Career Path: How Does One Become a Chief of Staff?

The Chief of Staff role is often a springboard position – many view it as a way to accelerate one’s career toward higher leadership roles. However, there isn’t one single pipeline; CoS come from a variety of backgrounds.

Experience Level: 

Data shows that CoS tend to be either early-career rising stars or seasoned mid-career professionals. A McKinsey study of 250 CoS found two common entry points: one cohort around 5–10 years of experience (often taking on CoS as a stretch role focusing on support and project execution), and another cohort with 15–20+ years of experience (more senior operators who act as extensions of their principals in leadership). In other words, some CoS are hired in their late 20s or early 30s to learn and grow with a dynamic company, while others are hired in their 40s as veteran advisors to an executive. The average chief of staff has ~12 years of work experience prior to the role.

Common Backgrounds: