Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Leveraging Leadership
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
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| Overcoming Presentation Anxiety: Focus on Meaning and Emotion, Not Perfection | 12 Nov 2025 | 00:22:10 | |
Emily answers a listener’s question about feeling stuck to a script during presentations. She explains how to focus on key points instead of memorizing every word, suggests adding emotion and attitude to messages, and demonstrates this technique with a “baseball is boring” exercise using different emotions like anger and sadness. Emily gives practical tips to build real confidence by practicing with main ideas, knowing the audience, and being flexible during presentations. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 01:18 Emily's Personal Experience | |||
| Expanding Leadership Impact: Angel Investing and Chief of Staff Insights for Purpose-Driven Ventures | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:36:35 | |
Erika Aquino, an angel investor with 26 portfolio companies across five countries, and her Chief of Staff Patricia de Leon, share how they work together to find and support women and minority founders in sustainability, wellness, education, and future of work. They talk about Patricia’s role as the first filter for deals, relationship building, and special projects like producing a TV show on female founders. Erika also opens up about her bipolar diagnosis and emphasizes the importance of resilience and choosing team members who align with her values. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 01:01 Erika Aquino's Background and Passion | |||
| Finding Small Opportunities to Delegate and Free Up Time | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:20:27 | |
Emily shares practical delegation tips like breaking up complex tasks such as invoice processing into smaller, easier pieces, moving teammates upstream in a process, and letting others help with basic steps like data collection. She explains how small steps—like making quick guides, recording simple training videos, or copying others on emails—can add up, lighten your load, and help others grow. Emily also stresses that if delegating a task is more trouble than it’s worth right now, it’s okay to wait until the timing makes more sense. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:41 Breaking Down Invoices for Delegation | |||
| Chief of Staff Title Flexibility and Variations | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:07:25 | |
Emily discusses the various titles that can encompass the role of Chief of Staff, such as VP of Strategic Initiatives or Head of Business Operations. She shares examples, including a VP of Special Projects effectively serving as a Chief of Staff. Emily also offers insights on how to handle political sensitivities and the benefits of role flexibility in job titles.
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| Chief of Staff Leading 5 Enterprise Teams at PMI with Lenka Pincot | 25 Nov 2024 | 00:33:47 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Lenka Pincot, Chief of Staff at PMI, discusses her role in leading the office of the CEO and overseeing five enterprise teams, including transformation management. She emphasizes the need for structure, rigorous prioritization, and agility, explaining how her team handles day-to-day tasks while she focuses on strategic decisions. Lenka also highlights the importance of business awareness and working closely with a great CEO to be a successful Chief of Staff.
Who Am I?
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| Unpacking Why Chief of Staff Definitions Vary Greatly | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:10:59 | |
This episode explains why the definition of Chief of Staff is all over the place due to the role's relative newness in business. Examples from around the world illustrate how the role varies: in Singapore, it's little known; in Mexico, it's often confused with HR; and in Germany, it has military connotations. Emily suggests the role will become more structured and better understood in the next 10-15 years.
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| Enhancing Business Efficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) | 18 Nov 2024 | 00:29:56 | |
Greg Williams, Chief of Staff at Western Computer, talks about helping companies, like those supplying Walmart, navigate supply chain challenges during COVID-19. He sheds light on the importance of ERP systems for growing businesses and offers advice on vendor selection and tech modernization. Greg also discusses trends in bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and how private equity firms work with his company to upgrade systems post-acquisition.
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| Three Key Questions for Maximizing Your Chief of Staff Role | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:06:51 | |
Emily explains three key ways to use a Chief of Staff effectively. First, principals need to identify their needs, like lifting out of daily tasks for fundraising or strategic focus. Second, teams may need help in areas like marketing expertise or mediating executive conflicts. Third, companies should consider both immediate needs and long-term goals, identifying gaps or game-changing talents the Chief of Staff can address.
