![[Employee Interview] A Conversation with Growth Partner Oishi: What Does a "Growth Partner" Actually Do?](http://storehero.io/cdn/shop/articles/ohishi.png?v=1780594377&width=1200)
[Employee Interview] A Conversation with Growth Partner Oishi: What Does a "Growth Partner" Actually Do?
This is the second installment of our monthly "Growth Team Series." Following last month's interview with our CEO Kurose, we sat down with Oishi-san, who works day-to-day as a "Growth Partner," to hear about her experience firsthand.
We'll take a deep dive into the specifics of her day-to-day work, the unique rewards of this role, and the vision she hopes to realize at StoreHero. If you're interested in e-commerce growth centered around Shopify, be sure to follow along with this series.
From Print Designer to E-Commerce Growth Support — Learning the Business Owner's Perspective and the Satisfaction of Driving Real Results While Supporting Those Who Create
Could you tell us about your background before joining StoreHero, and what led you to join the company?
After graduating from university, I started my career primarily as a print media designer. I handled the design and production management of printed materials, and then transitioned to an established manufacturing company, where I worked as an in-house designer in the PR and production department, creating promotional materials. There, I handled not only print but also web media, including directing work.
In particular, I spent about four years mainly doing direction work, including launching and leading a web design team. As I continued working in design and creative roles, I grew a stronger desire to "be involved in creating things that are more directly tied to the business itself" and to "work in a role closely connected to results and numbers."
It was around that time that a mutual acquaintance introduced me to StoreHero's CEO, Kurose-san, and I found myself resonating deeply with StoreHero's vision and mission. I was drawn to the mission of supporting business growth in the e-commerce space — not just through design, but by being deeply involved in sales and marketing initiatives. That's when I decided to make the leap, wanting to leverage the direction and design skills I had built up over the years to support those who are passionate about creating products and help them grow.
What kind of work did you handle in your first few months after joining, and what did you learn?
For the first few months after joining, my main responsibility was serving as a sub-lead on the merchant growth support work that I now lead myself. After about two to three months, I started being entrusted with primary responsibility on certain accounts as well.
Having previously worked as a designer and director, I wasn't particularly strong with numbers. But at StoreHero, you have to engage directly with figures that are tied to a client's business growth — things like sales numbers and the effectiveness of specific initiatives. Through that, I was able to cultivate the perspective of "what should we do to grow this business?" and I feel my vantage point rose dramatically.
Before joining, I was naturally inclined to think from the production floor's perspective. But after joining, I became able to think from the standpoint of the client as a business owner. I see this as one of the most valuable things I've learned — something I could only gain by working in a role where real results are expected.
How did you go about developing that perspective — the business owner's mindset?
There are internal documents that outline how to approach abstract themes, and those were created primarily by our CEO, Kurose-san. At first, I read through those materials over and over to absorb the knowledge.
For example, they cover how to approach fundamental questions in growth support — like "Does this merchant actually need to run ads?" or "What initiative should we prioritize right now?" — using both numbers and business goals as a framework. By learning that kind of thinking and process, I developed the habit of always questioning, "Is this initiative actually effective?" and verifying as I go.
Growing Revenue Through "Shopify Growth Operations" and Leading the Team — The Role and Rewards of a Growth Partner Who Tackles Challenges Alongside Passionate Clients
What kind of work and responsibilities do you handle currently?
I work in the role of "Growth Partner." Specifically, I support Shopify merchants (e-commerce business operators) in achieving continuous sales growth, while leveraging StoreHero — a system that streamlines growth operations.
Using data accumulated in Shopify, I help implement operational frameworks through our product, while also providing consulting as needed. That said, simply handing over the product isn't always enough — many merchants struggle to make full use of it on their own. So I also suggest the best ways to interpret and use their data, and propose initiatives based on monitoring results.
What distinguishes this role is that it's not purely consulting — it also involves leading the actual operation of the Shopify store, including direction and project management. Rather than simply advising "here's what you should do," actually moving forward with operations together is a major part of the Growth Partner mission, as I see it.
Compared to when you first joined, where do you feel you've grown the most?
The biggest area is definitely my communication skills as a business professional — they've improved tremendously. Through my work at StoreHero, I've had increasing opportunities to advance initiatives alongside clients and drive projects by involving partner companies. As a result, I feel I've developed both the ability to persuade others and gain their buy-in for my ideas and strategies, and the coordination skills needed to mobilize multiple stakeholders.
Another area is my ability to structure information and organize it effectively. Shopify operations tend to be complex, with a wide variety of tasks to tackle. That naturally trained me to categorize information, prioritize, and move forward accordingly. Managing projects with many moving parts requires a clear grasp of the overall picture, and the ability to identify the most effective actions. Having that perspective as a constant has allowed me to produce results more efficiently and reliably than before.
How do you envision your career in two to three years, and what does an effective Growth Partner look like to you?
Our Growth Partner team currently has multiple members, and I serve as the team lead. Going forward, I'd like to continue honing my management skills and help the team grow even larger.
I also believe it's important to develop the ability to lead projects with a business-oriented perspective. The key is whether you can design appropriate growth strategies tailored to each merchant's industry and product characteristics. I think those who combine that breadth of vision with the ability to formulate and execute concrete strategies are the ones who will continue to thrive as Growth Partners.
What do you find most rewarding and exciting about "Shopify growth operations"?
The most exciting part is seeing a client's sales actually grow as a result of an initiative I was involved in — witnessing that outcome firsthand. Beyond that, merchants using Shopify often have unique products or services, so just being involved is refreshing and stimulating.
