The Chief of Staff Podcast

Why This CoS Left Strategy for Clay: A Case Study in Career Pivots

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:53:30 +0000

Most Chiefs of Staff leave for a bigger title or more money. Lissa Sorgenfrei left to open a pottery studio. After eight years at German construction tech startup Capmo, where she moved from customer success to product management to Chief of Staff to go-to-market strategy, Lissa hit a wall. The problem wasn't burnout or bad leadership. It was realizing that the full-spectrum visibility she craved as CoS couldn't exist in any other traditional role. So she ran experiments, reduced to four days a week, and eventually traded spreadsheets for clay.

Host: Tristan Lim, Chief of Staff Network Fellow and Founder at Beyond Founders

Guest: Lissa Sorgenfrei, Founder, Munich Clay Collective (former Chief of Staff at Capmo)

About Lissa Sorgenfrei

Lissa is the daughter of a Japanese mother and German father, raised in Germany with two cultural frameworks shaping how she sees the world. She studied business engineering with a focus on civil construction, originally dreaming of becoming an architect. She joined Capmo as one of the first employees during her studies, staying for eight years across multiple roles including functions in product, GTM and Chief of Staff. Now she runs Munich Clay Collective, a pottery studio in Munich designed around sensory experience and community.

Lessons Learned

The Chief of Staff role is inherently lonely, but not because you're isolated. You have full access to information across the company and behind closed doors, but you can't share most of it. You're trusted by employees and the CEO, but you're also filtering constantly. The only person who knows everything you know is yourself. That isolation is a feature of the role, not a bug.

Losing transparency after being CoS is harder than most people expect. Moving from a role where you knew everything the CEO knew to a narrower function, even one with leadership responsibility, feels like giving up "the sweet taste of nectar." Lissa struggled with this transition more than the actual work itself. If you've been CoS, prepare for that loss when you move on.

Good Chiefs of Staff make people feel seen. Lissa discovered her strength wasn't in process design or strategic planning, but in making employees feel valued and heard. This translated into motivation, retention, and culture sustainability as the company scaled. The interpersonal work isn't soft skills. It's leverage.

Being resourceful is a superpower, but it can also get in your way. Chiefs of Staff learn to solve undefined problems by finding the right people and dissecting challenges quickly. That same instinct can lead to over-optimization in areas where simplicity is better. Sometimes the best solution is just to drive 15 hours straight to Italy.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

The CoS Who Won't Just Say Yes: Marlen Heske on Clarity Before Harmony

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:04:53 +0000

Guest: Marlen Heske, Chief of Staff at Enpal

Episode Overview

At fast-moving companies, the problem is rarely a lack of ideas or urgency. It's that everyone is chasing too many things at once. Marlen Heske, Chief of Staff at Enpal, has made it her job to slow that down just enough to create real clarity. In this episode, she breaks down her "clarity before harmony" philosophy, why saying yes to everything is one of the biggest failure modes in the CoS role, and how she's navigated 2.5 years at one of Germany's most ambitious energy companies.

About Marlen

Marlen studied socioeconomics at the University of Hamburg before discovering the Chief of Staff role during an internship at eBay in Silicon Valley. She moved through a deliberately varied career path including academic research, Greenpeace, an HR consultancy, an early-stage interior startup, and a circular economy venture builder before joining Enpal, where she serves as CoS to the Managing Director responsible for production engineering and supply chain.

Lessons Learned

Slow down before you execute. The first 90 days should be spent understanding the organization, the stakeholders, and the strategic direction before pushing anything forward.
Let go of perfectionism. The 80-20 rule matters. Not everything requires a perfect output, and chasing perfection will cost you more than the 20% you're trying to nail.
Balance patience with persistence. Choose your battles. Sometimes planting a quiet seed and watching it grow is more effective than pushing hard for immediate change.
Build real relationships. The role only works when people trust you enough to give you candid information. That trust is built through genuine human connection, not title or proximity to leadership.

Key Takeaways

The CoS role is one of the most flexible in any organization, shaped by company size, geography, seniority, and the specific gaps in the leadership team around you.
"Clarity before harmony" means making trade-offs visible, doing reality checks, and resisting the pressure to say yes to everything. Your job is not to keep the peace. It's to make sure the right decisions get made.
In Germany, the CoS role is still being adopted cautiously, with many companies using alternative titles. But adoption is accelerating, particularly in Berlin's startup ecosystem.
The CoS is not the decision-maker. The role is to bring transparency and surface trade-offs so that leadership can make better, faster decisions with a full picture.

Managing 5 Clients at Once: A Fractional Chief of Staff's Playbook

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

How do you switch contexts between skincare operations, luxury recruiting, and B2B financial modeling all in the same day?

Zoe Jakubowich joins Chief of Staff Network Fellow, Tristan Lim, to break down the systems behind her fractional Chief of Staff practice, including her time-boxing method for client work, the daily exercise that prevents mental overload, and why she treats context switching like changing school subjects.

You'll learn the three essential skills every Chief of Staff needs (organization, hunger for ambiguity, emotional intelligence) and how to build a network-driven business that compounds value over time without hard selling.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

The VC Chief of Staff: Building in Ambiguity with Stephania Greco

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Stephania Greco takes us inside the Chief of Staff role at Bicycle Capital, a growth-stage VC fund, and reveals how it differs from startup CoS work. Instead of managing product roadmaps and cross-functional teams, VC Chiefs of Staff focus on fundraising strategy, investor relations, and building the firm's operating system with minimal headcount.

Stephania shares tactical lessons from building Bicycle's infrastructure using fractional consultants and AI tools, why she views ambiguity as "a space where value is created," and how her resilience as an immigrant shaped her founder's mindset. Perfect for CoS professionals curious about the VC world or anyone managing lean operations.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

The Integrity Pyramid: What Actually Makes a Great Chief of Staff

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:03:57 +0000

Priyanka Peeramsetty has been a Chief of Staff, a growth operator, a community builder, and is now Engineering Operations Director at Crunchyroll — and she'll tell you the one thing that underpins all of it: integrity.

