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Off the record. On your side.

On-demand CMO leadership for CEOs who need a real answer, and marketers who need a real advocate.

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I Get It

Modern minimal table

GTM Advisory for founders, executives, and investors

Investments. You raised a round and you're ready to scale up. But you're not a marketer. You need help deciding where to invest.

Alignment. There's a rift between Sales & Marketing. You need them working together to have a chance at winning together.

Turnaround. The plays that worked stopped working. Your internal team is too close to it to unravel the puzzle.

Standards. You're a PE or VC with a portfolio full of marketing teams. You need to bring their talent, tools, and strategy up to spec.

Fractional Management. You're an early-stage founder, and your marketing team needs more attention than you can give.

Career Coaching for marketers on the rise

Advancement. You want the next level. You need a path to build skills, show value, and crush the interview.

Relationships. Your manager or stakeholder is never satisfied, no matter what you do. You need to turn an adversary into an ally.

Imposter Syndrome. It's your first management or executive role, and you have 90 days to prove you belong there.

Presence. You're an introvert seeing the loud people get recognized. You have to get into the conversation without becoming a fake.

Job Offers. A new opportunity is on the table. You need to sort through the responsibilities, title, comp – and whether to ask for more.

The Small Table

"We have a great team of VPs, but you're my first C-level hire. You'll be invited to the small table with just me and my co-founder, where the hardest conversations about the business happen."

— one of my CEOs

Small Table Advisory

It's those closed-door sessions where the real decisions are made. Small Table Advisory is your closed-door session – Someone who confronts the real issues with you, from a place of experience and empathy.

Aaron Ballew

Your Advisor

I'm Aaron Ballew, electrical engineering PhD and 2x CMO. I was VP of demand gen during a software IPO and CMO through an exit. I've worked for small startups, PE portcos, and multi-billion dollar public companies.

I help people make confident decisions for their business and for themselves. We'll figure it out together. Confidential and real.

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How It Works

GTM Advisory

GTM Advisory

CMO-level insight without the full-time commitment. Someone to shape the strategy, lead the team, figure out what's working, or just to tell you what nobody will say out loud in the weekly staff call.

  • For founders, executives, and investors
  • Remote or onsite (travel reimbursed)
  • $300/hr, invoiced monthly with detailed log
  • Retainers available starting at $4000/mo
  • SOW prior to kickoff
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Career Coaching

Someone on your side, completely confidential, who's hired/fired/promoted, lived through the politics, and helped people just like you reach their first Director, VP, and CMO role.

  • For senior ICs through first-time VPs
  • Remote via video call
  • Free 30-minute intro consultation
  • $90 / 30-min session, 3-session bundle $225
  • $175 / 60-min session, 3-session bundle $400
  • Credit card / app payments accepted
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Career Coaching

Let's Talk

Pick a time that works for you.

No pitch. No charge. Let's talk about what you're trying to accomplish and how I can help you.

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Just have a question?

FAQs

No. But many employers reimburse career coaching under their wellness or professional development benefit. It's worth checking with your HR team.
Every engagement has a defined end date. We're working together to accomplish something concrete. We only continue if you believe there's more to be done together. No awkward "Are we still doing this?" conversation.
Small Table Advisory serves clients everywhere. Sessions are remote by default — it's a convenience, not a policy. For GTM Advisory, on-site visits can be supported when needed. If you happen to be in the Denver, CO area, we can meet in person.
All engagements are covered under NDA. What we discuss stays between us. I will not reveal that you are a client.
Not exclusively, although that's the natural starting point. GTM Advisory often involves working directly with the whole marketing team, not just executives. Career Coaching is a great fit for marketers because of my background as a CMO. If you're a seller, a product manager, or an engineer, reach out. We might be a fit for each other.