In The Making | Chief of Staff, Decoded

​The Chief of Staff role is having a major moment. So what does a Chief of Staff actually do, and how do you land the position? Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and get the real answer with women who are always up for learning from each other.

​Meet Tara Waniganayaka: Tara started her career in management consulting in Australia before earning her MBA at London Business School. From there, she spent three years at Bain & Company in Seattle, and now works as Director of Strategy and Business Operations and Chief of Staff at Charles Schwab in Austin.

​Themes we'll explore:

• ​Switching industries without starting over: how to best position the skills you already have.

• ​Holding your own in male-dominated rooms.

• ​What the Chief of Staff role really looks like.

​What to expect:

• ​6:30 PM: Arrive, grab a drink/snack, and meet your people.

• ​7:00 PM: Settle in for a candid conversation with Tara, with plenty of room for the whole group to shape the discussion.

• ​8:00 PM: Wrap up with final reflections and what’s next.

​About In the Making: This is an IRL community for emerging women leaders in Austin who are on the edge of what’s next - think promotions, pivots, and big leaps.

​The Format: Every session, we invite one woman we admire to get honest about how she really got where she is. No keynote, no slides - just the real stories behind the resume in an intentionally intimate room.

​Who should attend: Mid-career women across industries (corporate, entrepreneurship, creatives, etc.) looking for their group chat of like-minded, ambitious peers navigating similar career chapters. Come solo or bring a friend.

​We can’t wait to meet you. ✨ Learn more: IntheMakingATX.com