Chief of Staff Leading 5 Enterprise Teams at PMI with Lenka Pincot
Lenka Pincot didn’t just become Chief of Staff at PMI. She built her path through volunteering, leadership roles, and a strong passion for project management. Today, she manages five enterprise teams while also serving as the bridge between PMI’s CEO and the entire organization.
Key Takeaways
The Chief of Staff role can blend operations, leadership, and strategy—especially at the enterprise level.
Building self-sufficient teams means empowering, coaching, and then stepping back.
Project management skills are a huge advantage for Chiefs of Staff—especially in driving enterprise-wide change.
Notable Quotes
"When you add something to someone's plate, something else has to be removed, else you just get overflow."
"The best part is working so closely with our CEO... I'm learning from him every day. For me, this is priceless."
"People who come from project management are often focused on execution and they are great at execution, but if you want to add value as Chief of Staff, you need to build your teams that execute but then serve as that executive leader."
Real-World Applications
Use Structure to Enable Agility
Example: Lenka built transparent systems across PMI so teams could quickly reprioritize without chaos when major changes hit.Operationalize Strategy Through Teams
Example: She placed neutral, enterprise-supporting functions like Transformation and EPMO under the Office of the CEO for faster decision-making.Grow Independent Leaders
Example: Lenka’s coaching style builds team leads who can manage themselves, escalate only when necessary, and lead their own functions.
Lenka Pincot shows that Chief of Staff work at the enterprise level isn’t just support—it’s leadership. It’s about structure that flexes, decisions that align to strategy, and teams that don't need hand-holding. With clarity and coaching, real organizational transformation becomes possible.
Time Stamps:
00:58 Lenka's Journey to Chief of Staff
02:58 Understanding PMI
04:54 Role and Responsibilities of a Chief of Staff
06:14 Managing Five Enterprise Teams
08:12 Building Effective Systems and Structures
12:59 Prioritization and Re-Prioritization
18:51 Team Coordination and Flexibility
20:11 Empowering Self-Sufficient Teams
22:24 Strategic Investment Decisions
22:41 Data-Driven Strategy and Investment
28:09 Project Management Skills Development
31:01 Reflections on the Chief of Staff Role
Links Mentioned:
PMI Project Management Institute: https://www.pmi.org/
Information on PMI certifications and resources: https://www.pmi.org/certifications
Information on PMI chapters: https://www.pmi.org/membership/chapters
Connect with Lenka Pincot on LinkedIn: / lenka-pincot
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.