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| Former Chief of Staff Turned Founder & CEO: Helping Leaders and Chiefs of Staff Optimize Workflows | 11 Nov 2024 | 00:38:42 | |
Larissa Licha, a former tattoo artist turned tech leader, shares her journey from Google Ads customer support to Chief of Staff roles with various tech executives. She explains how she founded Joyn to help Chiefs of Staff manage overwhelming work tools, integrating systems like Slack and Notion into one central place. Larissa also discusses the importance of building trust and clear roles within the organization to foster effective collaboration.
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| Thinking of Hiring a Chief of Staff? A Primer for CEOs and Founders | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:33:46 | |
If you're considering bringing on a Chief of Staff or just need someone to explain the basics, this episode lays the groundwork and levels-set the foundation for future discussions on the role.
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| 8 Email Marketing Myths That Keep You Poor | 04 Nov 2024 | 00:44:35 | |
Emily talks with Dela Quist about increasing email marketing engagement by varying subject lines and sending more frequent emails. Emily shares a story about a persistent salesperson to highlight the importance of staying top of mind. They also discuss Dela's extensive background in the industry and his views on open rates and effective email strategies.
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| How to Successfully Navigate Executive Transitions and Leadership Changes | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:13:25 | |
Emily explains three types of executive transitions: planned, sudden, and founder transitions. She discusses challenges like resistance to change, knowledge gaps, and cultural fit, and offers tools such as transition teams and clear job descriptions. Two examples provided include a nonprofit's executive director change and a tech startup's rapid CEO replacement.
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I?
Time Stamps: | |||
| Managing Two Principals, CEO and COO: Mel Mathews Rejoins Former Company as Chief of Staff | 28 Oct 2024 | 00:32:35 | |
Mel Mathews shares her journey to becoming Chief of Staff at Performance Architects, highlighting the importance of networking and professional conduct. She talks about working closely with co-founders on growth strategies and conducting an anonymous engagement survey to gather employee feedback on PTO policies. Mel emphasizes the need for clear role definitions and the value of institutional knowledge when recruiting for leadership positions.
Who Am I?
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| How Chief of Staff Network Sees the Future: From Chief of Staff to Chief of AI | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:51:49 | |
Scott Amenta, founder of Chief of Staff Network, shares key findings from their recent AI report, including that 84% of surveyed companies are already piloting AI tools and that change management and ethical concerns are major barriers. He talks about the new role of the Chief of Staff in AI adoption, working closely with CEOs and CTOs, and highlights the launch of several new programs like the Chief of AI Fellowship and Launchpad for aspiring Chiefs of Staff. The episode also covers real-world examples of AI change management and how Chiefs of Staff are navigating this fast-changing landscape. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 01:36 Overview of Chief of Staff Network | |||
| Avoiding Time Waste: Practical Tips for Clearer Task Directives | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:06:41 | |
Emily offers three practical tips for ensuring your work meets your boss's needs: ask for clarification at the start, paraphrase the request back, or complete a small part of the task and check in. She discusses the benefits of asking for context, outlining steps, and presenting initial thoughts.
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| Navigating Cybersecurity Risks: Planning Roadmaps and Contingency Planning | 21 Oct 2024 | 00:32:52 | |
Emily speaks with cybersecurity expert Terry Zimniak about balancing security spending with business development and the importance of penetration testing and backup plans. Terry shares insights from his shift from technical roles to overseeing security, including how strategic partnerships like Ascension Health’s acquisition come with risks. They also discuss the role of frameworks like NIST CSF and the growing threat of AI in phishing and deepfake scams.
◦ NIST Cybersecurity Framework
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| Currency Exchange for Leaders: Metrics vs. Building Culture and Relationships | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:04:30 | |
Emily talks about the concept of "currency" in different work roles, sharing an example of a new Chief of Staff who had to shift her focus from production numbers to building relationships and culture. She explains that understanding and using the right currency, like relationships for a Chief of Staff or time and focus for an executive team, adds value to the role. Emily encourages listeners to identify and possibly change their own "currency" to better serve their team and company.
Who Am I? | |||
| From EA to Chief of Staff: Mastering Multitasking Overseeing Nine Different Companies | 14 Oct 2024 | 00:24:52 | |
Brandy Willis talks about her journey from Executive Assistant (EA) to Chief of Staff, managing various responsibilities across nine companies. She explains the importance of building strong relationships and handling different personalities, especially with her principal and his wife. Specific examples include overseeing government contracts, managing financials, and balancing personal tasks.
