Behind the Scenes with Microsoft's Chief of Staff
Virginie, who grew up in France with an early fascination for the US, strategically built her career by seeking out experiences in different business areas. This led to her role as a Chief of Staff at Microsoft, which she transitioned into after feeling she wasn't learning enough in her previous role. Her experience highlights the importance of being agile and open to new challenges.
Key Takeaways:
Be open to new experiences: Virginie's career path wasn't a straight line. She intentionally built her skills in different areas, from business development to strategy, before transitioning into a Chief of Staff role.
Understand your Principal's needs: A significant part of being an effective Chief of Staff is understanding the needs and priorities of the person you are supporting. This can involve shadowing, understanding their culture and how they think, and aligning on values.
Build a supportive team culture: Virginie made an effort to establish a fun and engaging team environment. She shares how she and her team organized creative activities to boost team morale. This illustrates how a positive team culture can contribute to greater productivity and connection.
Notable Quotes
"The more you can understand the way they think, you can understand what their fears are, what their worries are... it helps you a lot in the function".
"Be agile and open, go with the flow... be open, keep an eye, be agile, don't get stuck here".
"Taking that time off or recharging is not a waste of time, it's actually preparing you and giving you better and more creative ideas and resources".
Real-World Application:
Virginie talks about how she had to establish a business rhythm for her principal's team. If you're starting in a new leadership support role, it's crucial to understand the existing structures and create a consistent process for meetings, communication, and project management.
If your principal is new to their position or the organization, focus on anticipating their needs. Ensure that essential processes run smoothly, and that your principal doesn't have to get bogged down in details that you can manage.
Virginie and her team intentionally made efforts to create a fun, engaging team culture. This involved creating a "yearbook," organizing game shows, and hosting a weekly coffee time. It is important to foster team engagement by finding ways to make meetings and communications more dynamic and interactive, even in a virtual setting. Creating opportunities for team members to connect personally can help the team bond and feel connected.
Virginie's story is a testament to the power of adaptability and strategic planning in a career. Her path, marked by a willingness to embrace new challenges and an emphasis on people, provides valuable advice for professionals at all levels. Her advice to "be agile and open" is something we can all use in our careers.
(0:00:06) - The journey from Boston to Microsoft and her Chief of Staff role.
(0:08:13) - Strategies for navigating the Chief of Staff role and understanding the principal's vision.
(0:13:11) - Managing a team's productivity, and morale, and discovering hidden talents.
(0:19:05) - The transition from Disney to Vending Games and starting a mobile gaming business.
(0:21:37) – A career break focusing on painting, sculpture, and agility in career decisions.
Connect with Virginie on LinkedIn.
About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.