D2C (direct-to-consumer, or manufacturer-to-consumer) business operators in particular tend to have deep conviction and individuality in their craft — because without that, it's hard to drive sales in their world. Being able to work with people who carry a different kind of passion and perspective than your typical salaried employee is something I find genuinely exciting.
Also, merchants who have chosen Shopify as their platform tend to be highly attuned to global trends and digitally savvy. Getting to meet entrepreneurs who are tackling unique ideas or niche markets is one of the great appeals of this work.
Fueled by PDCA and the Drive to Grow Businesses — Building Real-World Growth Operations Skills Through Learning, Dev Team Collaboration, and Strong Peer Support
In your view, what skills are most important for growth operations?
First and foremost, I think being able to run PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles is essential. Rather than only wanting to handle implementation, or only wanting to focus on planning, the role requires thinking about the entire flow and continuously iterating through trial and error.
Having a strong desire to "grow the business" and "produce results" is also critical. I think people who get excited about the process of chasing numbers and outcomes will genuinely enjoy this work.
Beyond that, maintaining a learning mindset and continually absorbing new knowledge, being comfortable communicating with others, and having the sense of "ownership" to manage the overall project from a bird's-eye view are all indispensable. Growth operations involve coordinating multiple stakeholders and moving parts, so being able to adapt flexibly and maximize results is key. In that sense, enthusiasm — the drive to "try it" and "keep growing" — is the most powerful motivator of all.
How do you build your knowledge and skills in your day-to-day work?
Broadly speaking, I build knowledge and skills through three channels: "internal information sharing," "self-directed catch-up," and "learning from clients."
More specifically, we hold a daily morning stand-up with Growth Partners and support team members where we share progress and issues. At our weekly all-hands and account-sharing sessions with our manager, we bring together learnings and know-how gathered across different accounts. I also frequently research topics that come up during client meetings, and often come away with new knowledge and ideas through that process.
Additionally, I make it a point to regularly review the manuals and documents shared internally to keep my knowledge up to date. I try to aggregate that information and experience and apply it directly to actual initiatives, deepening my learning on a daily basis.
Among StoreHero's learning resources — such as the systematized knowledge base and weekly manager consultations — which systems or structures have been most useful to you?
First, having an internal knowledge base with systematized resources has been enormously helpful. For example, it contains comprehensive information such as past growth design case studies and initiative lists for each client, as well as implementation checklists — all readily accessible whenever needed.
On top of that, during our weekly manager check-ins, we can share challenges and concerns on a per-account basis and work through improvement ideas together. This structure is valuable not only because it provides concrete, actionable advice that's easy to apply in practice, but also because it enables the entire team to grow while continuously updating its collective knowledge.
What benefits and learnings do you gain from working closely with the development team?
The biggest benefit is definitely the ability to streamline operations through the power of technology. For example, when the development team implements a new feature, parts of the workflow that were previously close to manual can be systematized, dramatically reducing the time and effort required.
Also, at StoreHero, we work closely with the development team, so there's an environment where we can immediately share ideas like "It would be great if we had this kind of update to improve operations." The fact that there's plenty of room to exchange ideas and actually carry them through to development and implementation is another appeal.
In that sense, I find it exciting that close collaboration between operations and development makes it easy to constantly pursue new improvements. The process of seeing an improvement idea take shape and watching the product and operations evolve as a result is a huge source of learning.
Is there an episode where support from a senior colleague or manager was especially helpful or where you felt significant growth?
The biggest thing is that I'm given a real degree of autonomy. At StoreHero, managers and senior colleagues take the stance of "up to this point is yours to own — try it however you see fit." Of course, they provide necessary advice and check direction along the way, but how to actually proceed is something I work through myself through trial and error.
That culture of independence means I encounter many decision-making moments in my daily work, and I feel that's directly connected to my growth. The accountability makes the sense of accomplishment when things go well that much greater, and knowing that senior colleagues and managers will support me when things don't go as planned gives me the confidence to take on challenges. As a result, I feel I've grown enormously — not just in skills, but in mindset as well.
Is there anything you consciously focus on when communicating with clients?
First, communicating with energy and enthusiasm — I think that's very important. Beyond that, being intentional about speaking logically makes it easier for clients to come on board and builds trust more naturally.
Being clear about "who does what by when" — defining roles and timelines — is also essential. To keep a project moving smoothly, I find it critical to minimize ambiguity as much as possible and align on goals and tasks from the very beginning.
What is the most important message you want to share with those considering joining StoreHero as a Growth Partner?
In the field of e-commerce growth centered on Shopify, I believe StoreHero has top-tier knowledge and a proven track record. The talent and knowledge base are genuinely robust, making it an attractive environment for learning.
At the same time, it's true that there are still areas that are not yet fully structured. That's precisely why there is enormous opportunity for those who are eager to learn, take initiative, and grow. For people with that kind of forward-looking mindset, this is undoubtedly a place where you can truly take flight.
The Growth Partner role demands the leadership to guide and pull clients forward. I think it's a perfect fit for those who enjoy leading others with their own ideas and actions to drive results — people who, say, naturally gravitated toward being the event organizer or leader even back in their student days.
If you're serious about getting involved in e-commerce growth support, or if you want to bring genuine passion and lead with conviction, come take on the challenge with us at StoreHero (Growth Partner job listing)!
Summary
The "Growth Partner" role is deeply committed to boosting sales and driving business growth for Shopify merchants. Because it's a role where value is measured by results, it's packed with tremendous fulfillment and opportunities for growth. If this resonates with you even a little, we encourage you to reach out to StoreHero. Let's work together to carve out a new future for e-commerce powered by Shopify!
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