Chief of Staff Connect San francisco 2026

From force multiplier to
builder

Join senior Chiefs of Staff building scalable systems, intelligent operations, and high-performing teams.

May 15, 2025

San Francisco, CA

DARA CHEN

Attending the Chief of Staff Connect conference was a highly valuable way to connect with others in the role. It was a practical, engaging way to learn from and connect with the best. I not only left with a treasure trove of best practices but also gained a network of like-minded peers.

EMILIE GRAHL

Overall great conference. I most appreciated the time to network and learn from fellow CoS's, particularly the day 1 problem solving session.

Where Elite Chiefs of Staff Unite.

Engage with a highly curated group of Chiefs of Staff from top-performing organizations, gaining insights from those driving impact at the forefront of their businesses.

Chiefs of Staff driving strategic execution and alignment across high-performing organizations.
Professionals navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of scaling, sustaining growth, or optimizing large, complex operations.
CoS teams working collaboratively to align leadership priorities, manage cross-functional initiatives, and create operational clarity across the organization.

Inside COSC san francisco

From force multiplier to builder

Chief of Staff Connect is returning in 2026 bringing together senior Chiefs of Staff who are building the next generation of company execution. Join us for a 1-day gathering designed for leaders who don’t just support strategy, but turn it into measurable outcomes.
‍
This year’s focus is From Force Multiplier to Builder: the shift from amplifying leaders behind the scenes to owning the systems, programs, and operating models that move the business forward.

We’ll spotlight Chiefs of Staff delivering results—revenue growth, cost savings, and organizational efficiency—while strengthening the power skills and judgment required to lead through complexity.

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COSC 2026 Themes

Not Just a Conference, A Catalyst for Impact

Architecting Systems That Scale: From Ad Hoc to Operating Model

Design repeatable operating systems for planning, decisions, and communication that reduce friction and enable growth without constant intervention.

The Launcher's Toolkit: Shipping Projects That Move Metrics

Learn how top CoS leaders scope, resource, and deliver high-impact initiatives with clear KPIs, from AI implementations to new business units.

Developing Leaders, Not Just Supporting Them

Design programs that grow your executive team's capabilities and create succession depth across the organization.

Engineering Intelligent Operations: The CoS as Chief AI Architect

Take ownership of AI strategy execution—evaluating tools, designing workflows, driving adoption, and establishing governance that turns AI from experiment to competitive advantage.

From Firefighter to Architect: Designing Organizational Resilience

Stop solving the same problems repeatedly. Create early warning systems, decision protocols, and cross-functional structures that prevent crises and accelerate recovery.

10+

Expert Voices

Hands-On Workshops

100+

Senior Chiefs of Staff

Agenda

Don't miss the full
Connect experience

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

Meet your Chief of Staff peers over coffee, tea, and an amazing buffet style breakfast!

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Welcome Session

Kick off the day with our outlook on the development of the Chief of Staff role at successful organizations globally.

Scott Amenta

Founder at Chief of Staff Network

Rahul Desai

GM at Chief of Staff Network

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Outperforming as a CoS

Discover different IQ & EQ strategies for creating leverage and outperformance in your role.
‍

Rachel Peck

Founder & CEO, Metronome

Sophie Kaye

Director & Chief of Staff, Frame.io

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Interactive Problem-Solving Hot Seats

Share your challenges and gain insights from fellow CoS professionals.

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Founder Fireside Chat

Michael Martocci will share the founding story of SwagUp and talk through some of the consequential decision points along the way, in conversation with Tom Guthrie

Michael Martocci

CEO of SwagUp

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Keynote: CEO and CoS Discussion

American businessman, venture capitalist, political strategist, and writer, Bradley Tusk, sits down with his Chief of Staff, Meghan Collins, to share an inside look at their working relationship.

Bradley Tusk

Founder & CEO at Tusk Holdings

Meghan Collins

Chief of Staff at Tusk Holdings

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

Networking Lunch

Network over lunch and engage with fellow Chiefs of Staff in hand-selected roundtables.

