The Chief of Staff Podcast Building A Startup As A CoS and First Employee with Jessica Li
Jun 10, 2025
Jessica Li, the former Chief of Staff at Beacons and its first employee, shares her fascinating journey in the startup world. She discusses the critical importance of complementary skills between herself and her CEO, leveraging tools like Clifton Strengths and Six Working Geniuses to enhance team dynamics. Jessica reflects on evolving from foundational tasks to managing technical product development and emphasizes building strong relationships. She also touches on the challenges of balancing work with personal identity, highlighting the value of self-reflection for career growth.
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How Jessica Became Chief of Staff
- Jessica Li got her Chief of Staff role after writing about social commerce during the pandemic and connecting with Beacons founders.\n- She initially helped informally but joined full-time due to strong team fit and complementary skills with the CEO.
Complementary Skills Boost Teams
- Complementary skill sets between CEO and Chief of Staff improve effectiveness and trust.\n- Tools like CliftonStrengths and Six Working Geniuses can help identify and leverage those complementary strengths.
Life as Beacons' First Employee
- Jessica, as Beacons' first employee, lived next to the CEO and did hands-on startup work, from setting up offices to recruiting.\n- She experienced the typical startup hustle, lending a personal touch and ownership to the company's growth.