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| BONUS EPISODE: New Private Equity Book! | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:37:10 | |
Emily sits down w/ her co-authors, Ed Barton and Rory Liebhart to talk about their new book, “On-Ramp to Exit: Your Guide to the Complete Private Equity Experience.” They explain what private equity is (and what it is not - hint: venture capital), how private equity influences business operations, with examples like increased reporting for CEOs and CFOs. Rory and Ed also talk about private equity's networking benefits, how partnerships help companies grow, and potential access to future investments.
00:51 The Story Behind the Book 04:28 Understanding Private Equity 07:05 Navigating the Private Equity World 17:58 The Role of CEO and CFO in PE Partnerships 22:47 The PE Experience: Challenges and Opportunities 29:10 Success Stories and Lessons Learned 34:02 The Future of Private Equity 36:39 Conclusion and Book Release Information WHO AM I? | |||
| The Three-Step Formula to Capture Your CEO's Attention | 09 Oct 2024 | 00:18:33 | |
Emily discusses a key technique for framing conversations around what's important to the listener. She shares examples like tying a CEO's concern for profit margins to an Operations SOP or a strategic hire's impact on revenue. Emily also covers how to approach a first-time CEO who's micromanaging.
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| CEO Jessica and Chief of Staff Ivan Discuss Roles and Leadership at Happen Ventures | 07 Oct 2024 | 00:37:08 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, host Emily Sander sits down with Jessica Gonzalez, President of Happen Ventures, and her Chief of Staff, Ivan Rangel.
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| How to Set Communication Goals for Achieving Business Success | 02 Oct 2024 | 00:18:20 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily dives into how to set SMART communication goals that are specific and measurable to foster better communication and engagement among team members. She provides clear goals and communication objectives with real examples, such as enhancing public speaking skills through Toastmasters and improving internal communications strategies to boost employee engagement. Chiefs of Staff and other leaders will learn how to effectively roll out company-wide updates, ensuring that the target audience receives the message clearly. By focusing on specific goals and measurable outcomes, Emily explains how to achieve better communication and effective public relations within the team.
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| Social Impact in Africa: Leadership with Selina Schriener | 30 Sep 2024 | 00:31:20 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Chief of Staff Selina shares her transition from People Operations Manager to Chief of Staff at Baobab Consulting, emphasizing work-life balance and mental well-being in the workplace. She discusses the company's mission to change narratives about Africa and the importance of communication, whether that's adapting to cultural differences or managing a global remote team. Selina also touches on using feedback for career development and how organizations like GiveWell help guide responsible charitable actions.
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| Transforming Workplace Dynamics: Effective Strategies to Handle Abrasive Communication | 25 Sep 2024 | 00:10:17 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," host Emily offers strategies for addressing abrasive communication in the workplace. She suggests techniques like acknowledging one's communication issues and letting teammates know they are actively working on improving - and potentially using code words to signal to people when their communication is becoming aggressive.
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Turning Tactical Requests Into Visionary Department Plans | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:14:50 | |
Emily shares a story about someone who gave their boss a basic org chart when asked about their department’s future, but missed the bigger picture the boss wanted. She explains how to shift from being just a task-doer to a strategic leader by connecting department changes to the company’s new vision, outlining system upgrades, communication plans, and several org chart options that align with that vision. Emily encourages thinking beyond simple answers and looking for ways to add value at a higher level. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:25 Introduction: From Doer to Strategic Leader | |||
| From Sandhurst to Staff Roles: Paul Robinson’s Military Story to Deputy Chief of Staff | 23 Sep 2024 | 00:24:24 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Deputy Chief of Staff Paul Robinson from the British Army talks about his role, training responsibilities, and experiences. He explains his work with NATO, the importance of building relationships, and how he manages logistics and people management. Paul also shares his experience with autism and its impact on his job, as well as small wins like improving policies for personnel moves.
