Ask a Chief of Staff: From the C-Suite to Founder — Using the CoS Role as a Launchpad
🗓️ Join us on June 9th!
The Chief of Staff role is often described as a springboard — but where does it actually launch you? In this fireside chat, Veena Jayadeva shares her non-traditional path from Head of CSR at a Fortune 250 company to Chief of Staff to a C-suite executive, and ultimately to startup founder and CEO — all while navigating the complexities of being a woman in all-male leadership environment. This conversation explores how to leverage the CoS role strategically, manage up effectively, and use the access and influence it provides to shape what comes next — whether that's a bigger seat at the table or a table of your own.
✅ What will attendees leave with?
A framework for thinking about the CoS role not just as a job, but as a strategic career vehicle — and how to position yourself for what comes after
Practical strategies for navigating organizational politics, managing principal dynamics, and breaking into rooms that weren't necessarily built for you
A clearer sense of how the skills developed as a Chief of Staff — systems thinking, managing up, cross-functional influence — translate directly into entrepreneurship and leadership beyond the role
🎯 Who is this session for?
This session is for current Chiefs of Staff wondering what their next move looks like, and for professionals from non-traditional backgrounds who are trying to break into the CoS role. It's especially relevant for those navigating complex organizational dynamics, underrepresented leaders building influence in environments that weren't designed with them in mind, and anyone who has ever used — or wants to use — a support role as a launchpad for something bigger.
✨ How should participants show up?
No prep needed — just bring your questions and curiosity. This is a candid, AMA-style conversation, so the more openly you engage, the more you'll get out of it. Come ready to reflect on your own career path and think boldly about where the CoS role can take you.
🎙️ More about the Speakers
Veena Jayadeva is an impact executive, strategist, and entrepreneur whose career sits at the intersection of corporate leadership, social impact, and innovation. With deep experience in strategy development, operations, and fundraising, she has built and led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs at Fortune 250 companies over the last ten years.
Veena's path to the Chief of Staff role was anything but traditional. After serving as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group and as a nonprofit executive, she was tapped during the pandemic to serve as Chief of Staff to the Chief Information & Operations Officer at a Fortune 250 company while serving as the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility role. As Chief of Staff, she leveraged her CSR background to build an enterprise-wide ESG program, gaining C-suite access and building cross-functional influence crucial for this role.
Today, Veena serves as Co-Founder & CEO of Kareena's Closet, an exclusive peer-to-peer and designer-direct rental and resale marketplace for South Asian formalwear, and a fractional Corporate Social Responsibility executive at the largest Japanese bank. She brings a rare and candid perspective on what it means to navigate all-male leadership teams as a woman of color, use the CoS role as a strategic springboard, and carry the skills of the role — systems thinking, managing up, cross-functional influence — into entrepreneurship and beyond.
Veena holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management, where she was the sole recipient of the highest merit award, an MA in International Economics, and a BA in International Relations, both from Johns Hopkins University.
💜 Ask a Chief of Staff
Ask a Chief of Staff is a premier executive search and career development platform dedicated to placing top-tier Chiefs of Staff and empowering professionals in strategic leadership roles. We serve ambitious professionals and high-growth companies by offering executive recruiting, mentorship programs, and career resources tailored to Chiefs of Staff. By addressing the lack of structured career paths for this role, we provide guidance, connections, and opportunities that accelerate leadership development and organizational success.
Learn more at askachiefofstaff.com.