Claim OwnershipThe Chief of Staff Podcast
Subscribed: 18Played: 322
Subscribe
© Chief of Staff Network
Description
Interviews with Chiefs of Staff. The CoS Pod hopes to give people insights into how these individuals are the glue that holds organizations and teams together.
72 Episodes
Reverse
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/
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/
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/
"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/
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, 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/
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
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/
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/
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/
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
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 NatureThe 48 Laws of PowerDora Nagy's CEO Operating SystemLearn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/
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/
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.
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.
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/
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/
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/
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 authorityCommon pitfalls in planning (and how to avoid them)Aarti’s original C-FLEX Framework for effective strategy executionWhy owning your narrative is the most underrated leadership skillLearn 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
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
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States