The Chief of Staff Podcast The Builder's Mindset: How Chiefs of Staff Create Real Ownership
Jan 28, 2026
Elyse Levine, a builder who moved from the FBI to Disney Parks to launching USC’s DC campus. She talks about seeking unclaimed projects, turning advisor work into ownership, and scaling small wins into large initiatives. Short takes on trust, when to say no, and how relationships unlock big roles.
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Builders, Not Just Advisors
- Chiefs of staff can build and implement recommendations, not just advise.
- Elyse Levine used internal consulting at the FBI to both design and execute new departments.
Thrown In On Day One
- On day one in the FBI Elyse was tasked with creating a new department to link cyber and counterintelligence.
- She later built an employer marketing and recruiting program for FBI HR and transitioned it to a colleague who now runs it.
Opportunities Live Between Boxes
- New cross-functional opportunities often don't fit into any existing team's remit.
- Elyse argues those ambiguous, cross-cutting problems are ideal for chiefs of staff to own and structure.