In this episode, Executive Coach and Chief of Staff Fellow, Tristan Lim, sits down with Priyanka to hear her insights on what actually makes a great Chief of Staff. She breaks it down as a three-level pyramid, shares how she once predicted an attrition wave before anyone else saw it coming, and explains why the CoS role can feel existential if you're not doing it right.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network

From Chief of Staff to Product Manager: Sarah Kislak on Following Your Talent

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:32:20 +0000

Sarah Kislak spent nearly a decade at Box, progressing from an executive assistant in a rotational program to Chief of Staff for a 1,000-person engineering org, and ultimately into product management.

In this episode, Sarah shares what she learned by observing a Chief of Staff before stepping into the role herself, how she ran a team of seven while keeping alignment across recruiting, finance, comms, and strategy, and the hackathon moment that made her realize she wanted to build products.

She unpacks the differences between an operator and a PM mindset, explains why she chose to follow her talent rather than her passion, and offers practical advice for Chiefs of Staff who are PM-curious — including how to run small experiments this week to test the fit.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

Navigating the Intersection of Public and Private Leadership

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:39:39 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it takes to manage the intricate dance of politics and business? Meet Nick Greif, a seasoned leader who has seamlessly maneuvered through both the public and private sectors as a Chief of Staff. We delve into the path charted by Nick, who transitioned from the Chief of Staff for an LA city council member to a pivotal role in the corporate world. Nick's journey is a masterclass in adaptability, strategic coalition building, and transformational leadership.

If you've ever wondered how government offices are surprisingly like startups or how the Chief of Staff role varies across sectors, this is the episode for you.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

Positioning Yourself as a Chief of Staff

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:29:49 +0000

Positioning Yourself as a Chief of Staff

How do you stand out when thousands of people are applying for the same Chief of Staff role? And what if you've never held the title before?

In this episode, Scott Amenta sits down with Chief of Staff Network President, Thomas Guthrie, former GM, Rahul Desai, and Head of Growth, Lauren Werner to break down what it actually takes to land a Chief of Staff role in today's market. The team covers what principals are really looking for (hint: it goes far beyond "someone really smart"), how to position non-CoS experience without stretching the truth, and why the best candidates treat the interview as a two-way evaluation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The five traits that make a standout CoS candidate, and why you need to check every box
How to tie your experience to commercial outcomes, even if you've never carried a revenue number
Why cold outreach to principals beats the resume pile almost every time, and how to do it well
The cover letter exercise that instantly reveals whether a role is the right fit
What questions to ask in the interview to protect yourself from the "tractor beam" of a great founder
How to use the CoS Leveling Framework to make sure you're interviewing at the right level
Whether the Chief of Staff role is even the right next step for you

Ready to go deeper?

Chief of Staff Fundamentals is our self-paced email course covering 15 lessons on everything from building your principal relationship to leveraging AI in the role.

Whether you're exploring the CoS path or in your first 100 days, Fundamentals gives you the playbook to hit the ground running. Enroll in Fundamentals

Chief of Staff Launchpad is our six-week cohort program for current and aspiring chiefs of staff who want hands-on coaching, live sessions with experienced CoS leaders, and a peer network to grow with. If you're serious about accelerating in the role, Launchpad is the next step. Join the next Launchpad cohort.

Chief of Staff Network

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

The Career Accelerant: Lessons from a Chief of Staff Turned COO

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:13:47 +0000

Bryan Silverman joined Suzy (then CrowdTap) as an SDR and never left. Over nearly 11 years, he's moved from enterprise sales to Chief of Staff, to running a business unit, to his current role as COO.

In this episode, Bryan talks with Scott about the leap of faith that brought him into the Chief of Staff role, what it means to be "involved in everything but in charge of nothing," and how establishing operating cadences became one of his most lasting contributions. He shares hard-won lessons on people management, the transition from doing the work yourself to delegating with context, and why driving leverage, not just output, has been the common thread across every role he's held.

Bryan also gets candid about the glass ceiling many Chiefs of Staff face around P&L ownership and people management, and how AI is shifting the balance from execution to problem selection.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at https://www.chiefofstaff.network/.

Tune into Bryan Silverman's discussion with Tom Guthrie on driving AI Transformation on AI for Operators podcast.

From Force Multiplier to Builder: Why We're Taking Connect to 7 Cities in 2026

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:57:50 +0000

Chief of Staff Connect is expanding to seven cities in 2026, our biggest year yet. We're meeting Chiefs of Staff at one of the most critical inflection points in the role.

In this episode, Scott Amenta and Tom Guthrie break down the strategy behind Connect 2026 and why this year's theme — FROM FORCE MULTIPLIER TO BUILDER — defines where the profession is heading.

You'll hear:

Why we're bringing flagship Connect events back to London, San Francisco, and New York and what's different this year
The story behind launching Chief of Staff Connect Forums in four new markets (tune in to find out where!)
What it means to shift from "force multiplier" to "builder" and why that matters for your career
How we designed this year's events to be more practical, hands-on, and regionally relevant
Why tickets (Flagship and Forum) include annual CoS Network PRO+ membership and what that unlocks

The best Chiefs of Staff aren't just amplifying their executives anymore, they're building systems, frameworks, and infrastructure that transform organizations. Connect 2026 is where you learn how to make that shift.

Registration is open now at chiefofstaffconnect.com. Early bird pricing ends soon. Don't wait.

From Boardroom to Therapy Room: What Chiefs of Staff Need to Know About Emotional Support

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:52:14 +0000

Chiefs of Staff often find themselves serving as informal therapists to their principals, but where's the line? Dhyan Valle, spent 2.5+ years as Chief of Staff at MightyHive shares what he got right and wrong when supporting his principal, including through a stressful M&A process.

Now a licensed therapist, Dhyan returns to unpack what he learned about trust, containment, and why the best support sometimes means resisting the urge to fix things quickly.

Looking to find a therapist who also understands the ins and outs of the Chief of Staff role? Learn more about Dhyan's work here: https://www.therapywithdhyan.com/

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network community, events, and programs at https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

The Builder's Mindset: How Chiefs of Staff Create Real Ownership

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:19:12 +0000

Elyse Levine's career has taken her from the FBI's cyber division to Disney Parks to running USC's new capital campus in Washington, DC.

