Mark V. Smetanin

Unlock Success for Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Business. Recently by Improving the Product - Increased Engagement by 42% , conversion rate by 74%, and acquired 2.5M new users.

I am a fan of technology and business process reengineering to drive business growth. My expertise lies in product management, agile coaching, portfolio management, and strategic planning.I have experience in increasing user engagement, optimizing technical processes, and leading high-performance teams.

Payments and fintech product leader with 15+ years across digital product development, operations, and
customer experience (10+ years owning payment and checkout platforms). Known for combining strategic UX
with process reengineering to deliver secure, compliant, high-conversion payment experiences and measurable
growth.
Selected Results:
• Reduced failed transactions 28% and improved checkout reliability via gateway optimization and UX fixes.
• Increased retention 58% and reduced marketing costs ~40% through funnel and lifecycle redesign.
• Reduced chargebacks 37% and implemented fraud controls that reduced fraudulent activity ~40%.
• Led $10M+ partner funds operations; improved controls, reporting, and reconciliation visibility

Key Highlights:

Director of Product Management: Enhanced user engagement by 16% and improved product value description by 14% through strategic market research and collaboration.

Senior Product Portfolio Manager: Managed a $1.2M project, leading to an $8M revenue projection and a 17% increase in Net Promoter Score. 
Risk assessment methods were applied, which reduced project disruptions by 24%.

Head of Product Strategy: Increased customer engagement by 42%, improved conversion rates by 74%, and acquired 2.5M new users—reduced marketing expenses by 28% by addressing critical pain points.

Skills and Expertise:

Product Management/Product Owner: Agile Frameworks, Scrum, Kanban, SAFe
Technical Proficiency: Jira, Asana, Hubspot, Salesforce
Industry Expertise: Fintech, E-commerce, Property Management, Vacation Rentals
Certifications: PMI-ACP, PMI-PMP, CSM, CSPO

Professional Experience:

Nine years in product management, agile transformation, and strategic planning
I have experience in leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance products.
Skilled in negotiating and managing key partnerships and stakeholders

Interests:

The God's Flow State, Process re-engineering, Growth,  Coffee, Stand-up comedy, Kite surfing, Skiing, Music, martial arts (2 black belts), Reading, Ski, Shooting, Snowboarding, and Hiking.

Lead Product Manager / Product Owner / Consultant

•     Improved a Product using a customer journey map, understanding and prioritizing the most critical pain points in the most profitable segment. Provided clear concept and design strategy. Collaborated with Dev and UX teams. Increased customer engagement by 226%, Improved conversion rate by 74%, and acquired 2.5M, new users.

•     Planned and facilitated an extraordinary spike for (AI) Artificial Intelligence tools and prompts. Fixed and resolved seven major issues when team members just felt stuck. 

•     Raised team confidence after the last check-in. Positive emotions and gratitude are on our happiness radar. The current sprint is 100% happiness VS 78% at the previous sprint. 

•     Organized the most efficient communication with stakeholders and implemented advanced product backlog refinement, reducing the backlog by 16%.

•    Stepped forward with special coaching from our Unique Coach and very advanced Scum Master. Differentiated workflow steps, business rule variations, variations in data, and interface variations, polished and deepened INVEST criteria. Dramatically improved the slicing of our vertical stories. Delivered value ~20% faster with the smallest increments to our customers. 

•   Implemented automated test script, additional smoke test after the build is released to QA, and code review by peers. Armed new Definition of Done (DOD) for our dev team. Changed Sprint Planning Agenda. Raised team confidence level in delivering the sprint goals to 94%. 

•    Implemented automated test script and code review by peers. Armed new Definition of Done (DOD) for our dev team. 

•     Collected the data via Web-tracking and customer interviews,  tested and validated assumptions with the development team. Provided much precise anatomy of personas. Redesigned current marketing campaign reducing waist by 28%

Spikes:
Sustainable and environmentally conscious business practices
Enterprise Agile: Changing your culture

Home of #AskMikeG

What is #AskMikeG? 
As a seasoned consultant, I specialize in empowering small business owners to navigate financial challenges, drive growth, and achieve predictable success. With a focus on practical, actionable solutions, I help business leaders improve cash flow management, enhance profitability, and elevate communication for long-term stability.

