Leveraging Leadership

Emily Sander shares a simple trick to boost energy and engagement in presentations: think about something you love, like movies, then bring that same excitement to your business talk. She uses a real story about bombing a dry run at a Risk Summit and how talking about her favorite movies helped her improve. Chiefs of Staff and executives can try this method to sound less flat or nervous during important presentations.

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This episode breaks down what a Chief of Staff actually does in different industries, from startups to government, and covers how the role is changing with AI according to Scott Amenta. Guests like Clara Ma share practical advice for pitching the Chief of Staff role internally and how to tailor your resume if you're switching from another field. Phil Burns talks about the confusion between Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff rol...

Emily Sander talks about how Chiefs of Staff often feel guilty or frustrated about things like not working long enough hours or not helping a struggling teammate. She explains that being too empathetic or self-critical can backfire and suggests telling yourself, "and that's okay," to relieve pressure and keep perspective. Real examples include feeling called out for working from home or regretting not helping someone in a team meet...

Emily Sander talks with Lindsey Gardner, a multi-time Chief of Staff and co-founder of Sapphire Chief of Staff, about balancing people and business priorities. Lindsey Gardner shares lessons from working with the same CEO for a decade, why she always puts people first, and how clear communication builds trust. She also explains Sapphire’s approach to Chief of Staff recruiting and development and discusses how AI should be see...

Emily Sander answers a listener question from Sarah in Charlotte, a Chief of Staff handling board governance, leadership meetings, and benefits rollout. The episode covers how to build strategic relationships with the board, use back channels professionally, and avoid being seen only as admin support while keeping the founder focused and the team aligned. Real examples include collaborating with consultants and prepping the chairma...

This compilation features conversations with four principals about why they brought on a Chief of Staff, how they built trust in the role, and the impact Chiefs of Staff had on their teams. Examples include Lawrence Coburn hiring a former intern for the role, Nikki Barua making the Chief of Staff her very first hire, and Marcus East describing the Chief of Staff as a force multiplier who connects teams. The episode highlights pract...

Emily Sander shares why showing up as an unhurried, intentional leader matters more than always hustling. She gives practical tips like taking walks, working out, or even sipping coffee outside to set the right mindset. Chiefs of Staff and executives are encouraged to build daily habits - whether it's meditation, reading, or attending their kids’ soccer games - that help them become the kind of leader others want to follow.

Emily Sander talks with Lindsay McCleary about her journey from project management to Chief of Staff roles in both the private sector at Binc and the public sector for the City of Charlotte. Lindsay McCleary shares how she created her own job description, built trust with leaders, and tackled challenges like internal communication and supporting a fast-growing city. She offers practical advice for Chiefs of Staff, like moving from ...

Knowledge management is explained as making sure important information flows up, down, and across an organization, using direct examples like leadership decisions being shared with teams, or customer feedback reaching the right people. The episode covers how the Chief of Staff can spot communication breakdowns and keep everyone in the loop, including situations where leaders fail to pass on updates or overreact to minor issues. Tip...

Savio P. Clemente, a two-time cancer survivor, shares how his experiences shaped his adaptive resilience leadership framework and gives practical advice for avoiding burnout and decision fatigue. The discussion covers high-pressure healthcare leadership, the importance of paying attention to your body, and why intentional silence and rest matter for Chief of Staff roles. Clemente also explains his "Aloha reboot" reset method and ta...

This episode shares practical ways to handle uncertain times at work by focusing on the tasks that need to get done no matter what. Emily Sander gives real examples, like mapping and merging data systems during a leadership shakeup, a Chief of Staff streamlining VP workflows after an acquisition, and helping two clashing teams start working better together while waiting for a new role to be filled. The main advice: find useful task...

Andrea Cilliers shares her journey from joining the Department of Defense through a disability internship to becoming Chief of Staff for the U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights. She talks about working on diversity and inclusion at the State Department, influencing global policy, and meeting leaders like Pope Francis. The episode covers how she built relationships across government, advocated for disability righ...

The episode breaks down how skill-based assessments can help make better hiring decisions, whether you’re hiring for an entry-level analyst, a digital marketing specialist, or a software engineer. Emily Sander shares real-life examples like using SEO quizzes, press release writing tasks, and real client scenarios to test candidates’ technical abilities. The advice is to create assessments that match the actual job and a...

Emily Sander talks with Keosha Lucas about whether the Chief of Staff role is a career destination or a stepping stone. Keosha shares her path from Lyft, where she did Chief of Staff work under different titles, to startups and eventually becoming a Senior Vice President and co-founding a fintech company. She gives practical advice on gaining experience, handling imposter syndrome, and how Chief of Staff skills prepared her to run ...

The episode looks at jargon and acronyms in the workplace, using examples like ARR (annual rate of return) and CPA (cost per acquisition or certified public accountant), and talks about ways to learn or clarify business lingo. It emphasizes that asking questions doesn’t make you look stupid and highlights the Chief of Staff’s role in creating a shared language across teams, especially during mergers or integrations. Tip...

Emily Sander talks with Maren Perry, founder and CEO of Arden Coaching, about what HR really does beyond paperwork, why leadership development should start early, and the habits of high-performing teams. They cover tips for giving and receiving feedback, how emotional intelligence works in day-to-day situations, and how small changes - like starting meetings on time - can improve team culture. Maren Perry also explains Arden Coachi...

The conversation focuses on practical ways a Chief of Staff can work with peers across departments, like finding small ways to make someone’s workflow easier or kicking off cross-team projects such as company-wide KPI dashboards and revamped performance reviews. Real examples include removing unnecessary steps from daily processes, automating Salesforce reports, and even simple gestures like ordering a camera cover for a coll...

Emily talks with performance coach Benjamin Smith about using sports psychology and mindfulness for better leadership. They cover tools like visualization, breathwork, and grounding exercises for handling pressure, and discuss the importance of play, self-compassion, and knowing your core values. Benjamin also shares why striving for endless self-improvement isn’t always the answer and how feeling “whole” is key t...

Emily answers a listener named Dallas, a longtime tree company owner, who’s struggling to get traction applying for Chief of Staff roles after his business closed. She talks about being seen as overqualified, how to preempt concerns on a resume and in interviews, and ways to use founder experience as an advantage. Emily gives examples like using a simple explanation on LinkedIn and resumes, referencing candidates moving from ...