Along the way, she's learned that the Chief of Staff role isn't just about support, it's about finding the projects no one else is raising their hand for. We dig into how she built trust, scaled initiatives, and eventually transitioned from advisor to owner.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Finding Your Inner Compass: How Chiefs of Staff Can Lead with Purpose in the Age of AI

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:51:01 +0000

Chiefs of Staff are often the first to feel organizational misalignment, but rarely have the tools to address it. In this episode, Michaela Zuckova and Carl Miller, co-founders of The Purpose Project, share how AI can become a powerful tool for self-discovery, helping leaders find their "inner compass" before transforming their teams.

We explore why slowing down is the ultimate competitive advantage and how personal alignment creates capacity for high performance.

Discover more about Carl and Michaela's work at https://thepurposeproject.world/

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

The Stunt Double: How Chiefs of Staff Create Impact Through Anticipation

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:02:48 +0000

How do you measure success in a role with no clear KPIs?

Itamar Melamed, Chief of Staff at Empathy, reveals his framework for managing up effectively: tracking decisions made on behalf of his CEO, anticipating needs before they're voiced, and building trust through careful observation of calendar patterns, communication styles, and organizational priorities.

Learn why the best Chiefs of Staff operate as stunt doubles, not gatekeepers.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Strategy vs. Operations: The Chief of Staff's Balancing Act

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:55:55 +0000

Emily Sander, Founder + CEO + Executive Leadership Coach at Next Level Coaching joins us to unpack one of the most fundamental tensions in the Chief of Staff role: when to zoom out for strategy and when to dive into operations.

Drawing from her own experience running both a subsidiary and the Chief of Staff function simultaneously, Emily shares tactical frameworks for lifting yourself out of the weeds, communicating your strategic impact, and knowing when to switch hats—sometimes in the same meeting.

Plus: why the question "who can help me?" might be more important than "how can I do more?"

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Beyond Excel: Building Operating Rhythm from Scratch

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 12:21:52 +0000

"I didn't inherit a broken one. I did inherit a non-existent one."

Jamie Dalton, Chief of Staff at Adobe, joins the podcast with Scott to share her experience building operating rhythm from nothing. When the team moved from finance into IT, they brought Excel tracking, sporadic meetings, and no cross-functional visibility.

Jamie walks through how she created structure without killing flexibility, why she limits meeting attendance despite FOMO, and what makes the Chief of Staff role uniquely positioned to drive horizontal alignment across vertical teams.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Scaling with Structure: How Ben Darfler Brings Strategy to Life at Honeycomb

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:06:05 +0000

As Honeycomb crosses 250 employees, Ben Darfler is focused on one thing: making strategy actionable at scale. In this episode, Ben sits down with Scott Amenta to share how his engineering background shaped his approach to planning, decision-making, and building leadership systems that extend beyond the executive team.

We cover the shift in team dynamics at scale, how to embed strategy through OKRs and rituals, and why lightweight processes often drive the most alignment.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Ena Patel on Taking the Leap from Chief of Staff to President

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 14:29:16 +0000

Ena Patel, Team President at Innovation Baseball Partners, has built her career by stepping into complexity and turning it into momentum. In this episode, she joins Tom Guthrie, President of Chief of Staff Network, to share how she moved from tax law into the sports business, why shifting others’ perception (“not just a lawyer”) became one of her biggest early challenges, and how relationship-building across every business unit became her operating system.

Ena walks through what it takes to be effective as a Chief of Staff in environments that are either being built from scratch or shaped by deep tradition. We also explore Ena’s leap into the #1 seat as President of Innovation Baseball Partners, acquiring and building independent minor league teams with a community-first approach. Her advice to Chiefs of Staff considering a similar step is simple and direct: don’t say no to yourself.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Context Into Action: Systems Thinking as a Chief of Staff

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:43:55 +0000

Jamie White, Chief of Staff, Marketing at Notion, shares her journey from Broadway and consulting to driving clarity and alignment in high-growth tech companies like Slalom, Grammarly and Notion. In this episode, she introduces her “Three Altitudes” framework, an operating model Chiefs of Staff can use to navigate principal alignment, leadership cadence, and cross-functional orchestration.

We discuss the evolving role of the Chief of Staff, how to partner effectively with executives, and how Jamie blends systems thinking, coaching, and AI to accelerate decision-making without losing context.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Explore the Notion AI products Jamie utilizes here: https://www.notion.com/product/ai

Scaling Without Bureaucracy: How Lu Borko Builds High-Trust, High-Growth Teams

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:39:28 +0000

In this episode, we sit down with Lu Borko, Chief of Staff at Manychat, to unpack how fast-growing companies can scale without losing their edge.

Drawing from her experiences at Deliveroo, Intercom, and now Manychat, Lu shares how to build systems that support growth while keeping teams agile and aligned. We talk about the building blocks of operational excellence, the real work behind making an executive team act like a team, and how to lead without authority by connecting the dots others don’t see.

If you’re navigating scale, team complexity, or cross-functional friction this episode is for you.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Hard Things Make Strong Teams: Inside the Mindset of The Tempest Two

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:40:32 +0000

Tommy Caulfield and James Whittle — better known as The Tempest Two — had never rowed a boat in their lives when they set out to cross the Atlantic Ocean. No experience. No support crew. Just a willingness to figure it out.

In this episode, we explore what extreme adventure can teach us about resilience, leadership, and adaptability — especially when facing uncertainty. From surviving a hurricane and a nighttime capsize to building teams and coaching startups, they share how to turn breakdowns into breakthroughs and why the best leaders actively put themselves and their teams just beyond their comfort zones.

We also talk about their upcoming keynote and immersive Experience at the upcoming Chief of Staff Connect EU in London, and why pushing boundaries is the key to real growth.

Learn more about Tommy and James' work at Tempest Experiences.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Finding Your Anchor: Boundaries, Burnout, and Resilience with Tristan Lim

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:05:26 +0000

Tristan Lim went from scaling a high-growth startup as Chief of Staff at Commsor to coaching founders and operators on how to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. In this episode, he joins Scott to explore the inner work that too often gets overlooked in fast-moving organizations—setting meaningful boundaries, avoiding burnout, and staying grounded through change.

Tristan shares powerful lessons on self-awareness, emotional resilience, and the importance of having a clear personal anchor in the chaos of startup life. You’ll walk away with practical tools for reflecting on your motivations, building your support system, and creating space for both yourself and your team to thrive—especially when things get hard.

