This 45-minute 'discussion group' exists to strengthen connections between CSA members working in, or interested in, higher education.

​A very short reading is circulated to attendees three weeks before and forms the basis of the session. December's reading is: The Seven Traits Higher Education Leaders Need to Drive Change (Times Higher Education). 

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/seven-traits-higher-education-leaders-need-drive-change

​The discussion is moderated by CSA Editorial Manager, Henry Martin.

​Email editor@csa.org to recommend readings.

Chiefs of Staff in Higher Education Discussion Group

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Certification that is recognised globally. Built for chiefs of staff who want to lead with authority.

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Certified Chief of Staff®

It is a high-trust, high-pressure role; our members do not have to do it alone. Join Circles of Influence, be matched with a senior mentor, learn in the monthly Leadership Series, and stay connected through a global Slack community and events in your region.

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**Dates: **22 – 23 October, 2026.
**Format: **Two-day in person conference.
**Location:** Washington DC
**Venue:** Atlantic Council Headquarters.
**Theme:** Examining the changing landscape of modern leadership.
*Price:** SOLD OUT 

COS26 Dialogue

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The Chief of Staff Association leads the global conversation on the evolution of the chief of staff profession. Access articles, reports and podcasts with practical frameworks to strengthen your strategy and collaboration.

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These templates are part of a growing library built to save you time and define your role with clarity. Use them as a starting point: adapt the language, scope and reporting lines to the context of your role and sector.

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The professional home for chiefs of staff.

We connect, develop and recognise chiefs of staff in more than 75 countries: through community, education and advocacy, and the Certified Chief of Staff® credential. 

Become a Certified Chief of Staff® through globally recognised programmes, including executive education at top-ranked business schools.

In-person programmes in Oxford, Harvard Business School and SDA Bocconi. Designed for senior chiefs of staff who lead with influence and impact.

Executive Education 

Two 10-week programmes, Core and Advanced, each asking around four hours a week. Learn from senior practitioners, apply each module to your organisation, and finish with a capstone brief for your principal. Completing the Core programme earns your Certified Chief of Staff® Level 1 credential.

Online Certification Programme

Developed for CSA members, this intensive residential programme at Harvard Business School equips chiefs of staff with the strategic insight and leadership skills to become trusted, high-impact leaders driving success within their organisations.

Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme at Harvard Business School

CSA Harvard Executive Education Programme


Available to members of the Chief of Staff Association, this immersive residential programme in Oxford explores the systems, structures, and dynamics shaping a chief of staff’s environment.

Chief of Staff Executive Education Programme - Oxford

CSA Oxford Executive Education Programme

Available to members of the Chief of Staff Association, this in-person residential programme at SDA Bocconi School of Management prepares chiefs of staff for the geopolitical and institutional forces shaping every strategic decision they support.

SDA Bocconi Executive Education Programme

CSA Bocconi SDA Executive Education Programme

Transformative Professional Development

Forge trusted relationships with fellow chiefs of staff at the world's most important organisations.

An Influential Global Community 

Advancing the chief of staff profession through leadership, research, and a commitment to lasting organisational impact.

At the heart of this process is the partnership between the principal and the chief of staff. Anchored by shared values, the relationship is nevertheless one of constant negotiation and development, as the participants move constantly between agreement and challenge, compensate for each other’s weaknesses, and learn from each other’s strengths. 

"Partnership" - Vol: 6 Issue: 3 - Dec 2024

The Partnership Issue

In partnership with Milltown Partners, the Chief of Staff Association (CSA) presents this report on the leadership challenges CEO's face in balancing stakeholder expectations, operational demands and strategic decisions across diverse organisational contexts.

Milltown Partners Apr 2025

Special CSA Report 

A special report commissioned by The Chief of Staff Association discussing how the chief of staff is navigating turbulence and change

Hold The Centre July 2025

Hold The Centre

Advocacy and Impact

Tuesday 13 October

Leading from the Shadows - From chief of staff to the consigliere your leader can't lead without

Thursday 15 October

Introduction to the Chief of Staff Association

Friday 16 October

Alignment Across Borders: A Conversation with the IFRC

Wednesday 28 October

Sydney Reception

Success Series: Annual strategic planning that drives results

Monday 9 November

Multipliers: How the best leaders make everyone smarter

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Press Release

The world's first executive education programme on geopolitical leadership for chiefs of staff

CSA partners with SDA Bocconi

The acquisition expands our offering to include specialist chief of staff recruitment, alongside fractional chief of staff capability. View the press release here.

CSA acquires Vannin Chief of Staff

These are the brilliant minds supporting powerhouse organisations like Microsoft, FEMA, the United States Marine Corps, UL Solutions, and Vannin Chief of Staff.  Seeing them all in one frame powerfully showcases the breadth and strategic expertise that drives the CSA community. 

Chiefs of Staff in Higher Education Discussion Group

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