Chief of Staff Roundtable

I just did some quick math. The results shocked me 😱 There are at least 7M+ CEOs worldwide. There are at least 85K+ Chiefs of Staff. That’s just 1 CoS per 82 CEOs. Less than 1%. Which means… 99% of CEOs are flying without dedicated in-role strategic advisory and tactical support. Now flip it: 85K Chiefs of Staff. But <5K in active known CoS communities. That’s only 6% with peer support. Which means… 94% are navigating this complex, high-leverage role in isolation. Let that sink in. 99% of CEOs lack in-house strategic & tactical leverage. 94% of Chiefs of Staff lack dynamic resources and consistent, peer support. The leadership gap is massive. And mostly invisible. The cost? Tectonic. The opportunity? Just as big. Imagine what would happen if… 100% of Chiefs of Staff had access to dynamic resources and support to successfully navigate the highs and lows of their Chief of Staff career…. And 100% of CEOs had a Chief of Staff to help them successfully navigate the highs and lows of organizational growth and maturity… Only one word comes to mind. Tectonic. And that’s exactly what the Chief of Staff Roundtable is aiming for. If you want a front row seat to the renaissance in executive enablement… There’s a seat at the Roundtable for you. Find your path forward. Join us! *** What did you make of this data? What do you make of these gaps? What did I miss or overlook? Drop your thoughts below ⬇️ (Data: LinkedIn Sales Navigator) #chiefofstaff #community #leadership #success

🎉 Big news 💥 We're excited to announce our new partnership with Bright Work! In a world where strategy is only as good as its execution, the Chief of Staff Roundtable and Bright Work have come together to solve one of modern leadership’s most persistent challenges: how to connect vision with velocity. At CSR, we’ve built the definitive community and capability-building platform for Chiefs of Staff—the unsung heroes behind today’s most effective leaders. Our programs deliver clarity, confidence, and career-defining tools for those navigating complex, high-stakes environments. Gracie Koester and her work at Bright Work, in parallel, has become a trusted partner for organizations seeking to accelerate results. With a unique blend of Design Thinking, OKRs, and Ecosystem Intelligence, Bright Work strengthens leadership capabilities and team performance while helping organizations move from misalignment to momentum—building the connective tissue between strategy and execution. Together, we’re charting a new path for strategic operators. Through this partnership, our members and partners will gain access to Bright Work’s practical methodologies for collaborative execution, while Bright Work clients will benefit from CSR’s leadership development frameworks that elevate the role of the Chief of Staff. Whether it's launching an enterprise-wide transformation, enhancing team effectiveness, or aligning executive priorities, our shared approach empowers the people responsible for driving change—giving them the strategic insight and operational muscle to get it done. This isn’t just a partnership—it’s a meeting of missions. One rooted in shared values: people-centered leadership, clarity of purpose, and the belief that excellence emerges when strategy, leadership, teams, and execution work as one. The future of leadership isn’t top-down. It’s team-powered, outcomes-driven, and intentionally aligned. With CSR and Bright Work together, we’re building that future—one Chief of Staff, one team, one transformation at a time. 👉🏼 Drop "BRIGHT" in the comments to gain FREE access to Bright Work's "OKRs in Action: A Chief of Staff's Guide to Strategic Alignment" The future of work is "bright" ✨ #chiefofstaff #community #partners #strategy #execution

Think a CoS “certification” will advance your career? Think again. At first glance, it feels like a shortcut. A stamp of credibility. A seat at the table. But let’s break it down. What does it really take to excel as a CoS? It’s dynamic, ambiguous, and highly contextual. 99% shaped by the exec, the org, or the moment. No two roles are 100% exactly the same. So what does a CoS "certification" provide you? Proven frameworks? Maybe. Viable theory? Possibly. But the real work? That’s different. The silent influence. The emotional labor. The context-shifting. The strategy in motion. These are difficult to "certify". And here’s the real kicker... This Chief of Staff field is still in its early days. Too early for standardization or scale. Unlike other fields which took decades to standardize... Our profession is still learning to walk. Those fields were shaped by repetition. Ours? It's still being written in real time. So what actually drives success in this role? - Trust built in the trenches - Adaptability under pressure - Judgment sharpened by complexity - Systems thinking and people insight - The skill to create clarity from chaos Here’s the truth: There’s no one-size-fits-all CoS credential...yet. No playbook for being the right hand to power. You don’t need permission to lead. You need reps. You need reflection. You need real connection. Certifications might be signals of mastery. But real transformation? Real success? Real impact? That’s earned in the doing. So the next time you think a CoS "certification" will advance your Chief of Staff career... Think again. But if you're looking for real transformation, real success, and real impact in your Chief of Staff career... There's a seat at the Chief of Staff Roundtable. Just. For. You. Find your path forward. Join us! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ePwbSBRh Agree or disagree? Drop your thoughts in the comments👇🏽 #chiefofstaff #community #success

