This episode breaks down the "What's your role, what's your goal" framework, with Emily Sander sharing practical examples like a Chief of Staff running a post-mortem, facilitating meetings, or just observing and debriefing with their principal. The approach also applies outside work, like being a supportive parent or a good flight passenger. Emily Sander shows how this simple framework helps people prep for any situation.

Link mentioned:
For more information about executive leadership coaching, visit this link.

Get in touch with Emily:
Want help clarifying your role and goal? Book a clarity call with Emily.

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Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet 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:

00:38 Understanding Your Role and Goal
01:40 Facilitating Meetings Effectively
02:20 Observing and Debriefing
04:30 Applying the Framework Beyond Work
05:41 Parenting and Personal Scenarios
07:17 Conclusion and Contact Information

Emily Sander and Sophia Mikelionis talk about practical self-leadership for Chiefs of Staff, covering how to build microhabits like walking during phone meetings, using a regular coffee mug instead of an insulated cup to encourage breaks, and putting your phone to bed at night to unwind. They discuss the importance of protecting your energy, setting boundaries, and remembering basic human needs like sleep, food, and water. Sophia Mikelionis also shares tips for identifying moments that make you happiest, even outside of work, as a way to realign your efforts and prevent burnout.

Links Mentioned:
Sophia Mikelionis’ YouTube Channel
Email Sophia Mikelionis

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 yet 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:
01:28 Understanding Self-Leadership
02:20 Practical Tips for Self-Care
03:25 The Importance of Small Habits
05:52 Mindset Shifts for Self-Leadership
10:47 Creating Boundaries and Protecting Energy
16:14 Micro Habits and Practical Exercises
21:05 The Game Changer: Turning Off Email Notifications
21:46 Creating a Morning Routine
25:02 Breaking the Cycle of Bad Habits
31:08 The Importance of Hobbies
35:40 Conclusion and Contact Information

This episode talks about moving teams from feeling stuck to making progress by first getting accurate data. Emily Sander shares an example of advising a Chief of Staff to use surveys to clarify vague complaints about “culture problems” and explains how gathering real feedback, instead of just venting, can lead to informed action on issues like PTO policies. The message is to focus on what you can control and collect solid info before trying to fix anything.

Want help getting data points? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn

Website

Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet 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 Shifting Mindsets: From Fix It to Progress
01:11 Case Study: Addressing Culture Problems
02:58 Mindset Matters: Accurate Data in Thoughts
04:19 Taking Ownership and Making Progress
07:17 Empowering Teams: Changing the Narrative
12:13 Concluding Thoughts: Empowerment Through Data

James Misner talks about why only a small percentage of nonprofits break $1 million in revenue and explains that many struggle because they don’t know how to fundraise effectively or are fearful of dealing with money. He shares practical advice for Chiefs of Staff, stressing the importance of having clear fundraising processes, following up with donors, and building a strong team with paid major gift officers. James also discusses the impact of personal connections, handwritten thank-you notes, and branded monthly giving programs.

Links Mentioned:

• The Kipos Group Website
• Connect with James Misner on LinkedIn

Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

Free Leadership Resources

LinkedIn
Website
Newsletter

Who Am I?
If we haven’t yet 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:
00:54 James Misner's Journey into Fundraising
03:12 Overcoming Fear of Money in Fundraising
05:53 Creating Effective Fundraising Processes
08:30 Building Donor Relationships
12:42 The Importance of Follow-Up
17:05 The Importance of Donor Retention
18:44 Supporting Your CEO in Fundraising
21:45 Effective Fundraising Metrics
27:19 Building a Monthly Giving Program
29:16 Seasonality and Major Donors
31:13 Advice for Chiefs of Staff
32:46 Encouraging Personal Donations

Lisa D. asks how to guide leaders to their next step without telling them how to do their job. Emily suggests agreeing on the project’s end goal, asking questions like “what’s a fair and reasonable way to start?” and having departments explain their preferred starting points. She shares tips for using data and prompts like discussing pros and cons, so all voices are heard.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet 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:

00:54 Setting the Project Goal
01:24 Fair and Reasonable Approaches
02:40 Measuring Progress
03:23 Addressing Department Preferences
04:58 Conclusion and Call to Action

Emily Sander talks with Tinna Jackson about navigating power dynamics as a Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, handling office politics, and the importance of emotional intelligence and trust in leadership. Tinna shares tips on building relationships with board members, managing micromanagers, and methods for better communication in remote or hybrid teams. She also discusses her book, The Power Play Journal, and her group coaching program for aspiring leaders.

Links Mentioned:

• Tinna Jackson’s Book: The Power Play Journal: Battle-Tested Strategies & Reflections for Impactful Leadership
• Connect with Tinna Jackson on LinkedIn

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet 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:

00:48 Tinna's Background in Politics
05:09 Public vs. Private Sector Dynamics
06:18 Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
08:34 Communication in Remote Work
11:05 Building Team Relationships
14:59 Effective Leadership Strategies
16:54 Navigating Power Dynamics
18:46 Finding Influential Allies
20:04 Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Dynamics
22:49 Building Strong Board Relationships
26:40 The Power Play Journal
30:56 Group Coaching and Mentorship

Emily Sander talks about what to do when a Business Development Rep starts doing graphic design, website tweaks, and HubSpot updates instead of making calls. She shares ways to set clear expectations, give frequent feedback, and explains when it's time to let someone go if things don't change. Examples include weekly check-ins, specific quotas, and distinguishing useful creativity from distracting tasks.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet 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:

00:57 Coaching and Feedback Essentials
01:38 Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities
02:46 Distinguishing Productive vs. Distracting Activities
04:58 Implementing Accountability Measures
08:35 Addressing Cold Calling Challenges
09:58 Making the Tough Decision to Move On
13:12 Final Thoughts and Listener Engagement

Conghao Tian shares how he landed a Chief of Staff internship at Zenblen while studying for his MBA at Chicago Booth, starting with a background in music and art history. He talks about building KPI systems for the startup’s robotic smoothie kiosks, managing UChicago interns, and balancing intense work hours alongside full-time school. The episode gives real insight into what a Chief of Staff intern does in a startup and how Conghao is using both his coursework and hands-on experience.

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet 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:

01:00 From Arts to Business: Conghao Tian's Background
02:24 The MBA Experience at Chicago Booth
03:29 Landing the Chief of Staff Internship
04:50 Balancing MBA and Internship
09:47 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff Intern
15:34 Introduction to the Michelin Star Chef
16:53 Balancing School and Work
18:05 Applying Classroom Knowledge in Real Life
20:31 Part-Time Challenges and Solutions
27:46 Internship Management and Advice