First Impression

First Impression

Home
Marketing Leadership
Positioning
PMF
Brand
Work with me
Archive
About
Most Popular
View all
What if the problem you are solving is not that urgent?
How to position, brand, and market a product that is solving a significant but not urgent problem.
 • Hema Padhu
How do you know your startup is ready for marketing leadership?
Signals to look for, DIY or search firm, common mistakes founders make.
 • Hema Padhu
Power of a differentiated narrative
How to write your brand narrative + best-in-class examples.
 • Hema Padhu
How to find that perfect first marketer for your startup
Role scoping, success criteria, ICP, and more.
 • Hema Padhu
Stop! Don't hire a VP of Marketing
If you are an early-stage startup + Who to hire instead
 • Hema Padhu
How to get started as an interim CMO - Part III
The good, bad, and ugly of doing interim and fractional work
 • Hema Padhu
How to choose an interim CMO - Part II
Advice for screening, selecting, and hiring an interim marketing leader
 • Hema Padhu
To interim CMO or not? — Part I
When you should opt for an interim CMO, and when you should not.
 • Hema Padhu
Five avoidable growth mistakes founders miss
Answer these simple questions first before spending $$ on growth.
 • Hema Padhu
First Impression
First Impression
Hema Padhu writes First Impression — a newsletter for startup founders and marketers. She covers positioning, brand, GTM, and leadership.
Recommendations
View all 12
Positioning with April Dunford
Positioning with April Dunford
April Dunford
Around the Bonfire — Brand, marketing, creativity
Around the Bonfire — Brand, marketing, creativity
Bonfire
Wes Kao's Newsletter
Wes Kao's Newsletter
Wes Kao
Davis Treybig
Davis Treybig
Davis Treybig
Nascent 🪺
Nascent 🪺
Mike Vladimer
1
About
Archives

First Impression

AboutArchiveRecommendationsSitemap
© 2026 Hema Padhu · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture