• Designing the SYSTEM for Achieving Your Goals (Part 3)
    Jan 28 2026

    Emily Sander explains how to set up systems that make it easier to stick to New Year's goals, like laying out workout clothes by the door or using food tracking apps with preloaded meals. She shares personal examples, including her efforts to improve sleep by using an OURA ring and building an evening routine, and gives tips on matching goal-setting approaches to your personality and the type of goal. The focus is on making the process work for you, so healthy habits and results come naturally.


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Want help building systems that actually support your goals? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

    Free Leadership Resources


    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter


    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:
    00:29 Building a System for Success

    01:06 Knowing Yourself and Your Goals

    03:00 Tactical Tips for Weight Loss

    04:37 Tracking Progress and Adjusting Systems

    07:19 Personal Example: Improving Sleep

    13:58 Conclusion: Designing Systems for Inevitable Success

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    15 mins
  • Fitness, Finance, and Leadership: A Blueprint for Effective Chief of Staff Roles
    Jan 26 2026

    Jared Stein shares his unconventional path from running CrossFit and Orange Theory gyms to becoming a Chief of Staff at a virtual investment firm. He talks about managing operations, streamlining team roles, and implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Jared also discusses how his firm helps clients with a deep financial “X-ray” to spot hidden overlaps in their investment portfolios.


    Links Mentioned:

    Company Website

    Email Jared Stein


    ​​Get in touch with Emily:

    Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

    Free Leadership Resources


    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter


    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t met 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:

    00:36 Jared's Unconventional Path to Chief of Staff

    02:38 Challenges and Transitions During COVID

    04:02 The Chief of Staff Opportunity

    07:13 Interview Process and Personal Milestones

    08:29 Joining Poterack Capital

    15:46 Virtual Operations and Team Dynamics

    18:12 Client Onboarding and Financial X-Ray

    20:22 Understanding the Client Process

    24:41 Implementing Organizational Discipline

    26:45 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff

    32:56 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

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    35 mins
  • Prioritizing Time, Energy, and Attention for Leadership Growth (Part 2)
    Jan 21 2026

    Emily Sander explains the "wheel of life" exercise, a tool to review different areas like career, relationships, community, hobbies, and physical or spiritual life. She gives examples of focusing on being a better parent, manager, or entrepreneur, and suggests honestly assessing where you're doing well and where you could improve. The episode encourages setting practical New Year's goals based on current priorities and where your energy is best spent.


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Want help assessing where you’re thriving and where to focus next? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.


    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter

    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:

    00:31 Understanding the Wheel of Life

    01:26 Identifying Your Stakeholders

    02:08 Self-Assessment and Goal Setting

    03:09 Practical Steps to Improve

    04:47 Balancing Different Life Areas

    06:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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    7 mins
  • How Municipal Leaders Foster Community Impact and Build Effective City Governance
    Jan 19 2026

    Nicholas Richard-Thompson shares his journey from creative intern to Deputy Chief of Staff for Aurora, Illinois, discussing the importance of building relationships, working with nonprofits, and navigating local government. He gives examples like coordinating lead line water replacement and partnering with organizations during COVID. The episode covers team structure, community advocacy, and practical tips for getting involved in local government.

    Links Mentioned:
    Here are several nonprofit organizations that Nicholas Richard-Thompson is involved with or supports:

    Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
    Aurora Food Pantry
    Young Invincibles
    INDIVISIBLE AURORA (Aurora Mutual Aid)

    Get in touch with Emily:
    Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn
    Website
    Newsletter

    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:
    01:43 Nick's Background and Career Path
    04:27 Transition to Municipal Government
    06:10 Community Engagement and Nonprofit Work
    13:30 Role and Structure of the Mayor's Office
    22:52 The Role of Lobbyists in Municipal Government
    25:13 Local Advocacy and Community Impact
    30:34 Nonprofit Collaboration with Municipal Government
    36:30 Advice for Aspiring Chiefs of Staff and Engaged Citizens
    44:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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    45 mins
  • SMART Goals or Mantras? Choosing Your Approach to New Year’s Success (Part 1)
    Jan 14 2026

    This episode talks about how to set New Year's goals by comparing specific targets like losing 15 pounds by June 1st with broader intentions such as choosing a word for the year like "hello" or "lightness." Emily Sander shares how different people stick with goals and emphasizes picking what actually works for you, whether that's a SMART goal or a flexible intention. She also mentions using reminders, like putting a sales commission number on your mirror, and encourages everyone to be open to changing their goal-setting methods over time.