Learn more about Tristan's work: https://www.beyondfounders.com/

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Storytelling That Sticks: Andrea Mayendia on Driving Change at Dow Jones

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:00:01 +0000

In this episode, Dow Jones Chief of Staff to the CTO/CPO, Andrea Mayendia, joins Scott to explore how storytelling can drive clarity and confidence during large-scale transformation. Drawing from her 20+ year career in product, strategy, and operations at S&P Global and Dow Jones, Andrea shares how clarity, transparency, and a few well-told stories can unite teams across silos.

It’s a masterclass in how Chiefs of Staff can lead transformation through communication, not control.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: chiefofstaff.network/pro-membership

Building the CEO Operating System: Lessons on Scale, Conflict, and the People Side of Growth w/ Dora Nagy

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:31:06 +0000

Former SoftBank Chief of Staff to the COO, Dora Nagy, joins Scott Amenta to unpack the real operating system behind scaling leaders and organizations. From her early career at Google to helping launch SoftBank’s $100B Vision Fund, Dora shares what she’s learned about translating strategy into execution, building accountability into leadership rhythms, and managing the human dynamics that make or break scale.

She introduces her “CEO Operating System” framework and explores the Drama Triangle, a powerful model for transforming conflict into alignment—a preview of her upcoming workshop at Chief of Staff Connect London.

Links Mentioned:

The Concise Laws of Human Nature

The 48 Laws of Power

Dora Nagy's CEO Operating System

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

The Revenue-Minded CoS

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:45:49 +0000

Operator and fractional Chief of Staff Lauren Werner (ex-Slate, Vox) shares how she translates market signals into systems that drive growth. We cover her transition to fractional Chief of Staff, landing her first clients, defining high-impact scopes (GTM, RevOps, cross-functional alignment), and practical ways Chiefs of Staff can quantify their value and tie work to the P&L.

Plus we discuss how her media background has informed community growth and belonging at the Chief of Staff Network.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Building Smarter Finance Teams: Tax, AI, and the Startup Chief of Staff with Andrew Rea

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:45:08 +0000

In this episode, Tom Guthrie, President of Chief of Staff Network, sits down with Andrew Rea, co-founder and CEO of Taxwire, to unpack the challenges of global sales tax compliance and the shifting role of finance teams in fast-growing startups. Andrew shares insights on leveraging automation and AI in finance, opportunities for young professionals to stand out, and the importance of building authentic company culture. He also highlights the evolving impact of Chiefs of Staff in early-stage companies—acting as force multipliers and strategic problem-solvers.

Humans, Fear, and AI: Leading Transformations with Dominique Lear

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:32:02 +0000

Scott Amenta sits down with Dominique Lear, Chief of Staff at Incandescent, to explore why organizational change so often falters on the human side. From her journey in publishing to consulting, Dominique shares lessons on managing fear, building trust, and navigating AI-driven transformations with empathy and clarity.

The VC Chief of Staff Playbook with Alexa Gellman

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 17:00:30 +0000

Go behind the scenes of venture capital with Alexa "Lex" Gellman, a Chief of Staff at Inspired Capital. Lex shares how she manages deal pipelines and supports portfolio founders. You will also learn about practical tools for network mapping and hear her insider perspective on today's capital markets. Whether you're aspiring to break into venture capital or looking to add more strategic value in your current Chief of Staff role, this episode offers actionable insights on building your internal brand and positioning yourself as a key strategic resource. Excited for you to level-up!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Beyond the Buzzword: Real Stories of Leveling-Up as a CoS

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 23:38:42 +0000

What does it really mean to "level up" as a Chief of Staff? In this episode recorded live at a dinner event in NYC, a select group of Chiefs of Staff share authentic stories of growth and impact in their roles. From using simple Google Docs to outperform complex systems to building reward programs that actually work, you will hear practical strategies that moved the needle. You'll learn how to prove your value, when to choose low-tech solutions, and how to maintain boundaries while excelling in this demanding role. Whether you're new to the role or looking to advance, these candid conversations offer actionable insights on building relationships, scaling through others, and finding your specialization as a generalist. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about our conferences, courses, and membership here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Transitioning From VC to Chief of Staff with Sharlene Guiriba

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 15:25:39 +0000

Are you looking to transition into the Chief of Staff role? In this episode, you will learn from Sharlene Guiriba, Executive Chief of Staff at Coverdash., Sharlene discusses her transition to the CoS role from operating roles and Venture Capital, emphasizing the importance of leveraging VC connections and the value of case studies in the interview process. She highlights her experience at Coverdash, noting the evolution from tactical to strategic initiatives and the importance of hiring to scale. Charlene also shares insights on navigating conflict, stressing the significance of emotions, data, and adaptability. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about our conferences, courses, and membership here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Strategy Is a Choice: Aarti Bhatnagar on Leading with Intention

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:02:55 +0000

In this episode, we sit down with Aarti Bhatnagar, former Chief of Staff at Change.org and Guild, and now executive coach and facilitator.

Aarti shares how she built a career as a generalist, navigated defining moments like company-wide layoffs, and discovered her superpower at the intersection of operations and people.

We dive deep into the role of the CoS in strategic planning, including:

How to drive alignment without formal authority
Common pitfalls in planning (and how to avoid them)
Aarti’s original C-FLEX Framework for effective strategy execution
Why owning your narrative is the most underrated leadership skill

Learn more about her work at Cadence Operators: https://cadence-operators.com/

Learn more about Chief of Staff Launchpad: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/chief-of-staff-launchpad?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cos_podcast_aarti_bhatnagar

The Hidden Power of Saying It Well

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 19:34:00 +0000

Great communication isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a leadership skill that shapes culture, builds trust, and drives alignment.

In this episode, Rachel Peck shares lessons from nearly a decade at Harry’s, where she helped scale internal messaging from a 10-person startup to a global team of 1,000+.

From writing for founders, navigating crisis comms, and making company values stick, Rachel breaks down what most Chiefs of Staff overlook about internal and executive communications and how to build systems that work even in moments of chaos.

Explore Rachel's work: https://metronome.consulting/

Learn more from Rachel in Chief of Staff Launchpad: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/chief-of-staff-launchpad

Inside the Launchpad: Leadership, Alignment, and Career Moves with Juhi Kabra

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:08:44 +0000

In this episode, we’re joined by Juhi Kabra, executive coach, facilitator, and former Chief of Staff at Redesign Health. Juhi spent five years supporting the CEO and leadership team through hypergrowth, and now advises founders and strategic operators on organizational design, executive effectiveness, and leadership development.