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Expansion Sale: Four Must-Win Conversations to Keep and Grow Your Customers | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:28:15 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Host Emily Sander breaks down the book "The Expansion Sale" by Eric Peterson and Tim Riesterer. She explains the four must-win sales conversations—renewals, price increases, upsells, and apologies—and provides practical examples like how to highlight the cost of change, offer repair, and communicate evolving pressures. Emily also shares insights on timing and situational fluency in sales conversations. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: | |||
| Addressing Workplace Toxicity with Dr. Helen Ofosu | 16 Sep 2024 | 00:38:42 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," host Emily Sander chats with Dr. Helen Ofosu about creating a resilient work environment and overcoming imposter syndrome. Dr. Helen, author of "How to Be Resilient in Your Career," shares practical tips like being intentional in hiring practices and preparing for big moments to combat feelings of inadequacy. They also tackle the real effects of a toxic workplace, highlighting Helen's point that recovery from bad behavior takes longer than from other workplace issues.
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Leveraging Familiar Concepts to Enhance Leadership | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:13:27 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily Sander shares how using analogies can improve communication in leadership. She discusses examples like a soccer midfielder needing to "pass the ball" for effective delegation and a swimmer needing to "stay in their lane." Emily also emphasizes the importance of listening to the analogies others use and offering your own to help them explain their thoughts. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: | |||
| Founder of Chief of Staff Roundtable Phil Burns | 09 Sep 2024 | 00:54:36 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Phil Burns talks about the crucial role of the Chief of Staff and the risks of not defining it properly. He and Emily discuss the differences between an Executive Assistant and a Chief of Staff, emphasizing strategic thinking and rebranding for those transitioning roles. Phil also shares about the Chief of Staff Roundtable, a community providing resources, peer learning, and discussions on key topics like executing business rhythms and solving big problems. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: | |||
| Create (Good) Problems as Chief of Staff | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:07:38 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, host Emily discusses the concept of creating 'good' problems—like being swamped with sales or having too many top job candidates—as signs of a healthy business - comparing it to the Seattle Seahawks' strategy of drafting the best talent regardless of position. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Mastering Salary Negotiations: A Chief of Staff's Guide with Dorothy Mashburn | 02 Sep 2024 | 00:34:31 | |
Dorothy Mashburn, a leading expert in salary negotiations, shares straightforward strategies on compensation discussions for Chiefs of Staff. Learn how to effectively prepare for pay raise conversations, use data to back up your requests, and handle rejection to keep the discussion going. If you're looking to get a better handle on negotiating your worth in the workplace, this is the episode for you. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 00:45 Meet Dorothy Mashburn: Salary Negotiation Expert 01:13 Understanding the Chief of Staff Role 03:01 Researching Salary Information 05:28 Demonstrating Your Value as Chief of Staff 08:22 Preparing for Salary Negotiations 16:02 Creative Negotiation Strategies 24:50 Handling Rejection and Next Steps 32:10 Final Thoughts and Resources | |||
| Showing You Understand: Leading with Empathy in Situations Beyond Your Control | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:06:57 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily discusses how showing empathy and really looking at the world from their perspective, can go A LONG way. Like when a chief of staff helps a CTO who's stuck with a messy, old tech system. Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 00:46 Navigating Executive Frustrations 02:34 Empathy and Action 03:51 Support for Tech Challenges 04:42 The Power of Understanding in Leadership | |||
| Redefine Your Servant Leadership with Jon Kidwell | 26 Aug 2024 | 00:40:07 | |
