Not your admin.
Not your task robot.
Not your shadow CEO.
A Chief of Staff isn’t just a glorified EA…
or a fixer for one-off chaos....
or someone who magically "just knows what you want." (I wish I were a mind reader — it would make the job easier. That said, I’ve gotten pretty close.)
A good CoS is a strategic force multiplier. Someone who is embedded behind the scenes to stabilize execution, align leadership, and protect your time for what only you can do.
It’s a role that’s frequently misunderstood, especially in the startup space. I hear things like:
Assuming it’s only for big orgs with deep org charts
Hiring someone super junior and expecting magic
Expecting ops excellence without giving visibility
And the worst one? Thinking this is just a “nice to have.”
Most fast-moving teams need this role long before they think they do. Especially when:
You’re still the default for everything
Strategy’s set, but execution keeps slipping
Investor prep, team alignment, board meetings, and ops all compete for your time
This role isn’t extra overhead.
It’s what clears the bottleneck.
Big Visions Need Structure.
I Make Execution Happen.
