From Nordic Oracle to Silicon Valley Powerhouse (The ONLY Leadership Playbook You Need!)
Katrine’s path from Oracle Norway to Chief of Staff in Silicon Valley isn’t just impressive—it’s full of hard-earned lessons that every leader needs to hear. With over 20 years in tech, she’s led through change, built teams from scratch, and influenced without a title. This post breaks down her real talk on leadership, change, and what actually works.
Key Takeaways
Influence Beats Authority
Katrine led cross-functional, global teams—most of whom didn’t report to her. She proved that influence, not titles, drives results.Chief of Staff is Built, Not Assigned
Katrine never planned to become Chief of Staff. But 20 years of solving messy problems and building structure made her ready for it.Adaptability Wins
From Norway to the U.S., from Oracle to startups—she showed that adaptability is more than a skill. It’s survival.
Notable Quotes
“If you don’t have access to your manager, it’s going to be almost impossible to succeed as Chief of Staff.”
“You have to define the what and the why. The how will follow.”
“Having a plan is better than not having one—even if it changes.”
Real-World Applications
Simplify with a Single Source of Truth
Example: A simple spreadsheet tracked all active projects. Weekly reviews helped kill low-priority work and refocus resources.Start with “Why” in Team Briefings
Example: Engineers at Oracle were eager to jump into the how. But Katrine made sure they understood what and why first—so their solutions actually fit.Blend Strategy and Execution
Example: At a PE-backed company, she bridged the gap between the board’s vision and what the operations team could actually do.
Katrine’s story isn’t about titles or buzzwords. It’s about doing the hard stuff: building trust, making priorities clear, and adapting fast. Whether you’re a leader, a Chief of Staff, or someone running cross-functional teams—this is the leadership playbook you actually need.
00:23 Katrine's Journey from Oracle to Chief of Staff
00:45 Katrine's Experience at Oracle and Transition to the U.S.
03:48 Cultural and Business Differences Between Norway and the U.S.
06:14 Katrine's Transition from Oracle to Equinix
09:17 Becoming a Chief of Staff: The Unexpected Journey
12:14 Working with a Private Equity Backed Board
20:36 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Strategic Decision Making
22:59 The Importance of Clear Communication and Prioritization in Leadership
29:07 Book Recommendation: Traction by Gino Wickman
31:55 The Role of a Chief of Staff in Translating Strategy into Operations
Her book recommendation is "Traction" by Gino Wickman (https://amzn.to/4918MnL)
About The Author
Emily Sander is an ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience in the business world and the author of Hacking Executive Leadership. She’s been featured in several print publications, online articles, and podcasts, including CEO Today Magazine, Leading to Fulfillment, and Leadership Powered by Common Sense.
Emily has a passion for helping business leaders reach their full potential. Go here to read her story from seasoned executive to knowledgeable coach. If you want to send Emily a quick message, then visit her contact page here.