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Strategic Planning Workshop

Learn best practices for strategic planning processes and how to spot golden opportunities in these interactive sessions.

emily Smith

Chief of Staff at Lattice

Thea Charles

Chief of Staff, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Insider

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

AI Lightning Talks

Get inspired by quick, impactful talks on AI advancements and how this next wave of tech can impact and improve your effectiveness.

Michelle Banham

Chief of Staff at You.com

R. A. Farrokhnia

Faculty & Executive Director at Columbia Univeristy

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

CoS Superpowers

In these facilitated small group sessions you'll learn from two leaders about portfolio management as a CoS and deciding what to work on.

Judy Abad

Partner at Abad Capital

Michelle Mittler

VP, Chief of Staff at Vista Equity Partners

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Effective Communication Workshops

Enhance your communication skills with practical storytelling techniques, crisis communications, and tactics to handle hard conversations in these interactive workshops.

Nancy Xu

Exec Coach & Head of Growth at Mochary Method

Sabina Grenaderova

Corporate Affairs Manager at Macquarie Asset Management

Chris Connelly

CEO, The Stable Way & fmr. CoS, Google Area 120

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM

Small Group Jam Sessions

Tackle leadership challenges and team dynamics in focused, moderated discussion groups.

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Closing Session

Recap the day’s highlights and preview upcoming social activities and dinner.

Scott Amenta

Founder at Chief of Staff Network

Rahul Desai

GM at Chief of Staff Network

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Downtime with Optional Activities

Choose from a city tour, speed networking, or other engaging activities with fellow Chiefs of Staff.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

Meet your Chief of Staff peers over coffee, tea, and an amazing buffet style breakfast!

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Opening Remarks

Kick off the day with a celebration of CoS achievements, sponsor shoutouts and a preview of the upcoming sessions.

Scott Amenta

Founder at Chief of Staff Network

Rahul Desai

GM at Chief of Staff Network

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Winning Strategies: Planning and Execution for Maximum Impact

Master your skills on simplification from complexity, prioritization for measurable value and value creation for all sizes and maturities of businesses.

Eleazar Orellana

fmr. Chief of Staff, Northwestern Mutual

Szilvia Kocsy

Chief of Staff, LinkedIn

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Growing Your Business

Learn how to identify growth opportunities and influence your principal to take them on as a CoS.

Piyush Khandekar

CoS to COO, Reddit

Abhishek Vora

CoS to CEO, LaunchDarkly

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Networking Lunch

Network freely over lunch and engage with other Chiefs of Staff.

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Exiting the CoS Role

Explore strategies for transitioning from the CoS role to new opportunities.

Stella Treas

VP, Chief of Staff to the CEO at GitLab

Dan Katz

VP, Head of Corp Dev at Homeward Health

Juhi Kabra

CoS to CEO, Redesign Health

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Debrief, Closing Remarks, and Mingle

Recap of the day’s highlights and a final opportunity to mingle with fellow attendees.

Scott Amenta

Founder at Chief of Staff Network

Rahul Desai

GM at Chief of Staff Network

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Optional: Group NYC Experience

The best strategy minds come together for an exciting NYC walk and scavenger hunt. An unforgettable city experience with your Chief of Staff peers.

Pre-Connect Mixer – 6-8pm

Chief of Staff Mixer

Meet your Chief of Staff Connect peers in a pre-event networking mixer in central San Francisco!

Check-in – 8am

Networking Breakfast

Meet your Chief of Staff peers over coffee, tea, and an amazing buffet style breakfast!

Opening Keynote – 9:30am

Getting Sh*t Done: From the halls of government to startup leadership

Join Steve Siger, cofounder of CNaught, as he shares powerful lessons about how his experience as a Chief of Staff set him up for success in executive roles that followed

Steven Siger

Cofounder & COO at CNaught Former CoS, US Department of Justice, Office of Legal Policy

Morning Workshop – 10am

Navigating Conflict

Turn conflict into collaboration during this interactive workshop giving you the playbook on managing leadership tension.

