Executive Assistant vs Corporate Chief of Staff vs Chief Strategy Officer

Primary Role:

Executive Assistant: Administrative and organizational support for executives

Corporate Chief of Staff: Strategic partner within a corporate environment, focusing on alignment and execution of goals

Chief Strategy Officer: Leads organization's strategic planning and execution

Reporting Relationship:

Executive Assistant: Reports directly to the executive they support

Corporate Chief of Staff: Reports to a senior corporate executive, often the CEO

Chief Strategy Officer: Reports to CEO or executive board

Scope of Responsibilities:

Executive Assistant: Focused on day-to-day tasks and administrative duties

Corporate Chief of Staff: Similar to Startup Chief of Staff, but tailored to the corporate context

Chief Strategy Officer: Broad, encompassing all aspects of strategic development

Decision-Making Authority:

Executive Assistant: Limited to administrative decisions

Corporate Chief of Staff: Significant in corporate strategy and internal alignment

Chief Strategy Officer: High-level strategic decision-making

Strategic Planning:

Executive Assistant: Limited involvement, support capacity

Corporate Chief of Staff: Involved in developing and implementing corporate strategy

Chief Strategy Officer: Leads the overall strategic planning process

Team Management:

Executive Assistant: Manages administrative staff

Corporate Chief of Staff: Manages or coordinates with corporate teams and departments

Chief Strategy Officer: Manages a strategic planning team or department

Meeting Involvement:

Executive Assistant: Scheduling, preparing materials, taking minutes

Corporate Chief of Staff: Active in corporate meetings, often representing or preparing the executive

Chief Strategy Officer: Often leads strategic planning meetings

Project Management:

Executive Assistant: Manages small projects within their role

Corporate Chief of Staff: Leads corporate projects, especially strategic initiatives

Chief Strategy Officer: Oversees strategic initiatives and projects

Communication:

Executive Assistant: Facilitates internal communication

Corporate Chief of Staff: Facilitates corporate communication, both internally and externally

Chief Strategy Officer: Central to articulating and disseminating the strategic vision

Professional Development:

Executive Assistant: Focused on improving administrative and organizational skills

Corporate Chief of Staff: Enhances corporate management and strategic skills

Chief Strategy Officer: Enhances skills in strategic thinking and leadership