The Chief of Staff: A startup’s secret weapon?

In our latest Change Makers episode, Adam Evans, Director at Levick Stanley sits down with Rohan Sheth, Chief of Staff at Olio, a Series B startup on a mission to reduce food waste and create a more sustainable future. 

Olio is a forward-thinking company that connects neighbours and local businesses to share surplus food, combating waste, and fostering community connections. As Chief of Staff, Rohan plays a critical role in supporting Olio’s growth and driving strategic initiatives.  

Key takeaways 

1. There’s no single Chief of Staff job: Rohan emphasises that the Chief of Staff role varies across organisations, depending on the business, the leader and the gaps in the team. This lack of standardisation can lead to confusion for both candidates and companies  

2. The startup Chief of Staff is a Swiss army knife: Contrary to the misconception that the Chief of Staff is primarily a people-focused role, Rohan explains that in the startup world, it’s a highly strategic and operations-oriented position. The Chief of Staff is expected to be a generalist, adapting to the evolving needs of the business without relying on specialists for every task.  

3. “Yesterday” is the best time to hire a Chief of Staff: When asked about the ideal time to bring in a Chief of Staff, Rohan’s answer is clear: as early as possible, He notes a shift in the market, with more startups hiring Chief of Staff roles earlier in their journey, recognising the value of generalist support in a fast-paced environment.  

4. Alignment comes from one clear objective: Rohan shares his approach to influencing leaders and aligning teams, starting that misalignment often stems from individuals optimising for different things. His solution is to bring everything back to a single core objective, or “North Star”, simplifying decision-making and clarifying trade-offs.  

5. To stand out, behave like a Chief of Staff during the hiring process: For candidates seeing a Chief of Staff position, Rohan offers specific advice: go above and beyond what is asked of you. Deliver work faster, dive deeper, demonstrate your ability to operate with incomplete information, and create value from an outside perspective. In a competitive market, simply meeting the basic requirements won’t set you apart.  

To hear more about Rohan’s career journey so far, and his advice for aspiring Chief of Staff leaders, watch the full Change Makers interview on our YouTube channel.