Chief of Staff in Small Business vs Chief of Staff at HoldCo vs Vice President

Primary Role:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Similar to Startup Chief of Staff, but in a smaller business context

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Strategic and operational advisor, focusing on portfolio management

Vice President: Senior executive role, overseeing a specific division or function

Reporting Relationship:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Reports to the business owner or CEO

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Reports to HoldCo executive, possibly CEO or board

Vice President: Reports to CEO or higher executive level

Scope of Responsibilities:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Broad, tailored to the needs of a small business

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Overseeing operations and strategy across the portfolio of companies

Vice President: Wide-ranging, depending on the specific area of responsibility

Decision-Making Authority:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Significant, especially in strategic and operational decisions

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Considerable, influencing decisions across the portfolio

Vice President: High level, strategic decisions within their area

Strategic Planning:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Active in shaping and executing business strategy

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Involved in strategic planning for the holding company and its entities

Vice President: Integral to strategic planning in their area of responsibility

Team Management:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Manages or coordinates with small business teams

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Coordinates across various management teams within the portfolio

Vice President: Manages a large team or department

Meeting Involvement:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Active in business meetings, contributing to decisions

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Involved in high-level meetings, providing insights and alignment

Vice President: Leads meetings within their area of responsibility

Project Management:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Leads key business projects and initiatives

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Oversees projects that affect multiple companies within the portfolio

Vice President: May oversee strategic projects within their area

Communication:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Acts as a key communicator for the small business

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Facilitates communication across the portfolio and with external stakeholders

Vice President: Responsible for high-level communication within their area

Professional Development:

Chief of Staff in Small Business: Develops skills in managing a small business environment

Chief of Staff at HoldCo: Develops expertise in portfolio management and strategic oversight

Vice President: Focuses on leadership and management skills in their domain