The Chief of Staff Podcast

Great communication isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a leadership skill that shapes culture, builds trust, and drives alignment. In this episode, Rachel Peck shares lessons from nearly a decade at Harry’s, where she helped scale internal messaging from a 10-person startup to a global team of 1,000+. From writing for founders, navigating crisis comms, and making company values stick, Rachel breaks down what most Chiefs of Staff overlook about internal and executive communications and how to build systems that work even in moments of chaos.Explore Rachel's work: https://metronome.consulting/Learn more from Rachel in Chief of Staff Launchpad: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/chief-of-staff-launchpad

In this episode, we’re joined by Juhi Kabra, executive coach, facilitator, and former Chief of Staff at Redesign Health. Juhi spent five years supporting the CEO and leadership team through hypergrowth, and now advises founders and strategic operators on organizational design, executive effectiveness, and leadership development.We discuss Juhi’s path from Blackstone to Palantir to Redesign Health, her biggest lessons in aligning executive teams, and how to succeed as a Chief of Staff in your first 90 days. She also shares a preview of the frameworks and workshops she’ll be leading in our upcoming Chief of Staff Launchpad program.Learn more about her work at Juhi Kabra Consulting: https://www.juhikabra.com/Learn more about Chief of Staff Launchpad: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/chief-of-staff-launchpad?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=cos_podcast_juhi_kabra

In this podcast episode, Order CoS Ali Sardinia and CEO Zach Garippa share their successful four-year partnership built on co-creating the role through honest conversations about business needs. Their success stems from constant prioritization conversations, immediate communication to prevent issues from festering, and treating failures as shared ownership with an action-first mentality. They emphasize that cultural alignment matters more than perfect experience, and that effective CoS and Principal relationships require thought partnership and trust-building rather than constant agreement. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

In this episode, Aria Finger, Chief of Staff to Reid Hoffman, shares how she landed her role through an existing relationship and mentioned that she observed at an event that about half of Chief of Staff positions come from people that those CoS already knew. Key insights also mentioned include the importance of being authentically yourself, having permission to disagree with your principal, and using AI tools strategically. Aria also talks about what she is excited about with AI and how her role has evolved dramatically over her four years in the role too. Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!You can learn more about our membership, courses, and conferences here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Discover the key strategies for successfully scaling organizations, focusing on intentional design and smart decision-making frameworks. Learn how to create flexible guardrails instead of rigid rules, and the importance of nurturing relationships with distributed teams. The podcast dives into the challenges of rapid growth in sales teams and the integration of offshore teams to drive innovation. Explore the nuances of tool adoption, vendor evaluation, and financial considerations in AI implementation, all while maintaining a strong company culture.

In this episode, you will learn from Ashlea Holt and Tim Bristow about the art and science of getting stuff done in the modern workplace. From using ChatGPT, to navigating the Wild West of new productivity tools, they share hard-won insights on when efficiency isn't king, why direction matters more than speed, and the challenges of implementing tools at a company. You will also learn about why it may be better to pilot new tools initially, why consistency beats intensity every time, honest takes on AI dependency, decision fatigue, and protecting the human fundamentals that matter most. Listen to this episode to level-up as a Chief of Staff!You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

In this insightful chat, Audrey Ware, a Chief of Staff at a startup, shares her transformation tales and effective change management strategies. Fanni Gabor, also a Chief of Staff, emphasizes creating organizational flow, especially during high growth. They discuss the realities of managing expectations amid delays and the critical role of addressing change head-on. The conversation dives into navigating AI's impact on the workplace and the necessity of building buy-in through strategic feedback. Get ready to enhance your leadership skills with their candid insights!

Join Richard Hoffman, Chief of Staff at a FinTech startup, and Eve Staszczyszyn, Head of Ops and fellow Chief of Staff, as they discuss their vital roles in creating value. They share a framework for enhancing company culture, driving innovation, and balancing immediate tasks with long-term goals. Both guests emphasize the significance of flexibility, strategic alignment, and effective communication. Dive into their insights on managing partnerships and the critical impact of workplace culture on organizational success.

Cher Murphy shares her journey from managing department stores in Alabama to being the Chief of Staff at Sydecar in NYC. You will learn how she networked her way into tech, overcame the challenge of being "too good" as an EA, and built strategic capabilities beyond administrative work. You will also learn about her use of Custom AI workflows and GPTs for executive communication, and Notion dashboards as operational "control centers.” Excited for you to level-up as a Chief of Staff!You can learn more about the Chief of Staff Network’s membership, upcoming events and courses  on our website: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/ 

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.