How do you lead and serve at the same time? Author Jon Kidwell discusses his definition of a true servant leader, focusing on three key attributes: character, relationships, and skills. Jon debunks nine myths about leadership, contrasting ideas such as mission over people-pleasing, embracing tension, and choosing 'and' over 'or'. Emily and Jon also emphasize defining missions in personal and professional life and the importance of embracing both positive and negative experiences. Listen in to hear Jon's take on the necessary shift from being a people pleaser to mission-driven, from niceness to kindness with truth, and from avoiding to sharing power. They end with how to amplify your impact, asking the question, "What would it look like if you went ALL IN?" Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:45 Introducing John Kidwell: A Journey into Servant Leadership 00:59 Unpacking the Essence of Servant Leadership with John Kidwell 05:46 Defining Mission-Driven Leadership 14:42 The Power of Productive Tension in Leadership 20:42 Exploring the Essence of Servant Leadership 22:16 The Power of Constructive Feedback 23:06 Navigating Leadership Challenges with Transparency 26:51 Embracing Generosity and Humanity in Leadership 31:16 Empowering Others Through Responsible Leadership 35:02 Going All In: The Ultimate Leadership Commitment 39:05 Closing Thoughts and Resources | |||
| Thinking in Bets: Improving Decision-Making Skills for Business Leaders | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:20:31 | |
In this episode, Emily explains the key concepts from Annie Duke's book "Thinking in Bets", which emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between decisions and outcomes for Chiefs of Staff and other leaders. She shares examples like Pete Carroll's controversial Super Bowl play call and a golfer's swing to illustrate the roles of skill and luck in decision-making. Emily also discusses how our self-narratives and biases can hinder clear thinking, and provides a list of questions to ask ourselves to make better decisions. Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:27 Book Introduction: Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke 01:08 Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Example 03:32 Understanding Decisions vs. Outcomes 04:24 Fielding Outcomes and Thinking in Bets 05:45 Skill vs. Luck in Decision Making 07:59 Overcoming Stubbornness of Beliefs 09:42 The Importance of Self-Narrative 12:41 Asking the Right Questions 14:03 Applying Thinking in Bets to Leadership 16:54 Final Takeaways and Support | |||
| How Venture Capital Firms Utilize Chiefs of Staff for Firm and Portfolio Growth | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:40:53 | |
Remi Guarini, a three-time Chief of Staff, shares how she moved from fashion operations at Maison Kitsune to working at Capital Factory, and then to helping launch Neon, an early-stage venture capital firm. She talks about learning on the fly, juggling investor and operations duties, building strong relationships, and how her role evolved to include everything from audits to portfolio support. Remi also gives practical advice for those looking to break into VC or become a Chief of Staff, and explains what makes the job challenging but rewarding. Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:33 Journey to Becoming a Chief of Staff | |||
| The Nonprofit Chief of Staff: Leading with Purpose with Bora Lee | 19 Aug 2024 | 00:38:53 | |
Bora Lee is the Chief of Staff at the Fifth Avenue Committee, a nonprofit focused on community development in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. Bora shares her personal connection to the organization, having grown up in the area and seen her parents move from poverty to the middle class through their grocery business. Bora and Emily discuss the differences and similarities between nonprofit and for-profit leadership roles, emphasizing the unique challenges and rewards of working in the nonprofit sector. Bora highlights the importance of community accountability, the organization's focus on advancing economic, social, and racial justice through various programs, and the strategic implementation of race, equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) goals within the organization. Bora also shares insights on relationship building, leveraging personal experiences, and the significance of being mission-driven in one's career. Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 00:27 Bora Lee's Personal Connection to 5th Avenue Committee 02:05 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Nonprofits 03:32 Community Accountability and Nonprofit Mission 07:47 Engaging with the Community and Building Relationships 12:09 Building Culture and Implementing REDI Goals 16:05 Navigating Workplace Dynamics as Chief of Staff 22:32 Empowering Staff and Leveraging Personal Experiences 28:02 A Chief of Staff's Proudest Moments and Achievements 34:41 Choosing Between Corporate and Nonprofit Roles 38:07 Closing Thoughts and How to Support Fifth Avenue Committee | |||
| Be “Interruptible”: Making Time for Those Unexpected Conversations | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:10:49 | |
In this episode, Emily talks about how important it is for a Chief of Staff to manage interruptions while staying approachable. She shares personal stories, like how she handled unexpected conversations while deep in work and how these interruptions led to valuable insights about her team. Emily emphasizes the balance between focused work and being available for team members to foster open communication. Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:46 The Art of Being Interruptible 02:30 Practical Tips for Managing Interruptions 04:24 A Personal Story on the Power of Being Open 08:07 Strategies for Maintaining Openness and Accessibility 09:45 Final Thoughts and Invitation for Personal Growth | |||
