The Chief of Staff Podcast

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.

Carl Miller, co-founder of The Purpose Project, and Michaela Zukova, former Chief of Staff and COO, delve into how AI can facilitate self-discovery for leaders. They discuss why slowing down is crucial for competitive advantage and highlight the importance of personal alignment for high performance. The pair explore using AI for meaningful team communication and decision clarity, plus the transformative power of group reflection and somatic practices. They emphasize that purpose-driven leadership enhances team capacity and reduces chaos.

Itamar Melamed, Senior Director and Chief of Staff at Empathy, shares his insights on mastering the elusive Chief of Staff role. He discusses how to measure success without clear KPIs by tracking decisions taken off the CEO's plate. Itamar explains the importance of anticipating needs, reading calendar patterns, and building trust. He likens Chiefs of Staff to stunt doubles, emphasizing the necessity of adapting to the CEO's communication style. The conversation highlights creating organizational impact through proactive engagement and managing up effectively.

Emily Sander, Founder and CEO of Next Level Coaching and former chief of staff, shares her insights on managing the delicate balance between strategy and operations. She emphasizes the importance of knowing when to switch roles, advising new chiefs to start operationally before transitioning to strategic tasks. Emily discusses tactical frameworks for effective communication, the necessity of regular role resets, and the value of asking 'who can help me?' to delegate effectively. Plus, she predicts that AI will elevate chiefs' roles towards more strategic stewardship.

Jamie Dalton, Chief of Staff at Adobe, shares her journey from program management at Ancestry to shaping a CoS role at Adobe. She discusses creating an effective operating rhythm from scratch, emphasizing the importance of clear roadmaps and strategic meeting agendas. Jamie reveals her approach to limiting meeting attendance to enhance productivity and prevent FOMO. She highlights the Chief of Staff's unique position in fostering cross-functional alignment and shares innovative practices like using internal podcasts for better communication.

Ben Darfler, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy and Operations at Honeycomb, reveals how his engineering background informs his strategic thinking. He discusses the importance of adapting leadership practices as Honeycomb grows beyond 250 employees and the necessity for executives to shift focus from daily tasks. Ben highlights the power of OKRs and lightweight processes to ensure alignment across teams. He also shares insights on iterating strategies through metrics, empowering directors, and mastering execution to build a successful vision.

Ena Patel, Team President at Innovation Baseball Partners, has built her career by stepping into complexity and turning it into momentum. In this episode, she joins Tom Guthrie, President of Chief of Staff Network, to share how she moved from tax law into the sports business, why shifting others’ perception (“not just a lawyer”) became one of her biggest early challenges, and how relationship-building across every business unit became her operating system.Ena walks through what it takes to be effective as a Chief of Staff in environments that are either being built from scratch or shaped by deep tradition. We also explore Ena’s leap into the #1 seat as President of Innovation Baseball Partners, acquiring and building independent minor league teams with a community-first approach. Her advice to Chiefs of Staff considering a similar step is simple and direct: don’t say no to yourself.Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/

Jamie White, Chief of Staff for Global Marketing at Notion, combines her background in theater and consulting to redefine organizational dynamics. She introduces her 'Three Altitudes' framework, which enhances alignment and leadership efficiency. Jamie shares insights on the evolving role of Chiefs of Staff, emphasizing the importance of enabling teams and managing cross-functional rhythms. She also explores the integration of AI for improved decision-making and discusses her approach to fostering effective partnerships with executives.

Lu Borko, Chief of Staff at ManyChat, shares her insights on scaling companies without bureaucracy, drawing from her experience at Deliveroo and Intercom. She emphasizes the importance of building systems that support growth while keeping teams agile. Lu discusses the essential elements of executive team cohesion and how to lead without authority by connecting the right dots. She also explores creating trust through vulnerability during offsites and how to resolve cross-functional conflicts effectively. Learn strategies for operational excellence and hiring for ownership in fast-paced environments.

Tommy Caulfield and James Whittle — better known as The Tempest Two — had never rowed a boat in their lives when they set out to cross the Atlantic Ocean. No experience. No support crew. Just a willingness to figure it out.In this episode, we explore what extreme adventure can teach us about resilience, leadership, and adaptability — especially when facing uncertainty. From surviving a hurricane and a nighttime capsize to building teams and coaching startups, they share how to turn breakdowns into breakthroughs and why the best leaders actively put themselves and their teams just beyond their comfort zones.We also talk about their upcoming keynote and immersive Experience at the upcoming Chief of Staff Connect EU in London, and why pushing boundaries is the key to real growth.Learn more about Tommy and James' work at Tempest Experiences.Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network's membership, courses, and events here: https://www.chiefofstaff.network/