---
title: "Your First or Next Marketing Leader: a free 20-minute worksheet"
description: A free two-page worksheet for founders. Find your stage, see what it needs from marketing leadership, and decide between a full-time, fractional, or interim leader.
image: https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/first-or-next-leader-fan.webp
---

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# Your First or Next Marketing Leader

---

**A 20-minute worksheet for founders deciding when to bring in a marketing leader, and what kind.**

What marketing has to deliver changes as a company grows. A leader who's great at building from scratch may not be the one you need to scale, and the reverse is just as true. When a company hires for the title instead of the stage, one person ends up carrying a whole department, and the role turns over fast.

**How it works:** Three short sections. Find the stage you're in, see what that stage needs from marketing leadership, and check whether you're ready for a full-time hire or would get more from a fractional or interim leader first. It's a free download, no form.

Want the bigger picture first? The [Go-to-Market Self-Check](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/go-to-market-self-check) scores your whole go-to-market in about 30 minutes.

![Your First or Next Marketing Leader worksheet, two pages](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/first-or-next-leader-fan.webp)

### Get the Worksheet

Free two-page PDF. Download it now, no form needed.

[Download the Worksheet (PDF)](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/Your-First-or-Next-Marketing-Leader-v1.4.pdf)

Get one practical go-to-market tool like this each month. [Subscribe to Velocity View →](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/velocity-view)

### Want to talk through your scores?

Book 30 minutes and I’ll go through your answers with you: which stage you’re in, and what your next marketing leader should deliver first.

<iframe src="https://calendly.com/justin-justinpanzer/30min?embed_type=Inline&amp;hide_gdpr_banner=1&amp;hide_event_type_details=1&amp;primary_color=1f9d62&amp;utm_source=insights&amp;utm_medium=landing-page&amp;utm_campaign=first-or-next-marketing-leader" title="Book a time with Justin Panzer" width="100%" height="700" style="border:0;min-width:280px;width:100%;" loading="lazy"></iframe>

### The worksheet walks through three things:

**Your stage:** twelve quick statements show whether the founder still sells, you’re building the team that sells, or you’re scaling what works.

![Stage icon](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/leader-icon-stage-white.svg "Stage icon")

**What it needs:** what marketing leadership has to deliver at your stage, what to hold off on, and the kind of leader to look for.

![Checklist icon](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/leader-icon-needs-white.svg "Checklist icon")

**Who leads it:** six questions show whether you’re ready for a full-time hire, should go hybrid, or would get more from a fractional or interim leader first.

![Leader icon](https://insights.justinpanzer.com/hubfs/leader-icon-lead-white.svg "Leader icon")

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