We discuss Juhi’s path from Blackstone to Palantir to Redesign Health, her biggest lessons in aligning executive teams, and how to succeed as a Chief of Staff in your first 90 days. She also shares a preview of the frameworks and workshops she’ll be leading in our upcoming Chief of Staff Launchpad program.

Learn more about her work at Juhi Kabra Consulting: https://www.juhikabra.com/

Learn more about Chief of Staff Launchpad: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/chief-of-staff-launchpad?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cos_podcast_juhi_kabra

A Problem-Solving Focused Partnership with Ali Sardinia and Zach Garippa

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:44:47 +0000

In this podcast episode, Order CoS Ali Sardinia and CEO Zach Garippa share their successful four-year partnership built on co-creating the role through honest conversations about business needs. Their success stems from constant prioritization conversations, immediate communication to prevent issues from festering, and treating failures as shared ownership with an action-first mentality. They emphasize that cultural alignment matters more than perfect experience, and that effective CoS and Principal relationships require thought partnership and trust-building rather than constant agreement. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

The Text Message That Launched A CoS Career with Aria Finger

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 03:10:42 +0000

In this episode, Aria Finger, Chief of Staff to Reid Hoffman, shares how she landed her role through an existing relationship and mentioned that she observed at an event that about half of Chief of Staff positions come from people that those CoS already knew. Key insights also mentioned include the importance of being authentically yourself, having permission to disagree with your principal, and using AI tools strategically. Aria also talks about what she is excited about with AI and how her role has evolved dramatically over her four years in the role too. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about our membership, courses, and conferences here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Scaling People and Process

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:30:34 +0000

Are you working on scaling as a CoS right now? Listen to this episode to hear that successful scaling hinges on three core principles: intentional design, smart decision-making frameworks and scaling knowledge over headcount. The discussion emphasizes creating guardrails rather than rigid rules, protecting culture carriers during transitions, investing in relationship-building with distributed teams, and always starting with the problem you're solving rather than jumping to solutions. We are excited for you to level-up as a CoS!

This episode was recorded live at a NYC CoS dinner event. You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Leveling Up Without Losing The Human Touch with Ashlea Holt and Tim Bristow

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:23:59 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Ashlea Holt and Tim Bristow about the art and science of getting stuff done in the modern workplace. From using ChatGPT, to navigating the Wild West of new productivity tools, they share hard-won insights on when efficiency isn't king, why direction matters more than speed, and the challenges of implementing tools at a company. You will also learn about why it may be better to pilot new tools initially, why consistency beats intensity every time, honest takes on AI dependency, decision fatigue, and protecting the human fundamentals that matter most. Listen to this episode to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Change Management Strategies for Chiefs of Staff with Audrey Ware and Fanni Gabor

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:47:54 +0000

Are you tying to improve your change management as a CoS? Listen to this new podcast with Audrey Ware and Fanni Gabor as they share real stories from the trenches of organizational transformation. You will learn why "no change is perfect," how to build buy-in through strategic feedback, and why addressing instability head-on is crucial for success. From managing expectations during delays to navigating the AI transformation reshaping work itself, these two Chiefs of Staff offer candid insights on leading change when everything around you is constantly evolving. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Creating Value In Your Role with Richard Hoffman and Eve Staszczyszyn

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:20:41 +0000

Chiefs of Staff create value for companies all of the time. Some times this work happens behind the scenes, and it is not showcased. We wanted to change that. In this episode, you will learn from Richard Hoffman and Eve Staszczyszyn about how they are creating value in their roles.

Eve talked about a value creation framework of making money, saving money, enhancing company culture, and /or driving innovation. Richard shared his experience at a FinTech startup, focusing on scaling partnerships and now managing customer programs. Both highlighted the need for flexibility, strategic alignment, and the ability to balance immediate tasks with long-term opportunities. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Going from EA to Chief of Staff with Cher Murphy

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 19:30:15 +0000

Cher Murphy shares her journey from managing department stores in Alabama to being the Chief of Staff at Sydecar in NYC. You will learn how she networked her way into tech, overcame the challenge of being "too good" as an EA, and built strategic capabilities beyond administrative work. You will also learn about her use of Custom AI workflows and GPTs for executive communication, and Notion dashboards as operational "control centers.” Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Building A Startup As A CoS and First Employee with Jessica Li

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:51:53 +0000

Do you want to know what it is like on the ground floor of building a startup? In this episode, you will learn from Jessica Li, the former Chief of Staff at Beacons. She was the first employee there and worked at the company for over four years. Jess emphasizes the importance of complementary skills with her CEO and highlights the use of tools like Clifton Strengths and Six Working Geniuses to understand team dynamics. Jess shares insights on building strong relationships, managing work-life balance, and evolving her role from foundational functions to growth and technical product management. She also reflects on the importance of self-reflection in career development.

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

From Being Rejected to Chief of Staff with Adaeze Okoli

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:01:00 +0000

To get a Chief of Staff role you may have to overcome a lot of rejections to get the role. For Adaeze Okioli, the Chief of Staff at Rethink Food, she initially got rejected for an internship role at Rethink but secured the Chief of Staff position after a networking opportunity and a pivotal lunch meeting with her principal.

To gel with her principal and other leaders, Adaeze emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, transparency, and empathy within the organization. She also highlights the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline her work and advises aspiring Chiefs of Staff to thoroughly research and align with their principals. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Why CoS Can Lead AI Adoption At Companies with Abhishek Vora

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:35:54 +0000

Is your company and executive team wanting to use and roll-out AI usage more broadly at your company? This potential initiative is a perfect example of a Chief of Staff project because it's new, innovative, and no one else or team is likely overseeing it. In this episode with Abhishek Vora, the Chief of Staff at LaunchDarkly, you will learn about his role in AI adoption, usage, and roll-out. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

From Associate Chief of Staff to Chief of Staff with Ada Madigan

Thu, 22 May 2025 14:49:41 +0000

Are you looking to break into a Chief of Staff role? Maybe you could start as an Associate Chief of Staff and then get promoted to a CoS role. That's what happened to Trust & Will Chief of Staff Ada Madigan. In this episode, you will learn how her role has evolved, how she is focused on helping build the company, and so much more. Excited for you to level-up as a CoS!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Eating Glass: How A CoS Helps Build A Startup

