Team spotlight: Jacopo, curious, fun, humble
Interview published November 2026. Roles and experiences below reflect that time.
The profile graphic summarizes Jacopo’s answers; its highlighted wording is a paraphrase.
Meet Jacopo, Senior Mobile Marketing Manager on the Growth team at RocketShip HQ. He joined in October 2026 and brings over a decade of experience in apps and games, focused on monetization and product.
He led ad monetization for Subway Surfers at SYBO Games, where he started on his own and grew the team to five people. Earlier, he learned ad monetization at Social Point.
Here is Jacopo in his own words, from his work and career to coffee, surfing and music.
The work at Rocketship HQ
Q1. What are three words that you would use to describe yourself?
Curious, fun, humble
Q2. What drew you to RocketShip HQ originally? How has the company changed since?
Having known Shamanth personally and knowing how passionate he is on UA and respected in the industry
Q3. What do you like about your job?
What I like most is that it keeps me up to date with the latest trends and lets me see how quickly I can have an impact on results. I also get to work in the gaming world, which matters a lot to me as a gamer.
Q4. What has been your proudest moment at RocketShip HQ?
It’s still early to answer, but so far I value the chance to get back into user acquisition and to learn from some of the best people in the industry.
Q5. What is a typical workday like for you?
I start with an overview of the day and then prioritise open tasks. I try to keep operational work and communication calls clearly separated, so each gets the focus it needs.
Career journey
Q6. What was a key inflection/turning point in your career?
The first was learning ad monetization at Social Point. That led me to become a consultant in a part of the industry that was still underdeveloped in 2018. The second was joining SYBO Games. I started alone and grew the team to five people, and I managed monetization for Subway Surfers, one of the most iconic games in history.
Q7. Tell us about a mentor or a person who has inspired or influenced you significantly.
Jacob Kruger, a former colleague who became my manager at Social Point. I have always admired his knowledge, his ability to stay ahead of market changes, and his extensive industry network.
I also admire Naz Amarchi Cuevas, CMO at SYBO, for her masterclasses on leadership, team communication, and how to develop your personal brand inside and outside your company.
Finally, David Byrne, my COO at SYBO, is an example of empathetic leadership. He teaches and listens, works to keep teams balanced, and recognises merit in people.
Q8. What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Believe in yourself and invest in your network. Be clear and kind, but also know when to say no. Treat everyone with the same respect, whether they are a client or a colleague, a junior or a C-level, a large account or a small one. Learn from every person and find common ground, so you can personalise your approach while keeping the same level of respect.
Don’t micromanage. Trust your experts, even when they report to you. Help them grow, set a clear goal, and let them decide how to reach it. Delegating is essential, because no one knows everything about every topic. That is why you need to trust your team, since they are the experts.
Beyond work
Q9. Tell us about your favorite travel & food spots or experiences (feel free to include more than 1).
Japan is my favourite destination so far. I have been twice, and I love the food, the culture and the atmosphere. I also love Formentera, a small island near Ibiza that I visit every year.
When I travel, I like to try food from all over the world. I am a bit biased, though: my favourite cuisine is Italian, followed closely by Japanese. I also appreciate Indian and Middle Eastern food.
Q10. What do you do for fun?
I enjoy swimming with my son, who loves the water. I watch Milan football matches with friends, and I play online PC games with my wife and friends. I compose music with synthesizers, and I am curious about building apps and games with vibe coding. I have published several, and it is a great outlet for my creative side. When I can, I go surfing. I’m not very good at it and don’t go often, but I’m drawn to being in nature. I also love making specialty coffee at home, with good equipment, a good machine and a grinder, and trying new coffees.
Q11. What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?
Returning to Japan and continuing to travel and explore the world is definitely on my bucket list. On a more personal note, I would like to have my own office, a space where I can grow my professional life, especially now that so much work is done from home, and where I can separate home from work. Further down the line, I would like a small house in the mountains, somewhere quiet and close to nature where we can switch off from city life.
Q12. What is a fun fact about yourself that not many people might know?
Don’t tell anyone but as an Italian, I tried pineapple pizza once! (Ok, it wasn’t that bad but still, way worse than any other pizza!)
Connect with Jacopo Guanziroli on LinkedIn
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