Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Olson.

Hi Maggie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My career has always centered around leadership, strategy, and building high-performing teams across industries like retail, food and beverage, and technology. With 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Nordstrom and T-Mobile, I’ve always been drawn to roles that require both execution and big-picture thinking. But it wasn’t until I became the first Chief of Staff to the President of the T-Mobile Business Group that I truly found my perfect-fit role.

At T-Mobile, I was tasked with building the Chief of Staff model from the ground up. I established an executive back-office structure that supported the President, SVPs, and over 5,000 employees, ensuring that leadership had the alignment, systems, and strategy needed to operate at their best. I built a full Chief of Staff team of seven or eight members, defining each role, process, and system, creating a model that proved just how impactful the role could be.

After completing my MBA, I gained valuable insights into business strategy, finance, and operations, but nothing that truly prepared me for the unique demands of a Chief of Staff role. When I looked around, I saw thousands of project management certifications, leadership programs, and executive training courses, but nothing specifically designed for Chiefs of Staff. I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, telling her how crazy it was that such an essential role had no structured development path. She looked at me and simply said, “Well, why don’t you build it?”

That was the moment everything clicked.

I launched Nova Chief of Staff, the first-of-its-kind education, certification, and development platform for Chiefs of Staff. Since then, Nova has trained nearly 1000 students across 30 countries, helping Chiefs of Staff gain the confidence, skills, and validation they need to drive impact in their organizations. Today, Nova offers not just training, but also coaching, consulting, and recruiting, ensuring that both Chiefs of Staff and the executives who rely on them have the support they need to succeed.

This year, we’re expanding Nova’s impact by hosting three in-person certification courses, providing hands-on training at major industry events. What started as a missing piece in my own career has now become a global movement to define and elevate the Chief of Staff role, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue shaping the future of business leadership.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The road to building Nova wasn’t smooth; it was filled with trial, error, and moments of uncertainty. When I started as a Chief of Staff, I felt like I was on an island. There were no playbooks, no structured guidance, and very few people to turn to for advice. It was a constant process of figuring things out in real-time.

That challenge became even more pronounced when I transitioned into entrepreneurship. I had deep expertise in the Chief of Staff function, but building a company was a different game. I had to navigate branding, marketing, audience-building, and creating a product that truly delivered value. The early days were a mix of excitement and self-doubt. Was there really a demand for this? Would people see the value?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was educating business leaders about the Chief of Staff role itself. Many companies still conflate it with an executive assistant, while others don’t understand the strategic impact a Chief of Staff can have. But through ongoing conversations, thought leadership, and real-world success stories, that perception is changing. Leaders are recognizing that the role is a must-have, not a nice-to-have.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

The C-suite is still dominated by men—71 percent of leadership roles and 90 percent of CEOs are men. But here’s the thing—women are excelling in leadership. A study by Zenger & Folkman found that women outperform men in 17 out of 19 leadership competencies, and Pew Research shows they consistently receive higher ratings from their teams. The issue isn’t ability; it’s exposure.

Women need more opportunities to engage in high-level decision-making, strategy, and company leadership. And no role provides better access to that than Chief of Staff. Chiefs of Staff work alongside executives, seeing firsthand how businesses are run, how strategy is shaped, and how decisions are made. It is one of the best ways to build the leadership skills needed to reach the C-suite.

The best part? The Chief of Staff role is a launchpad. It can be an entry point, a stepping stone, or a direct path to the executive level. Women are stepping into this role in record numbers and using it to make their mark.

That’s why this mission matters to me. I want to help more women find their confidence, take on leadership roles, and step into the rooms where decisions are made. Through Nova Chief of Staff, we are building the next generation of executives. Because when women lead, companies thrive.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that relationships are everything. Whether it’s in the role of a Chief of Staff or as an entrepreneur, success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing the right people to ask.

When I first started Nova, I focused on building relationships before anything else. I reached out to industry leaders, joined conversations, and sought out partnerships that could amplify our mission. That approach paid off. Today, Nova isn’t just a product, it’s a trusted resource because of the strong network we’ve cultivated.

Another key lesson is that execution matters more than perfection. If I had waited until everything was flawless, Nova would never have launched. Instead, I focused on getting the course into the hands of learners, gathering feedback, and continuously improving. That mindset—of iterating, testing, and evolving—has been critical to our growth.

At the end of the day, stepping into a Chief of Staff role or launching a business both require the same thing: the ability to adapt, execute, and bring people along with you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.novachiefofstaff.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novachiefofstaff/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovaChiefofStaff
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-olson-cos/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@novachiefofstaff
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/novachiefofstaff/

Image Credits

https://nikkimoorephotography.com/