Leveraging Leadership

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: Strategic Planning Checklist   Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff Chief of Staff Tool...

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 importanc...

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 Resou...

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 leadershi...

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 g...

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...

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 Resource...

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 impactfu...

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: Strategic Planning Che...

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...

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily talks about the impact a Chief of Staff's behavior and energy can have on shaping a company's culture. She shares a story about a client managing a reorg, emphasizing how body language and demeanor can comfort and energize a team during times of change. Emily advises that whether you're speaking or not, your presence influences how oth...

On this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily chats with Josh Nemes, VP and Chief of Staff at Zengistics, about the realities of juggling a dual leadership role. Josh shares how he navigates shifting responsibilities and highlights the importance of prioritizing high-value tasks, describing the support from his COO, and the role of his family in maintaining balance.  Emily and Josh end with pred...

In this episode, Host Emily Sander, Chief of Staff turned executive leadership coach, discusses the power of the compound effect, starting with an Albert Einstein quote on compound interest. She cites Darren Hardy's book "The Compound Effect" to explain how small, consistent actions lead to big results. Emily also uses examples from Kobe Bryant and Michael Phelps to illustrate these...

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily Sander talks with Iliyana Stareva, the Chief of Staff to the President of EMEA at ServiceNow. They discuss nuances of global leadership, aligning cross-cultural teams, the importance of crafting and managing internal PR campaigns. Additionally, Iliyana shares her personal routine to maintain work-life balance and offers tips like turning off email no...

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily outlines a straightforward approach to maximizing your efforts by identifying how many outputs you get from one input. Prioritize projects that trigger a domino effect of productivity. Tune in and gain valuable insights on how one strategic move can generate multiple benefits, whether you're a seasoned leader or an up-and-coming Chief of Staff....

Jason Cannon is an accomplished former theater actor, director, playwright, and producer turned author and storytelling coach.   Jason shares insights from his experiences in theater - from "Ted Lasso" to Shakespeare, storytelling frames our perceptions. Understanding character arcs in dramas and real-life high-stake scenarios is key. Our narratives unfold in art and business alike, as w...

In our latest Leveraging Leadership episode, Emily breaks down Marcus Sheridan's "They Ask, You Answer," showing how it's not just about marketing, but how you handle any business convo. Think getting inside your customer's head, answering their burning questions fast, and using those insights to steer your marketing content. It's straight talk about turning typical s...

In this joint episode, get dual insights from CEO Perry Knoppert and Chief of Staff Karen Zeigler of the Octopus Movement. They share their views on transitioning to nonlinear leadership. They discuss how they work together seamlessly across countries, the traits to look for in a good Chief of Staff, and letting culture define itself. Perry and Karen also emphasize using children's creativity...

In this episode of Leveraging Leadership, Emily discusses guiding teams through change with effective communication strategies and by leveraging the Chief of Staff. She highlights the importance of providing context and answering the question, "What does that mean for me?" in change situations. Emily shares real-life examples like bringing on a new C-suite team member, bringing on privat...

SparkCognition's Chief of Staff, Miles Thurman, talks about the ups and downs of guiding tech teams and the nitty-gritty of board meetings. He and Emily compare notes on preparing new execs for high-stakes decisions and share stories about how they each worked with their sales and sales ops teams to boost revenue. Other topics include: using red teams for decision-making, board meeting Q&...

In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Emily tackles the all-too-common issue of the confidence gap, revealing how action breeds confidence rather than the other way around. She shares strategies and personal anecdotes to help listeners, especially chiefs of staff, overcome self-doubt and step up as more assertive leaders.    Links Mentioned: Book: The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris...

Join Katrine Haugerud as she shares practical leadership insights for translating strategy into operations. Learn about her experience with private equity-backed firms. Her book recommendation is "Traction" by Gino Wickman (https://amzn.to/4918MnL) – – – – – Timestamps 00:23 Katrine's Journey from Oracle to Chief of Staff 00:45 Katrine's Experience at Oracle and Transition to t...

In this episode of "Leveraging Leadership," Emily discusses Erin Lebacqz’s "High Value Writing Workbook" and shares valuable writing tips for business professionals. She emphasizes the importance of knowing your reader, being concise AND nice, choosing familiar words and structuring emails for clarity. Emily highlights that every written communication, whether to a CEO or a Chi...

In this episode, executive Lawrence Coburn shares his experiences and advice on effectively using a Chief of Staff, emphasizing trust and strategic planning. He talks about bringing back a former intern, Matt, to fill this critical role during a period of rapid company growth. Lawrence also discusses their AI tool, Ambient, which not only takes notes but identifies owners and next steps, creating...

Chief of Staff is the consummate behind the scenes role. It’s not about you. Sometimes you have to let others have the last word, sometimes you have not care who gets credit, and sometimes you have to apologize (even if you didn’t do anything wrong!) Chiefs of Staff are assertive, direct, and stand their ground when needed. They also must know when to check their ego at the door for the good of th...