Leveraging Leadership

Episode

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  Q&A: How to Lead a New Team Without Letting Your Old One Down 12.08.2026 23mnt

  Emily Sander answers a listener question from Megan, who just got promoted and is transitioning between teams. She gives advice on setting up the old team for success, like handing off tasks to a "go-to" person and clearly communicating that change to everyone. Emily also suggests doing a listening tour with the new team to learn from their experience and explains the importance of being confident, having a plan, and not expecting everything to go perfectly. Get in touch with Emily: Ready t...
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  Growing Vocal Authority: Insights for Executives from an Accent Coach 10.08.2026 50mnt

  Emily Sander talks with Jay Poulton, founder of The Accent Coach, about how senior leaders can use their voice more effectively. They discuss practical tips like breath control, vocal variety, and recording yourself to close the “authority gap,” and share examples of issues such as vocal fry, upturning at the end of sentences, and monotone delivery that impact credibility. Jay Poulton explains specific exercises and the importance of practicing your delivery out loud to sound more confident a...
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  Three Powerful Checkpoint Questions to Level Up Your Leadership 06.08.2026 13mnt

  Emily Sander talks about setting up personal checkpoints to track growth and avoid getting stuck. She shares three practical questions she asks herself every other week: Where am I getting in my own way? What's a middle way? Who can help with that? She suggests different ways to do these check-ins, like journaling or using sticky notes. Get in touch with Emily: Want help creating meaningful checkpoints for your growth? Book a quick clarity call w/ Emily here. Free Leadership Resources...
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  Wearable Mindfulness: The Ring Revolutionizing Leader Wellbeing 03.08.2026 38mnt

  Johan Matton, creator of the Pulse Mindfulness Ring, talks about his journey from filmmaking to building a wearable that helps people take mindful pauses throughout the day using quiet haptic vibrations instead of apps or data tracking. Emily Sander, a former Chief of Staff and early investor, shares how the ring helped her be more present, cut down autopilot habits, and manage stress. They discuss the science behind micro-pauses, the choice not to include biometrics, and upcoming features li...
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  Perfection Is an Illusion: Tips for Giving Better Answers in Meetings 29.07.2026 14mnt

  Emily Sander talks about the pressure to give perfect or "right" answers in interviews and meetings, shares examples like people panicking or rambling, and explains why aiming for a "good" answer is more realistic and helpful. She encourages listeners to drop the idea of perfection and focus on contributing value, even if their delivery isn’t flawless. Get in touch with Emily: You don't need the perfect answer. You need a clear one. Book a clarity call w/ Emily here. Free Leadership R...
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  Trust and Impact: Ethical Influence and Authentic Leadership in Business 27.07.2026 39mnt

  Judith Germain explains her Maverick Leadership philosophy, focusing on trust, influence, and leading through uncertainty during reorganizations. She shares practical tips for Chiefs of Staff, like building trust before a crisis, giving people real agency in decisions, and using "intelligent disobedience" to challenge bad calls. The episode covers the difference between being trusted and being trustworthy, and how to spot genuine leadership versus performative behavior. Links Mentioned: Mav...
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  Rethinking How Can I Make Your Life Easier in the Chief of Staff Role 22.07.2026 14mnt

  Emily Sander shares feedback from a listener who disagreed with her advice to ask, "How can I make your life easier?" as a new Chief of Staff. The listener argued this question could reduce the role to admin work and distract from driving the team's main objectives. Emily Sander explains her view that the approach can help in some situations, especially early on, but agrees it's important for a Chief of Staff to adapt and stay focused on results. Get in touch with Emily: Want more practical ...
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  Beyond IQ and EQ: Exploring PQ for Competitive Advantage in Business Leadership 20.07.2026 44mnt

  Rohit Bassi shares how his transition from consulting at McKinsey led him into a Chief of Staff role at a major PE-backed company, exposing him to real-world operations, M&A, and industry-changing deals. He explains his concept of "people quotient" (PQ) as a framework for evaluating leadership, organizational structure, and talent operations, and discusses how Chiefs of Staff can use PQ tools to make quick, impactful decisions about teams and company growth. The episode includes practical...
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  Consultants as Chiefs of Staff: Using Big Picture Thinking for Real Results 15.07.2026 13mnt

  Emily Sander talks about how consultants who become Chief of Staff often excel at big-picture thinking and mapping companywide projects, but tend to get stuck over-analyzing instead of taking action. She shares real stories of consultants perfecting charts and data while delaying implementation, and suggests asking yourself if you need to "think more or do more" to avoid getting in your own way. The episode highlights both the strengths and blind spots consultants bring to the Chief of Staff ...
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  Building Organizational Culture Amidst Transitions and Layoffs 13.07.2026 39mnt

  Emily Sander talks with Yorm Ackuaku about building visibility as a Chief of Staff, especially in marketing-led organizations like Vista and Weight Watchers. Yorm shares practical tactics, such as highlighting team achievements on Slack, running engaging all-hands meetings, and managing culture during layoffs. She also gives advice for Chiefs of Staff working with new principals and for those navigating global teams. Get in touch with Emily: Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call...
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  Practical Communication: Delivering Your Message With the Bottom-Line Approach 08.07.2026 8mnt

