This episode talks about moving teams from feeling stuck to making progress by first getting accurate data. Emily Sander shares an example of advising a Chief of Staff to use surveys to clarify vague complaints about “culture problems” and explains how gathering real feedback, instead of just venting, can lead to informed action on issues like PTO policies. The message is to focus on what you can control and collect solid info before trying to fix anything.

Want help getting data points? 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:
00:47 Shifting Mindsets: From Fix It to Progress
01:11 Case Study: Addressing Culture Problems
02:58 Mindset Matters: Accurate Data in Thoughts
04:19 Taking Ownership and Making Progress
07:17 Empowering Teams: Changing the Narrative
12:13 Concluding Thoughts: Empowerment Through Data

James Misner talks about why only a small percentage of nonprofits break $1 million in revenue and explains that many struggle because they don’t know how to fundraise effectively or are fearful of dealing with money. He shares practical advice for Chiefs of Staff, stressing the importance of having clear fundraising processes, following up with donors, and building a strong team with paid major gift officers. James also discusses the impact of personal connections, handwritten thank-you notes, and branded monthly giving programs.

Links Mentioned:

• The Kipos Group Website
• Connect with James Misner on LinkedIn

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:
00:54 James Misner's Journey into Fundraising
03:12 Overcoming Fear of Money in Fundraising
05:53 Creating Effective Fundraising Processes
08:30 Building Donor Relationships
12:42 The Importance of Follow-Up
17:05 The Importance of Donor Retention
18:44 Supporting Your CEO in Fundraising
21:45 Effective Fundraising Metrics
27:19 Building a Monthly Giving Program
29:16 Seasonality and Major Donors
31:13 Advice for Chiefs of Staff
32:46 Encouraging Personal Donations

Lisa D. asks how to guide leaders to their next step without telling them how to do their job. Emily suggests agreeing on the project’s end goal, asking questions like “what’s a fair and reasonable way to start?” and having departments explain their preferred starting points. She shares tips for using data and prompts like discussing pros and cons, so all voices are heard.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:54 Setting the Project Goal
01:24 Fair and Reasonable Approaches
02:40 Measuring Progress
03:23 Addressing Department Preferences
04:58 Conclusion and Call to Action

Emily Sander talks with Tinna Jackson about navigating power dynamics as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, handling office politics, and the importance of emotional intelligence and trust in leadership. Tinna shares tips on building relationships with board members, managing micromanagers, and methods for better communication in remote or hybrid teams. She also discusses her book, The Power Play Journal, and her group coaching program for aspiring leaders.

Links Mentioned:

• Tinna Jackson’s Book: The Power Play Journal: Battle-Tested Strategies & Reflections for Impactful Leadership
• Connect with Tinna Jackson on LinkedIn

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:48 Tinna's Background in Politics
05:09 Public vs. Private Sector Dynamics
06:18 Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
08:34 Communication in Remote Work
11:05 Building Team Relationships
14:59 Effective Leadership Strategies
16:54 Navigating Power Dynamics
18:46 Finding Influential Allies
20:04 Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Dynamics
22:49 Building Strong Board Relationships
26:40 The Power Play Journal
30:56 Group Coaching and Mentorship

Emily Sander talks about what to do when a Business Development Rep starts doing graphic design, website tweaks, and HubSpot updates instead of making calls. She shares ways to set clear expectations, give frequent feedback, and explains when it's time to let someone go if things don't change. Examples include weekly check-ins, specific quotas, and distinguishing useful creativity from distracting tasks.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:57 Coaching and Feedback Essentials
01:38 Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities
02:46 Distinguishing Productive vs. Distracting Activities
04:58 Implementing Accountability Measures
08:35 Addressing Cold Calling Challenges
09:58 Making the Tough Decision to Move On
13:12 Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement

Conghao Tian shares how he landed a Chief of Staff internship at Zenblen while studying for his MBA at Chicago Booth, starting with a background in music and art history. He talks about building KPI systems for the startup’s robotic smoothie kiosks, managing UChicago interns, and balancing intense work hours alongside full-time school. The episode gives real insight into what a Chief of Staff intern does in a startup and how Conghao is using both his coursework and hands-on experience.