| From Theory to Practice: Gaining Operational Experience w/ Chief of Staff Revant Gupta | 12 Aug 2024 | 00:39:56 | |
In this episode, Revant Gupta, Chief of Staff at Margin, shares his journey of pursuing the Chief of Staff role to gain crucial operational experience. He talks about managing internal operations, designing user experiences, and automating customer onboarding. Revant also provides insights from his time at Home Depot, emphasizing the importance of inventory turnover in the CPG industry. Additionally, he discusses how Margin uses AI to assist small businesses with financial planning and achieving industry benchmarks. Links Mentioned:
Get in touch with Emily:
If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
00:45 Meet Revant Gupta: Serial Entrepreneur 01:24 Revant’s Involvement in Home Depot Finance Team 05:14 Transition to Margin: Automating Financial Planning 06:44 The Role of AI in Margin's Strategy 08:21 Challenges and Strategies for Small Businesses 11:40 Revant’s Role as Chief of Staff 15:27 Marketing and Growth Strategies 29:34 Leadership Insights and Personal Growth | |||
| Recognizing Progress as Chief of Staff: Celebrating Milestones and Continuing Growth | 07 Aug 2024 | 00:08:11 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Emily talks to a Chief of Staff feeling stuck, highlighting the progress made, and encourages listeners to recognize their own progress, no matter how small. Small wins add up faster than you think. Free Resources:
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WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Chief of Staff in Consulting: Crafting Communication Channels with Nishi Moonka | 05 Aug 2024 | 00:31:09 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," host Emily chats with Nishi, who juggles roles as Chief of Staff and Head of People and Culture. Nishi shares how she tackled company-wide challenges, like diversity initiatives and the shift to remote work due to COVID-19. She gives practical tips, such as using a daily debrief system for aligning with her principal, and stresses the importance of adaptability and communication in leadership roles. Link Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Gelling as a Team: Do Your Executives Have Each Other’s Back? | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:09:02 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily discusses how Chiefs of Staff can tell if their executive team is unified by looking for signs of support and resource sharing among team members. Or like sharing your team or speaking up to give overworked colleagues a breather. Plus, she's all about giving props to folks who step up and cover for others or help the team stay strong. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:46 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Team Dynamics 01:05 Signs Your Executive Team is Excelling 02:07 Supporting Each Other: Real-World Examples 04:19 Creating a Culture of Mutual Support 05:57 Evaluating and Enhancing Team Cohesion 07:53 Conclusion and Invitation for Further Discussion | |||
| Fleet Master Chief Raymond Kemp on Building Resilience As a Leader | 29 Jul 2024 | 00:34:25 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," host Emily brings on Fleet Master Chief Raymond Kemp to share his journey from facing racial discrimination to becoming a Navy leader. Raymond talks about steering significant policy changes in the Navy, like integrating women into combat roles and repealing "don't ask, don't tell." He breaks down his "abcs of leadership" philosophy and how it's played a part in fostering resilience and trust among his teams. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:45 Introducing Fleet Master Chief Raymond Kemp 01:41 Raymond Kemp's Early Years and Aspirations 04:58 Climbing the Ranks: From Junior to Fleet Master Chief 06:52 Women in Combat: Navigating New Waters 10:35 Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Leading Through Change 24:37 Building Resilience and Adaptability for Success 29:44 Empowering Leaders in a Hybrid World 31:23 Kemp Solutions: Leadership Training and Keynotes 33:46 Raymond’s Leadership Mantra | |||
| Hannibal and Me: Exploring Success and Failure With History's Greatest Strategist | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:13:29 | |
In this episode, host Emily Sander, Chief of Staff turned executive leadership coach, discusses the book *Hannibal and Me* by Andreas Kluth. She explains how the book uses historical figures like Hannibal and Harry Truman to explore different paths to success and failure. Emily also shares her personal experiences with these concepts and suggests questions to help listeners think about their own goals. Link Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:47 Exploring 'Hannibal and Me' by Andreas Kluth 02:00 Dreamers vs. Wanderers: Leadership Paths 03:09 Personal Reflections on Leadership Journeys 09:09 The Importance of Strategy Over Winning 10:23 Key Takeaways and Reflective Questions | |||