I am back from #COS25. The best part? Not what you might think. There were great speakers. There were great insights. There were great views. There was great eats. But you want to know what made it all worth it? The connections. Old and new. The new ones? Stand out pros: Danielle - A new mom going above and beyond to expand human potential in her role—well on your way to becoming a GREAT CoS! Matthew - A dad, entrepreneur, and Navy vet training the next wave of elite Chiefs of Staff for Microsoft's public sector arm. Michelle - A powerhouse CoS and mom, driving GTM strategy, closing deals, and keeping team momentum high. Deena - A dog mom, a caregiver to her parents, and CoS navigating a major acquisition—you're a linchpin of Xbox. Keep pushing forward! Jill - A newly exited founder diving into her CoS journey—proactive, resourceful, and ready to soar. David - A dad and ex-consultant turned CoS at Cobb County Sheriff's Office—your fresh perspective is a huge asset! Lisa - a current Chief of Staff at Kennesaw State University. From one owl to another, "Hooty Hoo!" Brady - an accomplished CoS at Uber. You are a hero in your role and at home. Nancy - A solid Chief shaping Microsoft's job architecture for the function—I’ve got SOOOO many questions for you! Nancy - a titan Chief of Staff at Microsoft. Thank you for helping me get wifi! Lisa & Taylor - dynamite CoSs, fellow Bernie-doodle lovers! Kaitlin - you and Keziah are moving the world at Vannin Chief of Staff. Can't wait to witness your next stage of growth! Tejal - A mom and standout tech CoS—loved our chat and excited to elevate CoS excellence in Denver together! Patrick - a cyber ninja turned fractional CoS. Let's create some cyber resources for Chiefs together! Craig - you're in the right place at the right time. Rooting for your final chapter in your career! The old ones? The real deal. Florian - let's write that piece on quantum mechanics and the CoS role. Vannin Chief of Staff is blessed to have you! Laurie - I want to hear about your two other books! Eager to support your quest to help leaders find the CoS they deserve. Bryan - congrats on your new role at Sandisk! Say hello to Adam and Lauren for me. Keziah - you will lead Vannin Chief of Staff to even greater heights. Locked and loaded to send you great talent! Ali - you are a ray of sunshine. Your outlook in the midst of challenges is truly inspiring. Sharon - I want to hear about your leadership off-site! Rob - I tried too not be too star-struck. You're the GOAT and it was an honor to shake your hand. Arnaud - You have a real imagination for CoS excellence. Can't wait to see your idea come to life! And last but certainly not least...Trent, Drew and the incredible team at The Chief of Staff Association for inviting me. The future of Chief of Staff excellence is bright. Follow the Chief of Staff Roundtable to get a front row seat.

More fire from #COS25 🔥 This time: Cybersecurity & the Chief of Staff role (Spoiler: It’s way bigger than IT) Ann Johnson delivered a clear message: Cyber risk is a leadership issue—and CoSs can shape. Five key themes stood out: 1) Why threat actors are winning 2) The power of pausing 3) Cyber hygiene as culture 4) Comms plans when your systems go down 5) How to spot what no one else sees Want the full synopsis? It’s only in the Chief of Staff Roundtable private LinkedIn group. 👉 Join now to access it (link in comments). #COS25 #ChiefOfStaff #Cybersecurity #ExecutiveSupport #RiskLeadership

Tactical or strategic? Top Chiefs of Staff know how to be both... But they don’t stay tactical for long. We just dropped MORE insights from #COS25 in the Chief of Staff Roundtable private LinkedIn group. Insights on how to: - Help your leader win the right game - Making the customer the hero - Protecting your org’s secret sauce - And the mindset shift that changes everything Want the FULL summary? They’re only available in our private LinkedIn group for Chiefs of Staff. Join here for FREE#: https://lnkd.in/eHK6gpTu No fluff. Just real, actionable insight to help you move closer excellence and impact in your role. #chiefofstaff #COS25 #strategicleadership #community