Thu, 08 May 2025 01:18:17 +0000

Are you looking to be a Chief of Staff at an early-stage startup? You may have to eat glass and do whatever it takes to help build the company. In this episode with Taxwire CoS David Moon and CEO Andrew Rea, you will learn how David initially presented an idea to Andrew, which sparked a conversation that led to them working together. This conversation highlights the importance of trust, adaptability, and willingness to handle various tasks in early-stage startups. They emphasized their working style of constant communication and the importance of understanding the CEO's priorities. Excited for you to level-up as a CoS!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Using AI To Be More Effective and Efficient with Ana Flávia Silva

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:37:59 +0000

Are you looking to use AI more in your role? Listen to this new episode with Ana Flávia Silva, a Chief of Staff at Section. In the episode, you will learn about why she got up-to-speed on AI while interviewing for her role and how she has been using AI regularly since. In particular, in this episode, we talk about Claude and Claude Projects, and she and Section have been using this tool. You will also learn about a framework to think about how and when to potentially use AI in your role. Excited for you to level-up as a CoS!

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

From Meeting-Heavy to an A-Sync Company Culture with Shelby Sly

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:31:42 +0000

Is your company growing fast and evolving? In this episode, you will learn from Shelby Sly, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy and Operations at Ridgeline, who shares her career journey into the CoS role and her contributions to the Ridgeline’s growth. She details the company's evolution from around 200 employees to 400+ employees, emphasizing the shift from a meeting-heavy culture to a more efficient, asynchronous communication model.

Shelby highlights the importance of trust, adaptability, and effective meeting facilitation in her role. She also reflects on her career journey and growth, including her experience co-founding the Cal Poly Women in Business Association, and she also shared stories about career inflection moments. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

You learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership, upcoming events and programs on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

How They Work Together Remotely

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:23:13 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Karly Gelardi, a Chief of Staff at Zapier, and Brandon Sammut, the Chief of People Officer at Zapier, about their roles and working relationship. Brandon emphasizes the importance of clarity in defining Chief of Staff roles and the need for a strong match between the leader and the Chief of Staff. They discuss the interview process, onboarding, and the importance of open communication and trust especially while working remotely. Karly highlights the evolving nature of her role and the significance of feedback.

Karly and Brandon will also be speaking together at our Chief of Staff San Francisco Connect conference on May 15-16. Join us in San Francisco! You learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership and upcoming events and programs on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

From Unconventional to Excellence with Jenna Parker

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 22:19:29 +0000

Do you have an unconventional background too? In this episode, you will learn from Jenna Parker, the Chief of Staff at Healthie, about her path into the role from a lack of healthcare and tech background. Her background has not deterred her in the role at all, as she has rotated and managed four different departments in 2024. Jenna also emphasized the importance of relationship building, direct communication, and setting boundaries as a Chief of Staff. She also shared CoS hiring tips that she has communicated with CEOs when they approach her about hiring another CoS like introspection and alignment of skills. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming programs and events at:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Doubling-Down On Strengths with Sofia Badalamenti and Nihal Mehta

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 03:05:56 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Chief of Staff Sofia Badalamenti and Eniac Ventures Cofounder Nihal Mehta. They have been working together for two years. In this episode, they share communication best practices and workflows. They also talked about how they have worked together to double-down on both of their strengths, which is effective email use and relationship building. They also talked about the importance of trust and responsiveness in working together. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership and upcoming events here:

https://chiefofstaff.network/

The Art of Wartime Leadership In Business with Lindsey O'Sullivan

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 01:54:17 +0000

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of crisis leadership through the lens of a Chief of Staff who has wartime CoS experience. When markets shift, competitors attack, or internal challenges threaten to derail progress, organizations need leaders who can make rapid decisions with imperfect information.

Chief of Staff veteran Lindsey O’Sullivan shares her related experiences, insights and techniques. Whether you're leading through a major transition, responding to market disruption, or simply preparing for the inevitable storms of business, this episode offers invaluable insights for modern leaders who must thrive under pressure. You will also learn about how Lindsey got her current role through networking and many other practical tips. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership and upcoming events here:

https://chiefofstaff.network/

Mastering the Message: The Chief of Staff’s Role in Storytelling with Ali Sardinia

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:40:57 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Ali Sardinia, the Chief of Staff at Order.co, about her two Chief of Staff experiences and the importance of storytelling in business. She highlights how, in her current role, her company is focused on embedding stories into presentations, all-hands meetings, and marketing materials to enhance understanding and impact. Ali also shares why this initiative came to be. Ali mentions the use of one-pagers to improve cross-functional collaboration and visibility within the company as well.

For aspiring CoS, Ali advises people take on challenging roles and to continuously learn. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership and upcoming events here:

https://chiefofstaff.network/

Driving The Most Impact As A CoS with Kyle Hagge

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Kyle Hagge, Chief of Staff at Morning Brew Inc., discussed how he focuses on doing work that drives the most impact with a goal of being able to showcase the financial benefits of it too. As an example, Kyle talked about recently working on improving the company’s events and sponsorship packages. He also discussed using AI tools like Granola for note-taking. Kyle advised on effective and empathetic communication, using your access as a CoS to follow your curiosity, and his practice to eliminate any potential "Sunday scaries.” Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership, events, and programs here:

https://chiefofstaff.network/

Being The First Employee As A CoS with Remi Guarini

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:56:02 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Remi Guarini, a three-time Chief of Staff, about her experiences. She is currently the Founding Chief of Staff at Neon and was the first employee there. In this episode, you will learn about how Remi’s approach to the role has evolved, the importance of building relationships and understanding the principal's needs.

She highlights her approach to managing operations, including creating a detailed Google sheet for task management and more. Remi also shares her thoughts on the evolving nature of Chief of Staff roles, the value of a generalist skill set, and the significance of team relationships. She encourages aspiring Chiefs of Staff to embrace the role's challenges and opportunities.

