Insights

Who Actually Needs a Chief of Staff

(but doesn't know it yet):

A real-world guide to spotting
the friction before it stalls
your growth.


Most early-stage companies don’t go looking for a “Chief of Staff.”
They don’t need a full-time COO. They’re not trying to add more layers of management.

They just need someone they trust to step in and bring structure, momentum, and relief.

And whether they realize it or not — they’re already saying the quiet part out loud.

I’ve heard every single one of these from founders I’ve worked with — sometimes in the same week:


That's where a Deployable Chief of Staff comes in.

We all know the term Chief of Staff from politics, the military, or high-powered corporate roles. It sounds formal. Heavy. Maybe even unnecessary.

But in a startup or growth-stage company, it means something different. It’s not about hierarchy or bureaucracy — it’s about protecting the founder’s time, aligning the leadership team, and driving real execution across the business.

In that context, a Chief of Staff becomes the person who keeps the entire system moving — calmly, quietly, and without creating noise.

Not every company calls it a Chief of Staff. But a lot of them need it — especially when the cracks start to show.


These are the kinds of companies that feel the friction — even if they haven’t named it yet:

Seed to Series B Startups

Scaling fast, ops unraveling, founder underwater.

Health, Wellness & Med-Tech Orgs

Clinician- or compliance-led teams needing structure and trust to scale.

Founder-Led Expert Brands

They are the brand — but can’t scale alone.

B2B Service Companies (10–50 ppl)

Grew through hustle, but now ops and accountability are breaking.

Post-Launch DTC Brands

Product-market fit is there — but internal chaos is rising.

Mission-Driven Startups & Nonprofits

Big hearts, big vision — struggling to scale execution.

What they probably
think they need:

  • A better ops person
  • A new tool or dashboard
  • More meetings

What they actually need:

A trusted operator who can stabilize the chaos behind the scenes — without taking over.


What a Deployable CoS Does

A great CoS doesn’t just “take things off your plate.”

They protect your focus and scale your intent.

  • Aligns leadership around shared priorities
  • Installs lightweight systems (not bloated tools)
  • Drives execution and operating rhythm
  • Offloads the founder — without muting their voice
  • Gets stuck projects moving again
  • Preps the company for a raise, a ramp, or an exit


If you’re feeling the weight, but can’t quite name what’s off --

This is for you.

I’ve worked inside med-tech, venture-backed startups, elite athlete brands, and nonprofits.

This role isn’t about being an assistant. It’s about being the glue that holds momentum, execution, and leadership together — so you can actually scale what’s working.