Almost a Decade - An Interview with Our Founder

We are just six months away from 2024—which happens to be the year that Prime Chief of Staff turns 10! As we prepare for our ten-year anniversary celebration plans, Strategy Associate, Nora Carpenter, sat down with our Founder and CEO, Catherine Berardi, to learn more about how Prime began and how the business has thrived and evolved since then.?

In this interview, Nora and Catherine discuss the motivation behind starting the company, the secret to being resilient, and the importance of having the right team. We also dive into how clients can best set themselves up for success when working with Prime and advice for entrepreneurs and business owners.?

NC: What was your biggest motivation to found Prime??

CB: There were really two things. First, I was a Chief of Staff by accident. I didn't get my role from a traditional job search. In fact, my principal never even saw my resume - she saw my actual work from having worked at the company. I had no intentions of being a Chief of Staff and didn’t even know what the role was. What I did know is that I enjoyed many aspects of business and found it difficult to “pick a lane” or specialty in one area, like finance or marketing. I knew there were others like me who were business smart and organizationally savvy whose resumes might paint a wild picture if you didn’t know better. Secondly, seeing how impactful my role as Chief of Staff was to my principal and organization was a big motivator. Without having a job description or much guidance, I was able to make my boss more effective and, in turn, help the organization grow. Those two reasons are why I started Prime.?

NC: You shepherded a small business through the pandemic—what’s the secret to being resilient??

CB: It's hard! There really isn't one thing you need to do to be resilient in tough times. I think when things get difficult, you must remember why you are doing what you are doing. Go back to the basics. That becomes your beacon during the storm. If you feel passionate about what you do, and why you do it, you will find ways to keep going. Someone once told me that the only way you fail is if you stop. I really try to keep going every day. It isn't always easy, but it is definitely worth it.?

NC: Prime will be 10 next year—which means you’ve been a CEO for nearly a decade! How do you make sure you’re continuously learning and innovating??

CB: I learn and innovate more in this role than in any other role I've held. Having the humility to believe there is much more to learn is essential. I think learning is about listening - listening to your clients, your team, your community, the market. Innovating is doing something with that knowledge. We strive to continue doing things better tomorrow than we did today. That keeps me plenty busy in my role as CEO and it’s given me plenty of variety over the past 10 years.?

NC: You used to be a one-woman show. Now, we’re a small but mighty team of 10. How does that feel??

CB: It is both rewarding and overwhelming at the same time. I did not start Prime with a desired number of employees or revenue size in mind. I started because I was passionate about what the role could do. Seeing where we are today is fascinating. Some days, I wonder why it took this long. Other days, I can't believe we are here. It's a wild ride starting and operating a business, but I am thankful for the journey and what it's taught me. I think the most important thing I’ve learned is how critical having the right team is to your success. It truly makes all the difference having a well-aligned team that believes in what you do.?

NC: Speak to us a bit about your clients. How can a client best set themselves up for success when working with Prime??

CB: Our clients tend to be what I like to call "enlightened leaders." If you think you are already perfect or don't need help, you won't be coming to Prime seeking a chief of staff or better-performing executive office. We appreciate clients who are always trying to be better and willing to be candid about their shortcomings. That is how you will find the best support around you. Our clients are thoughtful, introspective, and curious to learn. They respect our expertise from having been in this role and doing this work for a long time. They are willing to listen and learn to find the best answers with us. They very much view us as partners, which we really appreciate.?

NC: What’s your advice to entrepreneurs and business owners who admire your journey and what you’ve built??

CB: Interestingly, I think one trait business owners need to be successful is something I honed during my time as Chief of Staff - adaptability. If you go into business ownership with too much rigidity of any kind, it can be difficult. I spent the first two years at Prime just educating others on what I did, learning what people said, and refining as I went. Without this, I would've had a much different outcome. Weathering the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, not to mention economic times, requires adaptability.?

Prime Chief of Staff is an executive office advisory firm that supports professionals in optimizing their time, productivity, and effectiveness. For nearly ten years, we have been honored to support our clients in building the executive office that will take their organizations to new heights and bring achievement to executives and their teams. Prime provides signature Assessments, top-notch coaching and onboarding services, and Placement services for new and additional team members like Chiefs of Staff and Executive Assistants.?

Reach out at primechiefofstaff.com

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