You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network, our membership, upcoming events and more on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Behind the Deal: The Chief of Staff's Role in M&A Success with Sophie Kaye

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 22:19:03 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Sophie Kaye, a former Chief of Staff and current Director of Operations & Program Management at Frame.io, which was acquired by Adobe in 2021. Sophie discusses her non-linear career path, including her role as an early employee at a dental healthcare startup and her transition to being a Chief of Staff at Frame.io. She details her experience as a CoS at Frame.io during their acquisition by Adobe, emphasizing the importance of privacy and organization. Post-acquisition, Sophie's role has evolved, spanning across marketing, M&A, program management and business operations. She highlights the significance of relationship building, embracing ambiguity, and not striving for perfection. Sophie encourages aspiring Chiefs of Staff to build connections and be open to opportunities.

You can learn more about Chief of Staff Network, our membership, upcoming events and more on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Why We Are Hosting Three Chief of Staff Connect Conferences in 2025 with Scott Amenta

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 19:26:29 +0000

Are you looking to connect with other Chiefs of Staff in-person in 2025? Listen to this episode with Scott Amenta, the Founder of the Chief of Staff Network. In it, you will hear how Scott started the community and how in-person meetups were critical in the early days of launching the community. Fast forward to 2024, we hosted 60+ events globally. In 2024, we also hosted a two-day Chief of Staff Connect conference in New York City. In 2025, we plan to host three Chief of Staff Connect conferences in San Francisco (in May), New York (in October), and London (in November). In this episode, you will hear what we learned from the 2024 Connect conference and how the 2025 Connect conferences will be slightly different.

You can learn more about Chief of Staff Connect, our membership, and more on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

10 Tips To Get A Chief of Staff Role with David Nebinski

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:41:19 +0000

Ready to land a coveted Chief of Staff position? Listen to this episode as we break down 10 practical tips to help you secure an influential role. Drawing from conversations with Chiefs of Staff and from David Nebinski's own experiences, you will hear insights on networking, relationship building, and much more. If you are looking for a new role, this episode is for you.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Scaling Companies And Leaders with Crystelle Desnoyer

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode, you will learn from Crystelle Desnoyer about her experiences and insights into the Chief of Staff role. She used to be the CoS at Techstars. Crystelle discusses her journey from building and scaling 20+ business entities and her scaling framework.

Crystelle emphasized the importance of building trust, stakeholder mapping, and managing conflicts. She also highlighted the challenges of balancing internal and external focus and the need for self-care to avoid burnout as a CoS. If you are a new CoS or are looking to scale your role, this episode for you.

Learn more about our membership and events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Insights From The Chief of Staff Network’s 2024 Salary Report

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:40:50 +0000

Are you looking to be paid more fairly? In this episode, Rahul Desai and David Nebinski discuss the Chief of Staff Network’s 2024 Salary Report. You will learn about how you might be able to use this data as an in-role CoS. We also discuss the CoS job market and our State of Chief of Staff Jobs report. If you are looking to better understand Chief of Staff compensation, this episode is for you!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Going After What You Want with Sydney Scherer

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:04:55 +0000

In this episode, you will learn about how Sydney Scherer landed her current role by sending a creative email advocating for herself and a CoS role. She contrasts and overlap her current CoS experience with her prior CoS role, noting the shift to more creative, media-focused work. Both of those CoS roles happened after leaving the consulting industry. Sydney also emphasizes the importance of aligning with one's passions and pushing beyond comfort zones. In addition, she advises aspiring Chiefs of Staff to lean on their community and take calculated risks.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Building A Team Around Yourself with Teddy Owen

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:56:47 +0000

In this episode with Teddy Owen, the Chief of Staff at Moonhub, you will learn about his career journey to date and how it helped him get his current CoS role. Teddy highlighted the strategic use of third-party vendors for areas like finance and legal to build a team around yourself as a CoS. He also stressed the value of networking and building a support system to navigate the often-lonely role of a Chief of Staff.

Teddy also emphasized the importance of leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. You will also learn about when he has seen companies hire a CoS and why.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Shaping How A Company Operates with Dara Chen

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:49:37 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Dara Chen, the Chief of Staff at Rad AI. Dara shared her journey to her current role, highlighting the importance of networking and leveraging her Wharton alumni network, and her prior CoS experiences.

She emphasized the value of being organized and detail-oriented while also strategic to help a company operate and build the company’s culture.

Dara also shared her experience taking over the recruiting function, focusing on creating efficient processes and aligning teams. She underscored the evolving nature of the Chief of Staff role, which involves balancing strategic thinking with detailed execution and fostering strong relationships within the leadership team.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Non-Traditional Path and Mental Health with Michael Novak

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:12:25 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Michael Novak, a Principal of Strategy and Business Operations at Adobe and former CoS, about his career journey. Michael discusses his non-traditional path, including his time as a project manager, his mental health struggles, and his transition into the Chief of Staff role through networking. He highlights the differences between being a Chief of Staff and working in Strategy and Operations, emphasizing the importance of identifying organizational gaps and planning. Michael also touches on the significance of well-being and mental health, advocating for living a values-based life and maintaining calm in stressful situations.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Private Sector CoS Role vs a Public Sector CoS Role with Sue Broderick

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:41:39 +0000

Sue Broderick, the Chief of Staff at We Know Training, discussed her career trajectory, highlighting her transition from an executive assistant to a Chief of Staff. She contrasted the public and private sector roles, noting the public sector's political pressures and accountability. You will learn about the importance of relationship building, loyalty, and straight talk as a CoS. Sue also discussed the significance of CEOs publicly supporting their Chiefs of Staff, which enhances the role's influence and execution.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and upcoming events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Building Relationships and Becoming a CoS with Rico Ashab

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Rico Ashab, the Chief of Staff at Destination DC, discusses his career progression from EA to Chief of Staff, emphasizing the importance of relationship building. He highlights the growth of Destination DC from 180 to ~500 employees and the creation of his Chief of Staff role in January 2023. Rico also shares insights on managing relationships with his CEO, effective communication strategies, and the significance of in-person interactions.

Learn about the Chief of Staff Network's membership and events here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Approaching The Role With A Hypothesis with Alex Cherucheril

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:52:32 +0000

In this episode, we chat with Alex Cherucheril, the Head of Business Operations and former CoS at Welcome Tech in Los Angeles. Alex discusses the evolving role of Chief of Staff, noting that over 50% of CoS roles may now come from internal promotions. He highlights the importance of adaptability, flexibility, and a strategic mindset for Chief of Staffs. Alex emphasizes the value of community among Chief of Staffs to combat loneliness and shares insights on the interview process, suggesting that candidates should approach the role with a specific learning hypothesis. David and Alex also discuss the significance of a strong relationship with the principal for job satisfaction.

