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Strategic PA Network | In-person Breakfast | 7.30am - 9.30am, The BoTree London | Inside The Chief Of Staff Position: Expectations Vs The Reality

Wednesday 15th April 2026 7.30am - 9.30am - BST

Location: 30 Marylebone Lane, London, W1U 2DR

The Chief of Staff role continues to grow in prominence, but what does it really look like beyond the job title?

 

Join us for an open, fireside-style panel discussion where we lift the lid on one of the most talked-about career transitions in the business support profession. This session is designed for ambitious Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants and senior business support professionals who are curious about stepping into, or working alongside, a Chief of Staff role.

 

We’re delighted to be joined by an exceptional panel of experienced Chiefs of Staff:

 

Kelly StampNnenna Onwukah, Rachel Townend, and Karima Wasaya, who will share honest insights into their journeys, the realities of the role, and how it differs from common perceptions.

 

What we’ll explore:

·       What the Chief of Staff role actually entails day-to-day

·       The difference between expectations and reality in the position

·       How the role varies across organisations and leadership styles

·       The skills, mindset, and experience needed to step into the role

·       How to position yourself for the transition from EA/PA to Chief of Staff

·       The challenges, opportunities, and impact of operating at this level

 

What you’ll take away:

·       A clear and realistic understanding of the Chief of Staff role

·       Insight into whether this career path is right for you

·       Practical advice on how to bridge the gap from EA/PA to Chief of Staff

·       Confidence to start positioning yourself strategically for your next step

·       The opportunity to ask questions and hear candid perspectives from those already in the role

 

This is an intimate, engaging session with plenty of opportunity for discussion, connection, and reflection with like-minded professionals.

 

Whether you’re actively considering the move or simply curious about what’s next in your career, this session will give you the clarity and confidence to take your next step with purpose.

Speakers

Kelly Stamp

As a high performing Chief of Staff and C-Suite Executive Assistant, I have been the right hand in high growth, fast paced businesses for 12 years. I have a clear understanding of what is required to build an effective and output driven executive team to grow a business and achieve its potential.

 

In my previous role and time supporting the CEO I assisted in transforming Giacom from a hosted exchange provider into an award winning Cloud Market Place and grew Giacom turnover 20 fold and hit the landmark achievement of £100m.

 

With a history in finance management and fully MAAT qualified I have gained the knowledge required to complement the board team and work well with the investment community. I have extensive experience in delivering effective board reporting for fast growth and PE backed businesses.

 

I have worked on 3 private equity transactions selling from and to Private Equity buyers and not only supported the executive team but also worked on various documents included finance and commercial due diligence and assisted the executive team in the management presentations.

 

Throughout my career I have taken on a number of specialist projects aligned to development, performance and crisis management and have also led a number of departments where required.

 

With a seat at the table as part of the executive team I am also the sounding board and support to ensuring the business and team are running as effectively as they possibly can.

 

I pride myself on being the trusted advisor and right hand to my executive. Always being one step ahead and delivering to an exceptional standard with trust and respect as a priority to our success.

Karima Wasaya

Karima Wasaya is currently Chief of Staff at Hargreaves Lansdown, where she has been for just over a year, playing a key role in supporting strategic priorities and driving organisational effectiveness at the highest level.

 

Prior to stepping into her Chief of Staff role, Karima was Executive Assistant to the CEO at Dunnhumby, where she operated as a trusted partner, gaining deep exposure to executive decision-making and business strategy.

 

She also spent nearly nine years at Kraft Heinz Company, most recently as Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, building a strong foundation in stakeholder management, leadership support, and operational excellence within a global organisation.

 

Karima’s impact and progression within the business support profession have been widely recognised, most notably as a finalist for Chief of Staff of the Year at the Strategic PA Network 2025 Awards.

Nnenna Onwukah

A self-directed and resourceful Chief of Staff with 18 years of executive business support experience, empowering leaders and entrepreneurs with strategic excellence. Successfully organising, prioritising and delivering business initiatives in fast-paced and evolving environments. Influences and guides at executive-level while structuring and executing analyses to support strategy. Excellent influencer and relationship builder with growth mindset. Driving transparency and alignment across leadership teams; enhancing operational efficiency and driving key projects. I am passionate about helping business leaders build exceptional businesses at every stage of growth.

Rachel Townend

An outcome and process-oriented team player with a passion for people and supporting those around me to drive prioritisation of time, optimisation of workflows and delivery of strategic projects. My career history of supporting C-Suite management in various sectors on the administrative side before transitioning to management myself gives me a unique insight into how businesses function and the challenges they have to overcome. Hugely passionate about utilising the resources & talent that businesses have in-house and helping them to foster & grow.

Venue

The BoTree, London

The BoTree is a 5-star, 199-room boutique hotel in London’s Marylebone (opened Sept 2023, now part of Hilton Curio Collection) that focuses on "conscious luxury" and community. Located near Marylebone Lane, it offers butler service, high-end design, and LAVO restaurant

Strategic PA Network is an active, professional networking group for Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Virtual Assistants, Administrators, and Office Managers. Whether based in the UK or around the world, we are proudly all-inclusive and not county-specific; anyone is welcome to attend our events and be part of our thriving community.

Over the past ten years, we have organically grown into a supportive and empowering network where Assistants come together to learn, connect, and grow. Our mission is to provide a credible platform that encourages industry awareness, meaningful connections, and shared best practices.

Learning and development are at the core of everything we do, with our events exploring essential topics that bring value, spark insight, and deliver revelatory moments.

At Strategic PA Network, we believe in the power of community - lifting each other up, celebrating every success, and inspiring Assistance to reach their full potential.

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