

I joined as the company’s first full-time marketer. I built demand generation and lifecycle programs, set up attribution and KPI reporting, then hired and managed two marketers.

As the team grew, I stayed involved in campaigns, coached the marketers I managed, and worked with Sales, Product, and leadership to set priorities and make ownership clear.

50%
Year-over-year revenue growthI contributed through the marketing programs and team I built.
“He allowed us to bring new ideas to the table as well as gave a helping hand when things got overwhelming.”
Abigail RayReported to Ryan at gen.video

Agital

Agency leadership

15+ client portfolios.

I led teams of up to five specialists and oversaw more than $1M in monthly media spend. Alongside campaign strategy and testing, I managed senior client relationships.

“His recommendations and team leadership played a key role in helping the company successfully reposition and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.”
LaShawn WallsClient, Miracle Mink Hair

Kore.ai

Product-led growth

Onboarding and product adoption.

I improved onboarding, lifecycle messaging, and activation paths as part of a product-led growth initiative that achieved 2× new-user acquisition.

Full recommendationsClose recommendations

Ian Hoey

Senior Global DTC Manager
PetSafe Brands

“Ryan is one of the strongest cross-functional partners I have worked with at PetSafe Brands. We collaborate closely across DTC, performance marketing, analytics, and growth, and he consistently brings a sharp strategic perspective, strong execution, and a genuine commitment to getting the work right.

He has a rare ability to move between the details of paid media and the broader business picture. Ryan translates complex performance data into clear priorities, practical recommendations, and better investment decisions. He is also highly collaborative and works effectively across teams to keep initiatives moving forward.

Ryan is thoughtful, dependable, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. His partnership has made our work stronger, and I would recommend him without hesitation to any organization looking for a growth leader who combines hands-on expertise with sound judgment and collaborative leadership.”

Patrick Gillooly

Former CMO, Decisions

“Ryan brought a deep understanding of both brand and demand platforms to Decisions, and knows how to blend best practices with practical strategy to drive efficiency.

What stood out about Ryan was his willingness to push beyond the status quo - always eager to test new creative, explore emerging platforms, and find fresh approaches to challenges.

Ryan also fully embraced the shift toward AI-powered marketing. While others viewed it with skepticism, he recognized it as an asset: A tool to accelerate growth, not a threat to replace it.

I'd recommend Ryan to any team looking for a dependable marketing professional with strong platform knowledge and a growth mindset.”

Kevin Flanagan

Former colleague, Decisions

“Ryan is a great paid media strategist because he balances technical skill with a clear, big-picture perspective. He focuses on the goal and has a strong bias for action — he knows that making progress is better than waiting for perfection.

Ryan is also incredibly AI-forward. He's always experimenting with new AI tools to optimize his work and find an edge. This is extremely valuable if you're looking to build an AI-first culture.

Overall, I really appreciated Ryan's contributions and his time at Decisions (and the humor he brought to team meetings!). I definitely recommend him.”

Raksha Koneru

VP of GTM Strategy, Kore.ai

“During my time working with Ryan, he has shown a remarkable ability to develop and execute comprehensive marketing strategies that have significantly contributed to the growth and success of our products. His talent in creating compelling messaging and positioning has not only helped in increasing product awareness but has also effectively influenced our target audience's perception and purchase decisions.

One of Ryan's greatest strengths is his keen market insights. He possesses an innate ability to identify market trends and customer needs, allowing them to tailor marketing campaigns that resonate with our target audience. His analytical mindset and proficiency in data interpretation have been instrumental in optimizing marketing efforts and maximizing returns on investment. Moreover, Ryan is an excellent collaborator and team player. He effortlessly liaises with cross-functional teams, such as sales, design, and product development, fostering a cohesive and cooperative work environment. His exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, make him an influential communicator.

Furthermore, his proactive and results-driven attitude ensures that marketing campaigns are continuously improved based on data-driven insights and customer feedback. This dedication to the pursuit of constant improvement and learning has had a direct impact on the overall success of our marketing initiatives.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with Ryan, and I can confidently say that he is an invaluable asset to any product marketing team. His passion for the industry, creativity, and ability to adapt quickly to market and team dynamics make them a standout performer. Without reservation, I highly recommend Ryan Connors for any product marketing position. His dedication, expertise, attitude, and exceptional work ethic will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and success of any organization he joins.”

Laura Peterson

Former Managing Partner, Agital

“Ryan is the ultimate go-getter and truly a fantastic person to work with! Ryan has a knack for being able to identify areas of digital marketing opportunities that truly align with his client’s goals, and he takes it upon himself to learn all he can about new possibilities. As Ryan’s manager it was exciting to see him take a challenge and turn it into a positive experience. Ryan’s ability to grow portfolios while nurturing a strong client relationship is truly a skill that isn’t easily learned, and is what continued to make him a rising star on our team!”

LaShawn Walls

Client, Miracle Mink Hair

“Ryan is an exceptional team player and highly skilled project manager. He oversaw one of my client accounts and managed every detail with precision and professionalism. His organizational skills, quick thinking, and strong leadership abilities consistently elevated the workflow and kept the team aligned.

What truly sets Ryan apart is his ability to provide strategic, analytical, and directional support while maintaining the internal structure and integrity of a brand. He doesn't just manage projects - he strengthens systems.

His recommendations and team leadership played a key role in helping the company successfully reposition and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.

I highly recommend Ryan for any organization seeking structured leadership, thoughtful strategy, and results-driven execution.”

Abigail Ray

Reported to Ryan at gen.video

“During my time with gen.video, I have had the wonderful opportunity of reporting to Ryan throughout multiple projects, initiatives and marketing campaigns. As soon as I was hired, Ryan was not only very welcoming and helpful during my intro months with the company but he was always such an amazing leader when it came to listening and articulating processes in ways that was easy for his entire team. He allowed us to bring new ideas to the table as well as gave a helping hand when things got overwhelming. His personality and wit was sure to brighten up our company wide connects and always kept us on our toes with his passion and stories of his latest hiking adventure. Ryan would be an asset to any company & I hope our paths will cross again in the future!”

Outside of work.

I live in Manchester, New Hampshire. Away from work, I’m usually hiking, practicing yoga, or out with my camera.

171 peaks and counting
A mountain ridge in New Hampshire, photographed by Ryan Connors

Let’s connect.

If you’re thinking through a question about growth, measurement, or marketing technology, I’d be glad to compare notes. Send me a message or connect on LinkedIn.

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