 I assist businesses by:

+ Identifying gaps in financial practices and building a clear roadmap to stability.
+ Establishing robust tracking and forecasting tools for informed decision-making.
+ Implementing strategies to elevate communication to all stakeholders.

I provide one-on-one, group coaching and consulting.  I have spent 25+ years creating, starting, marketing, failing, and succeeding in B2B and B2C environments. I will happily share with you or your team what I have learned so you don't make the same mistakes I did.

Author, Coach, Consultant, Good Human - Cash Flow is the Success Metric.

Whose Story Is It?

The podcast was created for curious business owners who learn from other business owners’ experiences (mistakes). You will learn from other business owners who have succeeded but not without their own mistakes. But the twist is you will learn about “who” they are as much as what they did. And you will learn all of this without knowing their name. Guest identities will be unveiled after each story in the last few minutes of the podcast. To subscribe go here https://www.michaelgrabham.com/whose-story-is-it-podcast-learn-from-business-owners-stories/

Podcast Host

Hatchet Ventures 🪓

“Hatchet Ventures is defining a new VC model that fits with the needs of today’s founders. With our Co-Op model, Hatchet Ventures surrounds your company with 40+ executives, advisors, and like-minded founders who openly share insights; connections; best practices; and solutions, forming the optimal sounding board for bouncing ideas. Hatchet simplifies access to the knowledge of those who have walked the startup path, and provides attainable support to hatch your venture!”

Advisor

Survive the Streets

My wife and I started this nonprofit to help the homeless. We had originally created an organization that helps hundreds of homeless each year on Thanksgiving day. Go to survivethestreets.org if you would like to get involved with our 501(c)(3) nonprofit..

Director

Orbit Health 

Orbit was started with a simple vision of saving lives in sub-Saharan Africa, by applying technology in healthcare.
Considering the overburdened and clogged up healthcare services in Africa, we wanted to help hospitals and clinics increase their capacity and capability so that they will increase the number of patients by a minimum 10-15 additional patients per day. In this approach,  and if only one fourth of the healthcare facilities are participating in Ethiopia alone, there will be an opportunity for over 10,000 new patients that will be able to see a doctor in a day.

The Door Gym

Help your loved ones maintain their independence with the gift of fitness.
Many of the problems facing our rapidly growing senior population are due to preventable muscle atrophy. This is why we created The Door Gym, a patent pending technology that allows for a new level of safety and security when anchoring resistance bands and straps to your door. Our app and cell phone holder economically deliver over seventy guided exercises that can be tailored to any fitness level.

Customise To Your Style With Samshek

Samshék embraces the fashion popularism that inspires and creates trends that appeal to the modern consumer. Samshék recognizes that not all customers fit the mainstream retail clothing offerings, but rather seek the clothing that better suits their body size and shape, mood, character, style, and temperament. With Samshék’s clothing customization option and timely delivery, the customer's wonderful lifestyle and fashion desires can now become a reality.

samaritan

Samaritan is a mobile IoT startup that enables cashless, effective giving the moment a citygoer sees someone in need on the streets. This is changing the way people can give to people on the streets by knowing that the money is goes to help the person get basic needs met.

Compassion 4 Paws

We are a mobile veterinary practice that specializes in comfort care and end-of-life care for pets. Out of the drive to start her own practice combined with her passion for end-of-life care, Dr. Sara Hopkins founded Compassion 4 Paws in late 2012. Since then, her devoted team of veterinarians and care coordinators continue to offer you and your beloved companion the support and care you need during this difficult time of navigating your pet’s end-of-life journey.

Head of Strategy

Startup Grind

Awarded Chapter Director of the Year 2015.
Startup Grind is the largest independent startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting more than 1,500,000 entrepreneurs in over 600 chapters. We nurture startup ecosystems in 125 countries through events, media, and partnerships with organizations like Google for Startups. 

The cornerstone of our global community is monthly events featuring successful local founders, innovators, educators, and investors who share lessons learned on the road to building great companies. Founded in Silicon Valley, Startup Grind has helped millions of entrepreneurs build their businesses, connect with strategic partners, and secure funding.

We believe in making friends, not contacts. We believe in giving, not taking. We believe in helping others before helping yourself. We are truly passionate about helping founders, entrepreneurs and startups succeed. We intend to make their startup journey less lonely, more connected and more memorable.

