The Chief of Staff Podcast

Priyanka Peeramsetty has been a Chief of Staff, a growth operator, a community builder, and is now Engineering Operations Director at Crunchyroll — and she'll tell you the one thing that underpins all of it: integrity. In this episode, Executive Coach and Chief of Staff Fellow, Tristan Lim, sits down with Priyanka to hear her insights on what actually makes a great Chief of Staff. She breaks it down as a three-level pyramid, shares how she once predicted an attrition wave before anyone else saw it coming, and explains why the CoS role can feel existential if you're not doing it right.Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network

Sarah Kislak spent nearly a decade at Box, progressing from an executive assistant in a rotational program to Chief of Staff for a 1,000-person engineering org, and ultimately into product management. In this episode, Sarah shares what she learned by observing a Chief of Staff before stepping into the role herself, how she ran a team of seven while keeping alignment across recruiting, finance, comms, and strategy, and the hackathon moment that made her realize she wanted to build products. She unpacks the differences between an operator and a PM mindset, explains why she chose to follow her talent rather than her passion, and offers practical advice for Chiefs of Staff who are PM-curious — including how to run small experiments this week to test the fit.Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to manage the intricate dance of politics and business? Meet Nick Greif, a seasoned leader who has seamlessly maneuvered through both the public and private sectors as a Chief of Staff. We delve into the path charted by Nick, who transitioned from the Chief of Staff for an LA city council member to a pivotal role in the corporate world. Nick's journey is a masterclass in adaptability, strategic coalition building, and transformational leadership. If you've ever wondered how government offices are surprisingly like startups or how the Chief of Staff role varies across sectors, this is the episode for you.Learn more about the Chief of Staff Network membership, courses, and resources at chiefofstaff.network.

Rahul Desai, ex-GM of the Chief of Staff Network who builds hiring tools. Lauren Werner, current CoS and Head of Growth who advises candidates. Thomas Guthrie, Network president and framework-builder. They discuss what principals actually filter for, how to position non-CoS experience honestly, tailored outreach that wins meetings, and a fast cover-letter test to see if a role fits.

Bryan Silverman, COO at Suzy who rose from SDR to COO over ~11 years, shares his career arc and leadership mindset. He talks about stepping into a chief of staff role, creating operating cadences to align teams, moving into product and P&L work, learning to delegate with context, and always prioritizing leverage over mere output.

They reveal a big expansion to seven cities in 2026 and explain why the role is shifting from amplifier to builder. They outline hands-on, practical event formats and new one-day forums designed for regional communities. They announce locations like London, San Francisco, New York, Dubai, Austin, Singapore, and Berlin and explain ticket and membership perks.

Dhyan Valle, a former Chief of Staff turned registered therapist who focuses on trust and regulation. He recounts moving from CoS work through an intense M&A and into therapy training. Conversations cover where support becomes therapy, moments he crossed that line, signals leaders need regulation, and practical structures to protect relationships and boundaries.

Elyse Levine, a builder who moved from the FBI to Disney Parks to launching USC’s DC campus. She talks about seeking unclaimed projects, turning advisor work into ownership, and scaling small wins into large initiatives. Short takes on trust, when to say no, and how relationships unlock big roles.

Carl Miller, co-founder of The Purpose Project, and Michaela Zukova, former Chief of Staff and COO, delve into how AI can facilitate self-discovery for leaders. They discuss why slowing down is crucial for competitive advantage and highlight the importance of personal alignment for high performance. The pair explore using AI for meaningful team communication and decision clarity, plus the transformative power of group reflection and somatic practices. They emphasize that purpose-driven leadership enhances team capacity and reduces chaos.

Itamar Melamed, Senior Director and Chief of Staff at Empathy, shares his insights on mastering the elusive Chief of Staff role. He discusses how to measure success without clear KPIs by tracking decisions taken off the CEO's plate. Itamar explains the importance of anticipating needs, reading calendar patterns, and building trust. He likens Chiefs of Staff to stunt doubles, emphasizing the necessity of adapting to the CEO's communication style. The conversation highlights creating organizational impact through proactive engagement and managing up effectively.