A Chief of Staff named Angela asks how to stop her boss from dominating high-stakes planning meetings, despite her boss’s goal to empower others. The episode offers practical tips, like giving the boss a “What did you learn?” prompt before and during the meeting, using breakout groups where the boss can’t take over, and having other team members lead parts of the meeting so everyone is heard.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

00:40 Understanding the Leadership Challenge
01:37 Setting the Tone for Effective Meetings
02:50 During the Event: Keeping the Focus
04:02 Post-Event Recap and Coaching
05:24 Tactical Tips for Structuring Meetings
09:54 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Money mindset expert Pericles Rellas explains why money can’t buy happiness and talks about the concept of a “financial thermostat”—the internal setting that influences how we earn, keep, and relate to money. He shares practical ways to check your current money mindset, challenges common beliefs like “money is the root of all evil,” and uses relatable analogies, such as treating money like a relationship. He also gives guidance on how to form healthier habits and thinking patterns around money.

Links Mentioned:

• Pericles Rellas’ Website
• Pericles Rellas’ Masterclass

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

00:54 Does Money Make People Happy?
02:41 Money and Identity
06:22 Generational Money Mindsets
09:01 Understanding Financial Thermostats
13:45 Relationship with Money vs. Significant Other
17:14 Healthy Money Mindset
21:13 Proper Use of Money
24:27 Breaking Free from Societal Expectations
26:38 Rewiring Money Mindsets
30:47 Building a Healthy Relationship with Money
32:01 Aligning Money with Personal Values
34:20 Finding Personal Empowerment
37:54 Resources for Financial Growth

This episode shares a simple tip for presentation prep: say exactly what you mean in your own words instead of trying to sound overly formal. Emily gives examples like replacing “after extensive cross functional collaboration and deep analysis” with “we looked at a bunch of options and this is the clearest path forward,” and suggests that a Chief of Staff can just say, “I make sure really important stuff doesn’t fall through the cracks.”

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

00:45 Common Pitfalls in Presentation Language
01:26 Real-Life Examples and Solutions
02:45 Final Tips and Conclusion

Adele Gambardella and Chip Massey share lessons from handling high-stakes PR crises and FBI negotiations, like responding quickly during a company scandal or the early hours of 9/11. They explain why companies need crisis plans ready before disaster hits, how to keep leaders calm when their reputations are on the line, and why apologizing the right way matters. They also talk about building trust fast, having clear personal and company values, and why waiting for trouble to blow over almost never works.

Links Mentioned:

• Adele and Chip’s Book: Convince Me
• Convincing Company Website

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

01:06 Adele's Crisis Management Journey
03:53 Founding the Convincing Company
07:42 The First 48 Hours of a Crisis
13:08 De-escalation Techniques in Crisis Management
23:31 Crisis Communications and Personal Branding
28:47 The Art of Apologizing
30:34 Practical Tips for Crisis Communication
32:07 Understanding Public Perception
34:38 Navigating Political Stands as Executives
37:31 The Role of CEOs in Crisis Situations
38:50 Common Misconceptions in Crisis Management
39:30 Why We Love Crisis Management
43:28 How to Reach Out for Help

This episode breaks down how a Chief of Staff should shift from always asking permission to confidently informing others about next steps. Emily shares real examples, like updating a principal before or after launching a new workflow, and explains why this approach helps the executive team and boosts the Chief of Staff’s own confidence. The episode ends with the reminder that it’s all about finding the right balance between asking and informing.

Links Mentioned:

• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

01:42 Mastering the Principal-Chief of Staff Relationship
06:01 Empowering the Executive Team
08:24 Balancing Asking and Informing: The Art of Leadership

Martin Dowling shares his journey from studying engineering and psychology in Germany and the US to becoming Chief of Staff at a manufacturing company in Munich. He talks about building trust as the new Chief of Staff, the value of tackling small wins like improving office cleanliness and streamlining software tasks, and why being a generalist helps him solve problems across different industries. Martin also explains the difference between the German executive assistant role and the Chief of Staff, and gives advice on choosing and succeeding in the Chief of Staff position.

Links Mentioned:

• Connect with Martin Dowling on LinkedIn
• AONA Light’s Website

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

01:47 Career Beginnings and Shift to Psychology
03:02 Consulting and HR IT Solutions
06:48 Role as COO and Lighting Company
08:00 Challenges in Job Market and Chief of Staff Role
12:20 Responsibilities and Impact as Chief of Staff
19:28 Implementing Change and Overcoming Resistance
30:28 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff
40:06 Conclusion and Lighting Product Discussion

Emily answers a question from someone struggling to work with a new boss at a family-owned business who ignores process, oversells services, and doesn't value their input. She shares practical advice on "increment training"—giving the boss positive feedback for following the right process and building small wins over time. Emily tells her own story about working with a difficult, charismatic sales leader and highlights the importance of meeting halfway, using patience, and looking for ways to turn friction into teamwork.

Links Mentioned:

• Email Emily for your questions
• Message her on LinkedIn
• Clarity Call with Emily

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

01:11 Challenges with the New Boss
02:38 Possible Reasons for the Boss's Behavior
06:12 Training the Boss Incrementally
07:27 Personal Story: Handling a Similar Situation
13:53 Conclusion and Final Advice

Emily catches up with her old boss!

Amy Martin talks about her journey from 30 years in HR technology and customer-facing SaaS roles to becoming a career ownership coach. She shares stories about staying calm during high-pressure moments like client escalations and cybersecurity incidents, her empowering leadership style, and advice for those dealing with big changes, difficult personalities, or considering a career transition. Amy also explains how she helps clients gain clarity using tools like DISC profiles and personal SWOTs.

Links Mentioned:

• Amy Martin’s Website

Free Resources:

• Strategic Planning Checklist
• Chief of Staff Skills Assessment Checklist
• A Day in the Life of a Chief of Staff
• Chief of Staff Toolkit

Get in Touch With Emily:

• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on YouTube
• Learn more about coaching
• Sign up for the newsletter
• Clarity Call with Emily

Who Am I?

If we haven’t yet before - Hi👋 I’m Emily, Chief of Staff turned Executive Leadership Coach. After a thrilling ride up the corporate ladder, I’m focusing on what I love - working with people to realize their professional and personal goals. Through my videos here on this channel, books, podcast guest spots, and newsletter, I share new ideas and practical and tactical tools to help you be more productive and build the career and life you want.

Time Stamps:

01:09 Amy's Career Background and Mentorship
05:43 Handling Pressure and Client Escalations
09:48 Dealing with Strong Personalities
12:54 Navigating Change and Mergers
17:43 Career Transitions and Coaching
22:01 Holistic Career Coaching Approach
24:16 Becoming a SCORE Mentor
27:37 Success Stories and Client Transformations
33:55 Personal Motivations for Career Change