My fingers hurt from trying to capture it all at COS25 😅 This morning's panel with Jeff Buckeye blew the room away. Former Chiefs of Staff turned execs at Microsoft dropped hard-earned truths on how CoS shapes your path to leadership. I pulled 7 sharp themes from the discussion. Want the full breakdown? It’s only available in the Chief of Staff Roundtable private LinkedIn group. Join today for FREE to get access Link in comments ⬇️ No fluff. Just real talk from the top. #ChiefOfStaff #COS25 #Leadership

Bright Work is proud to announce our partnership with Chief of Staff Roundtable! At the intersection of strategic clarity and execution excellence, we're joining forces to empower strategic operators to navigate complexity with confidence. Together, we're championing a leadership approach that's team-powered, outcomes-driven, and intentionally aligned. Excited to bring our practical, collaborative frameworks to the CRT community! #StrategicExecution #OrganizationalAlignment

Today is the end of the Chief of Staff Roundtable. And by "end" 😨... ...I mean a NEW beginning! (Got ya. April fools 😉) As we begin a... ...a NEW month (how is it already April 🤪)... ...a NEW quarter (bye, bye Q1 👋🏼)... ...a NEW season (hello spring 🌼)... I am thrilled to share THREE exciting and long-awaited announcements: 1) We have a NEW website 🤩 Streamlined. Intuitive. More reflective of who we are as a community, how we support your ENTIRE Chief of Staff career, and how we are advancing Chief of Staff excellence + success at scale. 2) We have NEW membership tiers 🚀 We’ve redesigned everything around you—whether you're an aspiring, growing, or ambitious Chief of Staff practitioner. No more "one-size-fits-all" resources for your Chief of Staff career. Three NEW tiers to support where you are and where you're going: 🥇 Elite (for seasoned or ambitious Chiefs of Staff) 🥈 Pro (for new or growing Chiefs of Staff) 🥉 Lite (for aspiring, transitioning, or busy CoSs) Get tailored resources and support for each stage of your Chief of Staff career! 3) We have NEW strategic partners 🫱🏽🫲🏼 We’ve joined forces with Gracie Koester (Bright Work) and Abraham Sorock and Alicia Cassels (LeadersAtlas), two dynamic organizations who are helping senior leaders and teams reimagine what's possible. Bright Work helps you and your leader unlock the strategic clarity and team performance you need to align vision with execution, navigate complexity, and propel your company's next level of growth. LeadersAtlas is a platform that helps organizations unlock the power of storytelling to strengthen team alignment, share wins, and drive strategic momentum. So there you have it. NEW website. NEW resources. NEW partners. All working together to help YOU succeed at each stage of your Chief of Staff career. This ain't the end (not even close). We're just getting started 😎 🚀. 👉🏼 Find your next step here https://lnkd.in/ePwbSBRh #chiefofstaff #community #professionaldevelopment #success #aprilfools

🚨 BIG NEWS: We are heading to #COS25! We’re thrilled to announce that Philip Burns will be representing the Chief of Staff Roundtable at this year’s premier global gathering of top Chiefs of Staff, hosted by The Chief of Staff Association and Microsoft. This ground-breaking event brings together 300+ top Chiefs of Staff, executive leaders, and strategic operators from across industries—and CSR will be in the middle of the action. Why does this matter? Because we’re not just showing up. We’re showing up with purpose. We don’t believe insights this powerful should stay in the room. Our mission is simple and profound: To advance excellence in the Chief of Staff profession—at scale. That means taking the most valuable takeaways and sharing them across our global community. That’s why Philip will be: ✅ Sharing real-world lessons & top insights ✅ Delivering top takeaways to our private network ✅ Joining the most innovative & relevant discussions Want access to those takeaways? Join the CSR community and get the inside edge. 👇🏽 REQUEST ACCESS IN THE COMMENTS👇🏽 Let’s redefine what’s possible for the Chief of Staff profession—together. Attending #COS25? Drop us a note in the comments. Let’s connect IRL! #chiefofstaff #leadership #executivepartnership #COS25 #csrcommunity #careerstrategy #innovation #futureofwork