Alex has hosted two CoS events with us in LA. Our next LA CoS Mixer is on Thursday November 14th. Join us!

Learn more about our membership and events on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Creating Opportunities and Quantifying Your Impact with Anna Buckley

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:05:15 +0000

Anna Buckley, a two-time Chief of Staff at Barstool Sports, discussed her career journey, emphasizing the transition from an EA role to a Chief of Staff. She highlighted the importance of complementary skill sets with her principals and the value of leveraging resources like the Chief of Staff Network. Anna stressed the need for reflection, quantifiable success metrics, and the adaptability of Chief of Staff skills across roles. She also underscored the significance of building a network within the Chief of Staff community for mentorship and support.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network on our website:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Getting Stuff Done As A Chief of Staff with Melinda Munroe

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:48:06 +0000

Melinda Munroe, Chief of Staff at Nexla, shared her journey from forensic anthropology to marketing and then to Chief of Staff roles. She highlighted the importance of ruthless prioritization and cross-functional collaboration. Melinda also discussed her love for marketing, particularly customer and product marketing, and how it influenced her Chief of Staff roles. In this episode, she also stressed the need for empathy, work-life balance, and the importance of finding the right company and manager. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network here:

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Behind the Scenes: How a Chief of Staff Shapes Organizational Communication with Maggie Mullooly

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:48:13 +0000

Executive and company communication is hard work. Many Chiefs of Staff work on this to communicate a vision and empathize with all stakeholders. Maggie Mullooly has developed experience and expertise on this kind of work as a CoS. In this episode, she also shares about getting CoS roles, networking, and what it is like working as a CoS at a startup.

Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

From HR Manager to CoS with Taraneh Ansari

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:33:59 +0000

What is your path into the Chief of Staff world? Just like how the Chief of Staff role can vary at different companies, the path into the CoS role can be different too. For Taraneh Ansari, the CoS at OpenSponsorship, she used to be the HR Manager at OpenSponsorship. In this episode, you will learn about how her role has evolved, what it is now, and so much more.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Toolbox Talk: Software Tools and Tips for Everyday Efficiency

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:56:50 +0000

Are you looking to level-up your software tech stack and workflow? Listen to this episode with Lauren Stein and Maria Mejia talking about some tools that they use and why they use them. You will also learn about what they look for in tools, and how to think about getting other people at your company to potentially use new tools.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

How To Be An Effective Chief of Staff with Kyle Hagge

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:42:11 +0000

Are you looking to be an effective Chief of Staff? Kyle Hagge, CoS at Morning Brew, shared tips about the first 90 days in a new role, relationship building, operating cadence with your Principal, developing influence, and creating value as a CoS.

Before his CoS role starting in January 2024, Kyle was a Community Manager at Morning Brew. You will also learn about how his transition to the CoS role happened.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Excited for you to level-up as a CoS!

How We Built The Chief of Staff Network with Rahul and David

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:19:04 +0000

Want an inside look at The Chief of Staff Network, a membership-based community for 900+ CoS globally? Listen to this episode with General Manager Rahul Desai and Community Lead David Nebinski. In this episode, you will learn about both Rahul and David's CoS experiences, how they started working together, why they do this work, how they support CoS, tips to get a CoS role, and about the Chief of Staff Network's signature courses, events, and research reports like the Leveling Framework.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Creating A Company Culture with Katie Mogul

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:10:33 +0000

Helping improve a company's culture can be incredibly empowering and fulfilling. For Katie Mogul, she loves working on this. Tune in to this episode to learn about measuring impact, time management, formalized professional development, creating a culture of growth and so much more!

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Resetting A Company's Operating Rhythm with Alexis Summit

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:55:13 +0000

What is the heart beat of a company? It is a company's operating rhythm. Often times, a Chief of Staff oversees this project. In some cases, it may make sense to reset it and that's what Chief of Staff Alexis Summit has been working on recently. Tune into this episode to learn about this and more!

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership on our website.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Scaling as a CoS with Alyssa Palomba

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:14:52 +0000

Scaling as a CoS is part-thrilling and part-challenging. Alyssa emphasized the importance of continuous learning and growth, while also prioritization and delegation. Alyssa became a CoS after previously being the Director of Customer Success at the same company. In this episode, you will also learn about the customer success role and more.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership here.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

RevOps vs CoS with Ravi Neppalli

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:51:50 +0000

In this episode, you will learn about Ravi’s evolution of RevOps roles in startups, emphasizing the importance of managing and optimizing sales teams. You will learn about the responsibilities, skills, and applications of RevOps and Chief of Staff roles across industries and verticals. Ravi highlighted the need to understand top-of-funnel activity, marketing efforts, and sales cycles to achieve success.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership here.

https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Aiming To Be The World’s Best Sidekick with Lauren Stein

Wed, 29 May 2024 17:26:32 +0000

What is the career path of a Chief of Staff??? Lauren Stein, the Chief of Staff at GrowthLoop, is aiming to be the world's best sidekick. Lauren shares about how she got her current role and how it did not happen in a very traditional way.

Lauren also talks about some of the work she is doing now in current role. Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, ⁠and membership here.⁠

Using AI To Help With Hiring with Michael Finkbeiner

Wed, 29 May 2024 16:39:10 +0000

Are you looking to learn about emerging technologies like AI to improve your workflow and productivity? Listen to this episode with Michael Finkbeiner, the Chief of Staff at Vertosa, share about using AI to help with hiring people and process at his company. You will also learn about how Michael got this Chief of Staff role and more.

Learn more about Chief of Staff Network's upcoming events, courses, and membership here.

Chief of Staff Podcast: What To Expect

Thu, 23 May 2024 20:32:19 +0000

Are you looking to level-up as a Chief of Staff? Listen to the Chief of Staff Podcast to hear actionable insights, stories, and experiences that you can apply in your role today. You will also hear about how people got their CoS roles.

This podcast is produced by the Chief of Staff Network, the leading global community for Chiefs of Staff. Check out our upcoming events and courses! Excited for you to level-up and learn with this show!