| Chief of Staff's Role in Hally Hair's Success and Olympic Partnerships with Meredith Pong | 22 Jul 2024 | 00:31:25 | |
In this episode, Chief of Staff Meredith Pong discusses how Hally Hair collaborates with female athletes like Baylor University's women's basketball team and Olympic gymnast Leanne Wong to market their products. Meredith explains their "Streak for a Cause" initiative benefiting suicide prevention, and their partnerships with major retailers like Ulta and Target. She also talks about her role in product development and maintaining team camaraderie through events like annual model shoots. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 01:02 Meredith's Internship and Meeting Her Principal 02:49 Building Hallie Hair During the Pandemic 03:51 Hallie Hair's Target Market and Marketing Strategies 09:10 Product Development and Innovations 15:09 Challenges and Successes as Chief of Staff 23:28 Hallie Hair's Olympic Aspirations | |||
| Highest ROI vs. Highest Probability: Strategies for Chiefs of Staff to Maximize Leadership Impact | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:08:44 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Emily explores the decision-making process through the lenses of highest return on investment (ROI) and highest probability. She shares examples like asking someone to marry you versus inviting them for coffee, and applies it to business scenarios, like overhauling a strategic plan or making small tweaks for better team alignment. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Addressing Team Turf Wars: Leadership Lessons for Chiefs of Staff | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:26:57 | |
This episode covers how a Chief of Staff can address two teams stuck in a blame game at a biotech startup. Emily shares examples like holding one-on-one meetings with managers and team members, presenting anonymized feedback, setting clear expectations for team behavior, and publicly reinforcing new team norms. He explains how to reset the group dynamic so everyone understands the new way forward and knows “pointing fingers” is no longer acceptable. Links Mentioned:
Free Resources:
Get in Touch With Emily:
Who Am I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.
Time Stamps: 00:36 The Rigorous Interview Process | |||
| Not Your Grandma’s Consultant: Leadership Transformation Blueprint with Tirrell Payton | 15 Jul 2024 | 00:42:33 | |
In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Tirrell Payton Founder of Nooma Group talks about shifting focus from busywork to strategic outcomes and stresses empathy in leadership while leading change. Tirrell walks Emily through real-world examples like siloed teams in pharma marketing. They discuss practical ways leaders can transform their approach, like prioritizing the most impactful tasks and reorganizing teams to drive better results. As a CEO, Tirrell has a Chief of Staff - he shares how he utilizes the role and the advantages it brings the organization! Links Mentioned: Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. | |||
| Top 5 Strategic Initiatives for Chiefs of Staff | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:13:37 | |
In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, host Emily talks about key strategic initiatives for Chiefs of Staff, such as overseeing reorganizations, talent placement, and strategic planning. She details how chiefs of staff are central to rolling out new products and working on mergers and acquisitions. Emily also offers a strategic planning checklist download. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 01:15 Key Initiatives for Chiefs of Staff 08:06 Strategic Planning: The Chief of Staff's Crown Jewel 12:21 Getting Involved in Strategic Initiatives 13:17 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps | |||
| The Chief of Startup Success: Bridging Leadership and Operations for Excellence w/ Nikki Shakamuri | 08 Jul 2024 | 00:30:50 | |
From healthcare to creating viral content? Nikki's role as the chief of staff at Viraaal (yes, with three a’s) throws her in the deep end - TikTok ads for app devs. Plot twist! In her COS role, she cuts through the noise to drive efficiency. Emily and Nikki also swap stories on finding balance through simple joys like hanging with friends, Costco sample days, and embracing “delusional” dreams. Free Resources:
Get in touch with Emily:
WHO AM I? If we haven’t met before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want. Time Stamps: 00:41 Journey into the Startup World 00:52 Transition from Healthcare to COS 02:07 Exploring Different Career Paths 05:39 The Importance of Mentorship 11:11 Working at Viral: A Startup Experience 12:36 The Role of a Chief of Staff in a Startup 16:11 Balancing Work and Personal Life 20:31 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff 30:38 Final Thoughts | |||