Chapter Director Seattle

Consultant | Author | Helping Founders make better decisions to scale their company.

The Two Pillars of Business Success: CASH  & COMMUNICATION
As a business owner, you know that growth is essential—but sustainable, profitable growth requires more than vision. It demands a disciplined focus on two critical areas: managing cash flow and fostering clear communication.

I specialize in helping business owners like you turn strategic goals into actionable plans by focusing on these key areas:

Optimized Cash: By analyzing and enhancing your profits and monitoring your cash flow, I help ensure your business remains financially strong and agile, giving you the confidence to invest in growth and navigate challenges effectively.

Aligned Communication: Both internally and externally, effective communication is essential to align your team with your goals, foster collaboration, and deliver a unified message to customers and stakeholders.

This is a Real life result... I started working with a small service based business. They had few processes in place and almost no financial insights. Fast forward 2 years and they got an offer to sell. We decided to turn it down and fast foward another 2 years and they got an offer they had to take. The value when I started working with them was around $2.5M and they sold for almost 3X that number. The changes we made were about optimizing profits, managing cash flow and making sure the business could operate without the owners doing ALL the work. 

By nature, I am a curious leader who has experienced success, failure, and everything in between. (6X founder).  I have been lucky enough to sell a few of those and unlucky enough to go through bankruptcy. (not fun)

At age 28, a partner and I bought a struggling magazine for the travel industry. Four years later, after growing revenues by 7X and introducing a disruptive product we sold the company to a larger industry leader. (Winner)

I was also a partner in a services company that grew from $750k to $7M in just 3 years. We grew too fast and made some mistakes. Over the next 2 years, I managed to keep parts of it alive but by 2011 I had to close it down. I went through some very dark times with this venture and I learned a few things. (Cash Flow is King)

My wife and I started a nonprofit, Survive the Streets, 25 years ago, to help people who live in shelters or who are almost living on the streets. This has been extremely rewarding and eye-opening. (Helping Others is good)

Mike Grabham

One of the most powerful parts of CMX Summit is the diversity of practitioners in the room.

Builders from 40+ countries.

Different platforms.

Different maturity levels.

Different challenges.

What makes this valuable?

You see how community operates across:
 • Enterprise vs. startup environments
 • Developer vs. consumer communities
 • Regional regulatory constraints
 • Cultural differences in participation

That cross-pollination is where breakthrough ideas happen.
Global growth requires global perspective.

If you're scaling community beyond one region  this is the room to be in.

I would like to do a shout out Derek Andersen, Lauren Indovina Yurii Lazaruk they have been helping people in the CMX community for years. Thanks for your support.

Helping service business owners maximize take home pay, and sell their company. Coach | Consultant | Good Human

The most valuable conversations aren’t on stage.

They happen in small groups — where practitioners are solving real problems together.

At CMX Summit, peer-led breakout discussions and our Unconference will create space for:

• Platform migration challenges
• Demonstrating ROI to leadership
• AI integration in community workflows
• Scaling globally with limited resources

Instead of passive listening, you participate in active problem-solving with people facing similar challenges.

The agenda evolves around the questions that matter most to attendees.

In an industry without formal training, shared experience becomes your strongest asset.

#CMXSummit
 #CMX
 #CommunityLeadership
 #CommunityStrategy
 #CommunityBuilders
 #CommunityManagers
 #CommunityLed
 #CommunityGrowth
 #ProfessionalCommunities
 #IndustryEvents

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askmikeg

survive-the-streets

the-door-gym

compassion-4-paws

AI for Marketers

Package delivery notification and protection device, system and method 

Helping homeless and others in need by providing a website where donors can see who they can help and what they can help with before they give any money. Donors can provide for the less fortunate in a crowd-sourcing format. 

Survive The Streets - Charitable Organization

Helping business owners understand, manage and grow Cash Flow. Coach | Consultant | Good Human

The Two Pillars of Business Success: CASH FLOW & COMMUNICATION
As a business owner, you know that growth is essential—but sustainable, profitable growth requires more than vision. It demands a disciplined focus on two critical areas: managing cash flow and fostering clear communication.

I specialize in helping business owners like you turn strategic goals into actionable plans by focusing on these key areas:

Optimized Cash Flow: By analyzing and enhancing your cash flow, I help ensure your business remains financially strong and agile, giving you the confidence to invest in growth and navigate challenges effectively.