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

01:00 From Arts to Business: Conghao Tian's Background
02:24 The MBA Experience at Chicago Booth
03:29 Landing the Chief of Staff Internship
04:50 Balancing MBA and Internship
09:47 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff Intern
15:34 Introduction to the Michelin Star Chef
16:53 Balancing School and Work
18:05 Applying Classroom Knowledge in Real Life
20:31 Part-Time Challenges and Solutions
27:46 Internship Management and Advice

Emily Sander answers a listener’s question about how to get through to a boss who says, “I don’t care about the database, I care about results.” She talks about reframing communication to focus on the boss’s priorities, suggests offering options for overcoming constraints, and gives tips like sharing summaries instead of full reports. Emily shares examples, including her own experience with company data sets, and explains how choosing different words can keep conversations productive.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:51 Understanding What Results Mean
02:04 Addressing Constraints and Offering Solutions
03:30 Effective Communication Strategies
05:27 Interpreting and Summarizing Reports
08:36 Aligning on Expectations and Language
10:15 Database vs. Results: Bridging the Gap
11:51 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Emily Sander talks with Katie Rohn about her journey from sales to strategy at Google and her time as a Chief of Staff. They share stories about the different versions of the Chief of Staff role, how relationships shape the job, and why self-reflection matters during career transitions. Katie explains how she coaches generalists and Chiefs of Staff, and both discuss the pros and cons of taking the scenic route in your career.

Links Mentioned:

• Connect with Katie Rohn on LinkedIn

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

01:20 Journey to Chief of Staff at Google
03:26 Roles and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff
09:38 Transition to Coaching and Career Reflections
22:42 Exploring Career Paths for Chiefs of Staff
25:13 Balancing Personal Values and Career Growth
29:33 Navigating Relationships in the Chief of Staff Role
36:52 Adapting to Changes and Finding the Right Fit

Emily shares a practical question prompt to help you focus on what matters most when facing challenges at work or in life. She gives real examples, like choosing between launching a product on time and not burning out, getting out of your comfort zone to represent your company at conferences, or trading phone scrolling for a more productive morning. The episode is about identifying what’s important versus what’s most important to guide better decisions and growth.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:42 The Power of Prioritization
01:04 Balancing Comfort and Growth
02:06 Overcoming Fear of Judgment
03:18 Morning Routines for Success
04:21 Applying the Prompt in Real Life
05:30 Developing Resilient Thought Patterns
06:16 Conclusion: Building Unstoppable Habits

Alex Yaroslavsky talks about his journey from navigating conflict as a kid new to the U.S. to building a career in mediation and executive coaching. He shares how Chiefs of Staff can handle disagreements between colleagues, coach their principals through tough conversations, and recognize when workplace tension is productive versus damaging. Real examples include resolving misunderstandings rooted in different work backgrounds and managing your own emotional triggers when resolving conflict with a boss.

Links Mentioned:

• Alex Yaro’s Website

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist 
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching 
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

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:

00:44 Alex's Early Life and Immigration
02:27 Discovering Mediation
06:12 Understanding Conflict and Intention
09:58 Preparing for Reconciliation
11:51 Facilitating Productive Conversations
16:23 Managing Triggers and Emotional Responses
19:12 The Importance of Group Dynamics
20:09 Personal Experiences with Conflict
21:38 Navigating Conflict with Your Principal
27:21 Handling Constructive Tension
33:53 Balancing Group and One-on-One Conversations
35:45 The Four-Step Model for Conflict Resolution
37:44 The Role of Humor in Conflict Resolution
38:21 Resources and Contact Information