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Ready to set goals that work for you this year? Book a quick clarity call here.


    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter


    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:
    01:19 Specific Goals vs. General Intentions

    02:23 SMART Goals Explained

    04:52 Finding What Works for You

    05:43 Flexibility in Goal Setting


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    7 mins
  • The Power of Purposeful Success: Insights for Business Leaders
    Jan 12 2026

    Emily Sander talks with John Knowlton about what real success means, why it's an ongoing process, and how to use your natural talents at work. They share practical ideas for Chiefs of Staff, like focusing on tasks that give you energy, trimming your to-do list, and using clear company values to make decisions. John Knowlton also shares advice on morning routines and his book "Thinking for Success."


    Links Mentioned:

    John Knowlton’s Book: Thinking for Success

    John Knowlton’s Website


    Get in touch with Emily:

    Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.


    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter

    Who Am I?

    If we haven’t met 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:

    01:39 Defining Success: Personal Insights

    04:38 Purpose and Talents: A Deeper Dive

    06:28 Refining Talents into Skills

    15:26 Values and Decision Making

    18:40 Team Collaboration and Problem Solving

    19:33 Aligning Personal and Company Values

    20:26 Interviewing Tips for Career Transitions

    23:50 Operationalizing Values in Organizations

    26:21 Morning Routines for Success

    31:17 The Power of Being Outdoors

    34:02 Introducing John's New Book

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    37 mins
  • The True Causes of Burnout: Beyond Workload and What Leaders Can Do About It
    Jan 7 2026

    This episode breaks down practical ways to diagnose burnout beyond just heavy workloads, like checking if team members actually have the right training or system access, clarifying real versus perceived expectations, and considering outside-of-work stressors. Emily shares examples, such as a team member struggling because they didn’t have a login to a key system, and gives advice on addressing mental clutter and having open conversations. Chief of Staff listeners get tips on spotting the true root causes of burnout and building stronger, more supportive teams.

    Get in touch with Emily:
    Unsure what’s really causing burnout? Book a clarity call w/ Emily here.

    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn
    Website
    Newsletter


    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:
    00:00 Introduction to Diagnosing Burnout
    00:49 Assessing Workload Fairness
    02:32 Clarifying Role Expectations
    04:16 Understanding Team Contribution
    06:33 Considering Personal Life Factors
    10:06 Eliminating Mental Clutter
    14:06 Summary and Final Thoughts

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    18 mins
  • Building Trust and Leadership Lessons from the World of Baseball
    Jan 5 2026

    Joel Goldberg shares stories from over 30 years in broadcasting with the Kansas City Royals, focusing on how small actions and building trust lead to big results. He explains the importance of routines and relationships, gives insight into working with players and staff, and offers advice for Chiefs of Staff about investing in people. Joel also discusses handling social media, pressure, and how lessons from baseball apply to the business world.


    Links Mentioned:
    Joel Goldberg’s Website


    Get in touch with Emily:
    Want to chat with Emily? Book a quick clarity call here.

    Free Leadership Resources

    LinkedIn

    Website

    Newsletter

    Who Am I?
    If we haven’t met 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:

    02:39 Building Trust with Players and Families

    04:52 The Importance of Relationships in Broadcasting

    09:15 Life During Baseball Season

    11:58 Transitioning to Business and Speaking

    15:29 Handling Pressure in Baseball and Business

    22:13 Journey Through Career Milestones

    26:29 The Importance of Routine

    27:05 Social Media and Its Impact

    31:11 Building Trust and Relationships

    38:13 Final Words of Wisdom

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins