Learn practical ways to build a culture of feedback at work, whether your team is new to honest conversations or already open to input. Emily Sander shares examples like using simple "what did we learn?" discussions after meetings, asking for feedback on your own actions, and starting anonymous pulse surveys. Tips include using "we" language in reviews, modeling how to accept feedback, and structuring shout-outs and team evaluations to encourage constructive dialogue.

Link Mentioned:
Radical Candor by Kim Scott

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help building a feedback culture? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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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.

Time Stamps:
00:41 Radical Candor Recap

01:43 Why Feedback Cultures Fail

02:59 Start Small and Be Patient

03:36 Ask What Did We Learn

05:46 Model Feedback on Yourself

07:37 Debrief Story Example

11:14 Pulse Surveys and Follow Through

13:00 Structured Group Feedback Loops

22:29 Wrap Up and Next Steps

Maria Paiva shares her path from chemical engineering to a blended Chief of Staff and HR role at a small Portuguese company, explaining how her job covers everything from people management to company strategy. She discusses working for two principals, how her company’s idea of Chief of Staff came from The West Wing, and why she often introduces herself as an HR manager due to the role’s novelty in Portugal. Maria also talks about earning team trust, organizing manager training, and balancing planned HR tasks with unpredictable Chief of Staff responsibilities.

​​Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

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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.

Time Stamps:
00:56 Maria Career Path

02:55 Two CEOs And Role Origin

08:50 Balancing HR And CoS

12:07 Managing Dual Principals

16:48 Handling Principal Pushback

17:35 Scaling Leadership Structure

20:42 Outside Chief of Staff Learning Curve

27:18 Building Trust Through Listening

34:15 Advice and Closing Thoughts

Emily Sander talks about appreciating the people you work with during each season of your career - like learning from Jamie, being challenged to grow by a boss like Rohit, or having fun working with someone like Matt. She also encourages listeners to recognize and value work friendships, even if they change over time, and reminds us not to take good team dynamics for granted.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to build stronger work relationships? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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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.

Timestamps:
00:46 Flip the Script to Appreciation

01:07 Learning from a Teammate

01:40 Grateful for a Challenging Boss

02:43 The Coworker Who Makes It Fun

03:24 When Mentoring Seasons End

05:16 How to Express Appreciation

08:11 Work Friends and Lifelong Bonds

11:53 Step Back and Reflect

Chief of Staff and crisis communication expert Jeff Evans shares lessons from working in the California legislature, discussing the importance of building relationships across the aisle and handling unexpected crises. He explains the difference between narrative framing and spin, and gives practical tips for leaders communicating in the first 24 hours of a crisis using a four-step framework: what we know, what we don’t know, what we’re going to do, and when we’ll update. They also cover real examples like the Boeing 737 MAX crisis, Southwest Airlines' business model changes, and handling tough school policy situations.

Link Mentioned:
Jeff Evan’s Website

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

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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.

Time Stamps:
01:43 Bipartisan Relationships

04:17 Narrative Framing vs Spin

06:55 Crisis Statement Framework

08:42 Precision Builds Credibility

13:47 Small Credibility Killers

15:43 Clarity Precision Narrative Model

19:13 Loglines and Lincoln Script

22:29 Leadership Logline Basics

25:18 Clarity In Crisis Comms

27:41 Tone Deaf Rulebook Lesson

35:16 Change Narratives And Alignment

This episode explains why Chiefs of Staff should avoid asking "How can I help you?" and instead focus on what will move the needle for their principal and team. Emily Sander shares real pitfalls, like getting stuck with small admin tasks, and suggests specific strategies such as spotting communication breakdowns or coaching leaders through challenges. The advice includes leading with strategic proposals rather than just picking up tasks others want to hand off.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help shifting from task-taker to strategic partner? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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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.

Time Stamps:
00:25 The Help Question Trap
02:08 Ask Needle Moving Questions
02:45 High Impact Examples
03:59 Know Your Best Service
04:32 Avoid Getting Pigeonholed
05:26 Lead With a Proposal
07:04 Takeaways and Closing

Nick McDonough talks about his path from manufacturing and M&A to becoming Chief of Staff and later Chief Administrative Officer at the healthcare startup QuikMedic. He shares how his role expanded as the company tripled in size, taking on HR, data, and operations responsibilities. Nick also gives practical insights into prioritizing work, building trust with the CEO, and why he prefers working at a small, fast-moving company over a large organization.

Links Mentioned:
QuikMedic’s Website

Connect with Nick McDonough on LinkedIn

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

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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.

Time Stamps:
01:02 Nick’s career path: manufacturing → healthcare → corp dev & partnerships

03:11 What QuikMedic Clinic does: mobile urgent care to keep patients out of the ER

04:36 Defining the initial role: Chief of Staff to CEO + Head of Growth & Strategy

05:40 How the role expanded into CAO: scaling pains, HR/data/vendor rigor

09:17 Day-to-day execution: small team, key projects, prioritization cadence & partner work

20:08 Big Company vs. Small Company: What Changes Day-to-Day

22:56 Why Going Smaller Was Intentional (and the Vet Practice Influence)

25:09 Chief of Staff Lessons: Trust, Candor, and Challenging the CEO

31:43 Favorite Parts of the Role: Full Visibility & Seeing Decisions Up Close

34:43 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff + Relationship ‘Thread the Needle’

The episode tackles what to do when you feel a case of the "blahs" at work, making sure to distinguish it from burnout. Chief of Staff tips include taking a walk, stretching (like the doorway stretch), listening to motivational music or interviews (such as Kobe Bryant), and giving 100% of whatever energy you have that day. Emily Sander encourages self-awareness and having go-to strategies ready for those off days.

Get in touch with Emily:
Feeling the “blahs” at work? Get clear on your next move. Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

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Newsletter

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 Blahs vs. Burnout: Make the Right Diagnosis First

02:01 Quick Reset Tactics: Walks, Stretching, and Movement

03:51 Give 100% of Your 70%: Showing Up Without the Guilt

04:32 Name It to Tame It: Remember the Blahs Are Temporary

05:12 Use External Energy: Music, Motivation, and a “Pump-Up” Playlist

06:31 Build Your Personal Playbook: Patterns, Experiments, and Leadership Self-Awareness

07:49 Wrap-Up + Sponsor Message

Rachael Goldfarb shares real-life stories from her time supporting the Chief of Staff to President Clinton and leading at the Gates Foundation. She breaks down what a Chief of Staff is and isn’t, highlights why the role is senior and not administrative, and talks about challenges women face in these positions. The episode includes examples of advocating for staff, building relationships, and navigating tough boundaries with principals.

Links Mentioned:
Connect with Rachael Goldfarb on LinkedIn
Email Rachael Goldfarb

Get in touch with Emily:
Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn
Website
Newsletter

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:
01:25 Experiences in the White House
05:55 Defining the Chief of Staff Role
12:15 The Importance of Relationship Building
20:58 Women in Leadership and Chief of Staff Roles
25:43 The Thrill of Helping Others
27:53 Challenges and Misunderstandings
32:09 Elevating the Chief of Staff Role
42:33 Demonstrating Value as a Chief of Staff
46:10 Final Thoughts and Advice