Why chief of staff is the newest step on the marketing career ladder
The chief of staff role is becoming a more prominent step on the marketing career ladder, writes Jude Blankfield, chief of staff and head of marketing at Slyp.
Often associated with military and government environments, chiefs of staff (CoS) are lauded in political offices and newsrooms for their ability to create order from organisational chaos.
Both on the battle ground and on the office floor, CoS act as advisors to and trusted confidants of the CEO, and are highly skilled at navigating delicate strategic matters and calming storms before they reach the executive office.
In corporate environments the position has never been a staple, but as the Australian startup ecosystem has grown, so has the popularity of the role – especially amongst founder-led companies. Founder-CEOs typically start out with a lean team and must balance individual contribution and corporate strategy, often whilst experiencing explosive growth. Through this, CoS have become critical in protecting the founder’s vision whilst scaling the business and the individual themself.
