The Chief of Staff Podcast

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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!