  Emily Sander shares a practical tip for communicating with busy executives: start with the bottom line first, then give a little necessary context, and invite questions if needed. Using the iceberg metaphor, Emily Sander explains that a Chief of Staff usually knows much more than they should share up front, and most conversations only need the essentials to help leaders make quick decisions. Get in touch with Emily: Want to sharpen how you communicate with executives? Book a clarity call w/ ...
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  The Principal’s Perspective: How Chiefs of Staff Shape Organizational Impact 06.07.2026 31mnt

  Executives and Chiefs of Staff share practical stories about how the Chief of Staff role shapes company culture, trust, and growth. Tim Moore explains how his Chief of Staff acts as his proxy to scale leadership, while Jessica Gonzalez highlights how having Ivan as her Chief of Staff lets her spend more time with her kids and trust things will get done. Guests discuss hiring from within, the unique qualities needed for the role, and the importance of loyalty, communication, and partnership. ...
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  Q&A: Balancing AI Adoption and Quality Leadership Strategies for a Maturing Tech Team 01.07.2026 14mnt

  Emily Sander answers a listener’s question about moving a tech company to AI-first, highlighting challenges when people use AI excessively or without checks. She shares practical ideas like approved use cases, tiered approval for AI spend, and the need for quality controls. Emily Sander also points out the importance of balancing AI experimentation with making sure standards and outcomes stay high. Get in touch with Emily: Want help leading your organization through AI adoption? Book a clar...
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  Boost Your Presentation Presence With This Simple Technique 24.06.2026 22mnt

  Emily Sander shares a simple trick to boost energy and engagement in presentations: think about something you love, like movies, then bring that same excitement to your business talk. She uses a real story about bombing a dry run at a Risk Summit and how talking about her favorite movies helped her improve. Chiefs of Staff and executives can try this method to sound less flat or nervous during important presentations. Get in touch with Emily: Want to show up with more confidence and energy i...
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  The Chief of Staff Role Through the Eyes of Principals 22.06.2026 41mnt

  This episode breaks down what a Chief of Staff actually does in different industries, from startups to government, and covers how the role is changing with AI according to Scott Amenta. Guests like Clara Ma share practical advice for pitching the Chief of Staff role internally and how to tailor your resume if you're switching from another field. Phil Burns talks about the confusion between Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff roles and why it's important to define them clearly. Get in touc...
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  Practical Ways Leaders Can Release Guilt and Move Forward 17.06.2026 10mnt

  Emily Sander talks about how Chiefs of Staff often feel guilty or frustrated about things like not working long enough hours or not helping a struggling teammate. She explains that being too empathetic or self-critical can backfire and suggests telling yourself, "and that's okay," to relieve pressure and keep perspective. Real examples include feeling called out for working from home or regretting not helping someone in a team meeting. Get in touch with Emily: Feeling the pressure to do more...
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  Weaving People First Leadership and Business Demands in the Chief of Staff Role 15.06.2026 37mnt

  Emily Sander talks with Lindsey Gardner, a multi-time Chief of Staff and co-founder of Sapphire Chief of Staff, about balancing people and business priorities. Lindsey Gardner shares lessons from working with the same CEO for a decade, why she always puts people first, and how clear communication builds trust. She also explains Sapphire’s approach to Chief of Staff recruiting and development and discusses how AI should be seen as a tool—not a replacement for humans. Links Mentioned: Sapphire...
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  Q&A: Turning Board Back Channels into Your Strategic Leverage 10.06.2026 19mnt

  Emily Sander answers a listener question from Sarah in Charlotte, a Chief of Staff handling board governance, leadership meetings, and benefits rollout. The episode covers how to build strategic relationships with the board, use back channels professionally, and avoid being seen only as admin support while keeping the founder focused and the team aligned. Real examples include collaborating with consultants and prepping the chairman for meetings. Get in touch with Emily: Want help building ...
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  Real Stories from Leaders on Chiefs of Staff Relationships 08.06.2026 36mnt

  This compilation features conversations with four principals about why they brought on a Chief of Staff, how they built trust in the role, and the impact Chiefs of Staff had on their teams. Examples include Lawrence Coburn hiring a former intern for the role, Nikki Barua making the Chief of Staff her very first hire, and Marcus East describing the Chief of Staff as a force multiplier who connects teams. The episode highlights practical challenges and benefits, such as helping with communicati...
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  How to Show Up as the Leader You Want to Be 03.06.2026 23mnt

  Emily Sander shares why showing up as an unhurried, intentional leader matters more than always hustling. She gives practical tips like taking walks, working out, or even sipping coffee outside to set the right mindset. Chiefs of Staff and executives are encouraged to build daily habits - whether it's meditation, reading, or attending their kids’ soccer games - that help them become the kind of leader others want to follow. Get in touch with Emily: Want help creating space to lead more inten...