Emily Sander shares a simple trick to boost energy and engagement in presentations: think about something you love, like movies, then bring that same excitement to your business talk. She uses a real story about bombing a dry run at a Risk Summit and how talking about her favorite movies helped her improve. Chiefs of Staff and executives can try this method to sound less flat or nervous during important presentations.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to show up with more confidence and energy in your presentations? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:32 Why Presentations Fall Flat

02:31 Practice and Record Yourself

04:31 My First Big Dry Run

07:08 The Bombed Presentation

13:41 Monday Redemption Moment

16:10 Risk Summit Stage Debut

18:23 Beyond the Trick Long Term

20:37 Try It and Share Back

22:10 Wrap Up and Sponsor

This episode breaks down what a Chief of Staff actually does in different industries, from startups to government, and covers how the role is changing with AI according to Scott Amenta. Guests like Clara Ma share practical advice for pitching the Chief of Staff role internally and how to tailor your resume if you're switching from another field. Phil Burns talks about the confusion between Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff roles and why it's important to define them clearly.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Scott Amenta

10:00 Jeremy Costa & Trent Smyth

21:42 Clara Ma

33:51 Phil Burns

Emily Sander talks about how Chiefs of Staff often feel guilty or frustrated about things like not working long enough hours or not helping a struggling teammate. She explains that being too empathetic or self-critical can backfire and suggests telling yourself, "and that's okay," to relieve pressure and keep perspective. Real examples include feeling called out for working from home or regretting not helping someone in a team meeting.

Get in touch with Emily:
Feeling the pressure to do more, be more, or fix everything? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

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Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Common Chief of Staff Struggles

01:04 When Empathy Becomes a Detriment

04:16 The Power of Saying It's Okay

06:17 Mountains Out of Molehills

08:03 Building a Higher Baseline

09:00 Try This Exercise

Emily Sander talks with Lindsey Gardner, a multi-time Chief of Staff and co-founder of Sapphire Chief of Staff, about balancing people and business priorities. Lindsey Gardner shares lessons from working with the same CEO for a decade, why she always puts people first, and how clear communication builds trust. She also explains Sapphire’s approach to Chief of Staff recruiting and development and discusses how AI should be seen as a tool—not a replacement for humans.

Links Mentioned:
Sapphire Chief of Staff Website

Connect with Lindsey Gardner on LinkedIn

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
02:00 Selling the Chief of Staff Role

04:08 A Decade With One CEO

10:05 People First vs Numbers

13:45 Kindness vs Niceness

17:46 AI and Company Stage

21:45 Hard Tradeoffs in Practice

28:38 Sapphire Chief of Staff Wrap

Emily Sander answers a listener question from Sarah in Charlotte, a Chief of Staff handling board governance, leadership meetings, and benefits rollout. The episode covers how to build strategic relationships with the board, use back channels professionally, and avoid being seen only as admin support while keeping the founder focused and the team aligned. Real examples include collaborating with consultants and prepping the chairman for meetings.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help building stronger board and executive relationships? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

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Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Listener Question Setup

01:20 Sarah’s Challenge

03:00 Leverage Board Access

05:20 Build Allies and Backchannels

08:03 Talk Strategy Not Admin

10:30 Coach the Board on Focus

13:15 When Founders Spiral

16:07 Create More Board Touchpoints

17:48 Wrap Up and Next Steps

This compilation features conversations with four principals about why they brought on a Chief of Staff, how they built trust in the role, and the impact Chiefs of Staff had on their teams. Examples include Lawrence Coburn hiring a former intern for the role, Nikki Barua making the Chief of Staff her very first hire, and Marcus East describing the Chief of Staff as a force multiplier who connects teams. The episode highlights practical challenges and benefits, such as helping with communication, offering a trusted sounding board, and building strong team dynamics.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:26 Why This Compilation

01:16 Lawrence Coburn

10:07 Nikki Barua

20:50 Marcus East

27:23 Bethany McAleer

Emily Sander shares why showing up as an unhurried, intentional leader matters more than always hustling. She gives practical tips like taking walks, working out, or even sipping coffee outside to set the right mindset. Chiefs of Staff and executives are encouraged to build daily habits - whether it's meditation, reading, or attending their kids’ soccer games - that help them become the kind of leader others want to follow.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help creating space to lead more intentionally? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here: https://www.nextlevel.coach/clarity-call

Free Leadership Resources: https://nextlevel.coach/resources

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilysander/

Website: https://nextlevel.coach

Newsletter: https://emilysander.podia.com/newsletter-signup

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 The Missing Piece of Presence

02:06 Unhurried Leadership Defined

04:35 Practices That Ground You

05:56 Choose Your Leadership Adjectives

08:04 Focus on Top Priorities

10:03 Know Thyself and Recharge

12:39 Build the Habit and Flip the Script

19:22 Recap and Next Steps

Emily Sander talks with Lindsay McCleary about her journey from project management to Chief of Staff roles in both the private sector at Binc and the public sector for the City of Charlotte. Lindsay McCleary shares how she created her own job description, built trust with leaders, and tackled challenges like internal communication and supporting a fast-growing city. She offers practical advice for Chiefs of Staff, like moving from note-taker to strategic leader and building strong relationships with principals.

Link Mentioned:
Connect with Lindsay McCleary on LinkedIn

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Knowledge management is explained as making sure important information flows up, down, and across an organization, using direct examples like leadership decisions being shared with teams, or customer feedback reaching the right people. The episode covers how the Chief of Staff can spot communication breakdowns and keep everyone in the loop, including situations where leaders fail to pass on updates or overreact to minor issues. Tips are offered for testing if messages actually reach people and are understood as intended.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help improving communication flow across your organization? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
00:25 Why Knowledge Management

01:45 Top Down Communication

02:37 Bottom Up Feedback Loops

03:54 Cross Org Information Flow

06:11 Leadership Message Breakdowns

08:09 Accuracy Checks Upward

09:39 Transparency Sharing Philosophy

13:48 Build Systems Stress Test Wrap

Savio P. Clemente, a two-time cancer survivor, shares how his experiences shaped his adaptive resilience leadership framework and gives practical advice for avoiding burnout and decision fatigue. The discussion covers high-pressure healthcare leadership, the importance of paying attention to your body, and why intentional silence and rest matter for Chief of Staff roles. Clemente also explains his "Aloha reboot" reset method and talks about his interviews with CEOs and CMOs on post-crisis leadership.

Links Mentioned:
Savio P. Clemente’s Website

[TEDx talk and book by Savio P. Clemente] (available via his website)

Savio P. Clemente’s Substack

Savio P. Clemente on social media:

Instagram
Tiktok
Twitter
LinkedIn

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:
01:09 Reconnecting and Lessons on Failure

04:06 Cancer Survival and Body Awareness

07:00 Decision Fatigue Under Pressure

16:41 Post Crisis Recalibration and Aloha Reboot

18:28 Reframe and Aloha Method

23:21 Metacognition and Identity Traps

24:29 Intentional Silence Practice

33:36 Post Crisis Leadership Wrap