Aligned Communication: Both internally and externally, effective communication is essential to align your team with your goals, foster collaboration, and deliver a unified message to customers and stakeholders.

My approach is hands-on, practical, and results-oriented. Whether you're streamlining operations, boosting profitability, or planning for the sale of your company, I provide the tools, strategies, and support needed to achieve real, measurable outcomes.

If you're ready to turn challenges into opportunities and build a business that's both profitable and resilient, let’s work together to make it happen.

By nature, I am a curious leader who has experienced success, failure, and everything in between. (6X founder).  I have been lucky enough to sell a few of those and go through bankruptcy. (not fun!)

At age 28, a partner and I bought a struggling magazine for the travel industry. Four years later, after growing revenues by 7X and introducing a disruptive product we sold the company to a larger industry leader. (Winner)

In 2004, before the smartphone...with a team of smart engineers, we launched a software company that gave real estate agents access to maps, pictures, MLS info on their phones. We were the first in both Canada and the US to do this on a single wireless device.  (Started too soon)

I was also a partner in a services company that grew from $750k to $7M in just 3 years. We grew too fast and made some mistakes. Over the next 2 years, I managed to keep parts of it alive but by 2011 I had to close it down. I went through some very dark times with this venture and I learned a few things. (Cash Flow is King)

My wife and I started a nonprofit, Survive the Streets, 24 years ago, to help people who live in shelters or who are almost living on the streets. This has been extremely rewarding and eye-opening. (Helping Others is good)

Jim Dever from Evening Magazine spends time with Mike Grabham to get inspired about starting a new company. For more info go to https://youtu.be/WT3zwbuT6bg

How to Launch a New Idea with Mike Grabham

I have interviewed 200+ CEO’s worth billions, Venture Capitalists managing billions, Angel Investors betting on billions and Thought Leaders talking about billions. To see them all go to https://www.michaelgrabham.com/startup-grind-interviews/

NW Top CEO's Interviews

King 5's Evening Magazine talks with Startup Expert Mike Grabham about how to grow your business and the risks of starting a marketplace business. To see the highlights https://youtu.be/WT3zwbuT6bg

King 5 TV: How to Grow with Mike Grabham

A Monthly TV show on KOMO 4 about Startups in Seattle. Hosted by Mike Grabham who shares insights and first-hand experiences from some of the top entrepreneurs in the NW. To view an episode go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5bB4oTAc0

Start IT Seattle | Episode 3

JAY B.

For years, community teams were measured by likes, comments, and login activity.

Today? The conversation has shifted.

Community is now viewed as a business driver  connected to product, sales, retention, and customer lifecycle impact.

At CMX Summit 2026, the focus moves beyond surface-level engagement into how community data connects to business systems — CRM alignment, attribution modeling, and measurable ROI.
If you're transitioning from “community moderator” to strategic operator, this is where the conversation is happening.

👉 Connect with peers.
 👉 Learn how teams are tying community directly to business outcomes.
 👉 See what’s working across organizations worldwide.

Explore tickets & details: cmxhub.com/summit 

CMX
Alex Hilleary
JAY B.

Designing Community @ Superpath | Co-Founder @ Gather (acqd) | YC & VFA Alum

👋 Human-Led LinkedIn Growth | 🤝 Conversations → Connections → Clients | Helping You Grow on LinkedIn with Ease 🌟

Belonging + Business Impact.

Community isn’t just about creating connection.

It’s about designing connection that drives retention, loyalty, and measurable growth.

At CMX Summit 2026, the conversation explores:

• Human-centered design in digital spaces
• Turning members into advocates
• Building inclusion into community governance
• Connecting participation data to business metrics

The key shift?

Belonging becomes intentional, and measurable.

When community strategy aligns with business goals, it stops being a “nice to have” and becomes infrastructure.

#CommunityLedGrowth
#BusinessStrategy
#CustomerRetention
#GrowthMetrics
#ROI
#BusinessInfrastructure

taplio

The Battle

Mark V. Smetanin

Mike Grabham

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMike Grabham's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Mark V. Smetanin

Mike Grabham

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Mike Grabham's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMike Grabham's LinkedIn Performance