Aarti Bhatnagar

Executive Coach at Cadence Operators, fmr CoS at Guild

Lightning Talk #1 – 11:15am

From "Action Item" to "Action": The AI Revolution in Meetings

Ever notice that every meeting just creates more work? 2x founder and Fathom CEO Richard White offers a roadmap of the near future for how AI is automating post-meeting actions. Learn how you can use meetings to speak things into existence, and how tasks will increasingly begin to complete themselves.

Richard White

Founder & CEO at Fathom AI

Lightning Talk #2 – 11:40am

Explicit Expectations

Explicit Expectations is a transformative keynote designed to empower leaders to bridge the gap between ambiguity and alignment.

Stephanie Usry

Founder & CEO at Clutch

Networking – 12pm

CoS Peer Matching

Hand-selected 1:1 peer connections. Build relationships with other top Chiefs of Staff.

Break – 12:30pm

Networking Lunch

Network over lunch and engage with fellow Chiefs of Staff in hand-selected roundtables.

Afternoon Workshop – 2pm

Accelerating Successful Business Transformation

4X Chief of Staff and business transformation expert, Arnaud Rager, will lead us through a guided workshop sharing an exclusive framework on navigating organization change.

Arnaud Rager

fmr. VP Transformation at Bio Rad, fmr. Chief of Staff at J&J

Fireside Chat – 2:45pm

Scaling with Intent – Systems for High-Growth Companies

James Raybould and Scott Amenta sit down for a discussion on how to implement structured operational frameworks to improve GTM, R&D, and other key business functions.

James Raybould

SVP & GM at Turing

Scott Amenta

Founder at Chief of Staff Network & Co-founder / Head of Product at Sylva

Presentation & Discussion – 3:30pm

Creating the AI Spark

Brandon Sammut & Karly Gelardi from Zapier share their most important lessons transforming Zapier’s product and team into an AI powerhouse.

Brandon Sammut

Chief People Officer at Zapier

Karly Gelardi

CoS to CPO at Zapier

Tactical Workshop – 4:15pm

Becoming the Chief of AI

This tactical workshop aims to leave you with a guide to evaluating and rolling out AI solutions and real-life examples of AI-powered workflows you can implement immediately in your day-to-day work.

Diane Sadowski-Joseph

Co-Founder and Head of Product at Apply AI

Happy Hour – 5-7pm

Chief of Staff Mixer

Unwind and connect with fellow Chiefs of Staff over casual conversations, refreshing drinks, and tasty bites. Expand your network in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.

PRICING

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Membership Bundles

Buy a bundled Chief of Staff Connect Ticket Chief and enjoy 1 year of Chief of Staff Network PRO Membership.

Early
Bird

Price:

$549

Limited Tickets Available

End Date: 3/1/2026

Benefits: Early bird buyers will be enrolled in a raffle for a featured interview episode on the Chief of Staff Podcast!

Buy ticket

Regular Registration

Price:

$699

Regular Registration ends 5/1/2026

Bundle:
Ticket & PRO+ Membership

Price:

$1,200

This bundle includes your Chief of Staff Connect SF ticket and 1 year of CoS Network PRO Membership ($950 value), offering you extended access to the tools, insights, and community to excel in your role.

Apply for Membership

Group
Tickets

Price:

$599

Looking to attend Chief of Staff Connect with 3+ CoS team members? Reach out to us for group pricing!

What Attendees Are Saying

Chief of Staff connect
delivers the results

Meg Rockman

Fractional COO and Chief of Staff, Rockman Consulting

It was SO well conducted! The thoughtful planning and effort that went into it was evident. Thank you for putting on such a great event.

Dara Chen

Chief of Staff to CEO, Rad AI

Zoe Cornish

Chief of Staff and Culture, BrightLocal

It was a brilliant event with lots of practical takeaways.Coming from the UK, I did wonder if the content would be US-centric; however, it was all super relevant.

