Tired of flashy “growth hacks” that promise a million users in a week with no real substance? So are we. This list highlights 11 respected voices in growth who share tested strategies, insightful frameworks, and lessons grounded in real-world experience. These aren’t just bloggers — they’re practitioners who’ve led growth at top-tier tech companies.
Each recommendation below is backed by standout content that blends storytelling, case studies, and frameworks you can actually use.
1. Aaron Ginn – Growth Product Manager, Everlane
Aaron brings clarity to the role of mindset in growth. His piece How to Hire a Growth Hacker is foundational — especially the reminder that “growth hacking is a mindset, not a toolset.” His post on 8 Practical Tips for Growth is also well worth the read.
2. Andrew Chen – Supply Growth, Uber
Andrew’s writing is deeply analytical yet approachable. Must-reads include The Highest ROI Way to Increase Signups and Growth Hacker is the New VP Marketing. He regularly bridges product, marketing, and user psychology in clear terms.
3. Brian Balfour – Former VP of Growth, HubSpot
Brian’s work is canonical for anyone serious about long-term, scalable growth. Start with Growth is Never Done, Why Focus Wins, and How to Drive Insights for Growth. His frameworks are structured, repeatable, and field-tested.
4. Dan McKinley – Engineer, Stripe
For a more technical perspective on growth, Dan’s writing delivers. His essay Effective Experimentation as a Homo Narrans dives into the cultural and narrative side of A/B testing. Data-Driven Products Now! also stands out for its rigor.
5. Danielle Morrill – Co-Founder & CEO, Mattermark
Danielle combines startup storytelling with growth strategy. Posts like Embracing the Incrementality Mentality and Revenue vs Value give a clear-eyed look at what it takes to scale a startup in real terms.
6. Hiten Shah – Co-Founder, QuickSprout
Hiten’s advice spans both growth and personal development. His post 7 Lessons Learned Growing SaaS Companies is essential reading, as is his productivity-focused 5 Hacks to Increase Your Daily Consumption of Information.
7. Jamie Quint – Co-Founder, Interstate Analytics
Though he publishes infrequently, Jamie’s work is sharp. How to Not Mess Up Your First Marketing Hire and How to Lose Money on Paid Marketing (a must-read on attribution modeling) are standout pieces.
8. Jon Egan – Growth Engineer, Pinterest
Jon brings precision and depth to growth experimentation. Posts like 27 Metrics in Pinterest’s Internal Growth Dashboard and When Features Drive Growth illustrate the connection between product and measurable outcomes.
9. Morgan Brown – COO, Inman News
Morgan’s 5 Phases of the Startup Lifecycle is a modern classic. He also regularly shares case studies on GrowthHackers.com that cover everything from onboarding to activation.
10. Neil Patel – Co-Founder, Crazy Egg & KISSmetrics
Neil’s blog leans more tactical and “how-to” focused, but it’s packed with value. Start with The Definitive Guide to Growth Hacking and explore posts like How to Use Emojis to Increase Conversions for practical tips you can apply today.
11. Sean Ellis – Founder, GrowthHackers.com
Often credited with coining the term “growth hacking,” Sean provides concise frameworks on experimentation and retention. Notable reads include Less Is More, How to Analyze Retargeting, and High Tempo Testing.
Where Are the Women?
It’s worth noting — many of the high-visibility names in growth tend to be men. That’s an imbalance worth calling out. Some notable women featured in Onisko’s list and beyond include:
- Shana Carp
- Joanna Wiebe
- Cat Lee (Pinterest)
- Naomi Pilosof Ionita (Invoice2go)
- Tammy Camp (500 Startups)
- Adelyn Zhou (recommended by Jamie Quint)
If you know more women growth leaders who should be on this list, share them in the comments or get in touch.