Chief of Staff Connect welcomes leaders from the world's biggest and most innovative brands.

The COSC Experience

Where strategy Meets Connection

Elevate Connections, Unlock Opportunities

Experience the power of personalized networking with ConnectMatch. Through curated 1:1 sessions, Chiefs of Staff are paired with peers who share aligned goals, challenges, and expertise. These targeted connections foster meaningful conversations, unlock innovative solutions, and pave the way for long-term collaboration.

Learn, Share, and Apply

Dive deep into the challenges and opportunities that define the Chief of Staff role through Connect Workshops. These focused sessions blend expert-led insights with peer-driven discussions, offering actionable strategies and practical solutions. Explore real-life scenarios, share experiences, and collaborate with fellow leaders to uncover frameworks you can implement immediately.

Inspiring Ideas, Transformative Insights

Be inspired by visionary keynote speakers on the Connect Stage, where thought-provoking ideas meet actionable learnings. Explore groundbreaking concepts, innovative strategies, and leadership lessons from industry trailblazers who have navigated complex challenges. These sessions will spark new perspectives, fuel your ambition, and empower you to bring transformative impact to your organization.

Recharge, Reflect, and Reignite

Immerse yourself in rejuvenating activities designed to balance mind and body through Connect Experiences. From yoga and breathing exercises to hands-on creative workshops, small-group dinners, and happy-hours these offline sessions provide a refreshing break from the intensity of the day.

Chief of Staff Connect San francisco 2026

From force multiplier to builder

Join senior Chiefs of Staff building scalable systems, intelligent operations, and high-performing teams.

DARA CHEN

EMILIE GRAHL

Where Elite Chiefs of Staff Unite.

Inside COSC san francisco

From force multiplier to builder

Not Just a Conference, A Catalyst for Impact

Architecting Systems That Scale: From Ad Hoc to Operating Model

The Launcher's Toolkit: Shipping Projects That Move Metrics

Developing Leaders, Not Just Supporting Them

Engineering Intelligent Operations: The CoS as Chief AI Architect

From Firefighter to Architect: Designing Organizational Resilience

COSC SF Speakers

Experience The Industry’s Leading Thinkers on AI & Organizational Excellence

Agenda

Don't miss the full Connect experience

Networking Breakfast

Welcome Session

Scott Amenta

Rahul Desai

Outperforming as a CoS

Rachel Peck

Sophie Kaye

Interactive Problem-Solving Hot Seats

Founder Fireside Chat

Michael Martocci

Keynote: CEO and CoS Discussion

Bradley Tusk

Meghan Collins

Networking Lunch

Strategic Planning Workshop

emily Smith

Thea Charles

AI Lightning Talks

Michelle Banham

R. A. Farrokhnia

CoS Superpowers

Judy Abad

Michelle Mittler

Effective Communication Workshops

Nancy Xu

Sabina Grenaderova

Chris Connelly

Small Group Jam Sessions

Closing Session

Scott Amenta

Rahul Desai

Downtime with Optional Activities

Networking Breakfast

Opening Remarks

Scott Amenta

Rahul Desai

Winning Strategies: Planning and Execution for Maximum Impact

Eleazar Orellana

Szilvia Kocsy

Growing Your Business

Piyush Khandekar

Abhishek Vora

Networking Lunch

Exiting the CoS Role

Stella Treas

Dan Katz

Juhi Kabra

Debrief, Closing Remarks, and Mingle

Scott Amenta

Rahul Desai

Optional: Group NYC Experience

Chief of Staff Mixer

Networking Breakfast

Getting Sh*t Done: From the halls of government to startup leadership

Steven Siger

Navigating Conflict

Aarti Bhatnagar

From "Action Item" to "Action": The AI Revolution in Meetings

Richard White

Explicit Expectations

Stephanie Usry

CoS Peer Matching

From force multiplier to
builder

Don't miss the full
Connect experience

Chief of Staff connect
delivers the results

Hosted at the Historic
Filoli House & Garden

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tickets