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Each year at AFN, we pause to celebrate the leaders who elevate the Chief of Staff role not just through execution, but through influence, integrity, and impact. We are proud to announce that Kristina Karalic  has been named AFN’s 2025 Chief of Staff Impact Award Winner . Over the past year, Kristina has demonstrated what it truly means to embody the complexity and power of this role. From her early days supporting operations to stepping into a broader executive Chief of Staf

Each year, AFN presents the CEO Patty Brandmaier Resilience Award to honor a leader who reflects Patty’s legacy: service above self, strength with grace, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive under pressure. We are proud to name Brian Ferguson, Founder of Arena Labs, as the 2025 recipient. This recognition is more than symbolic. It is personal. A Legacy of Service, Carried Forward Patty Brandmaier spent more than 30 years serving in the CIA before dedicating her life

How leaders can unlock shared strengths across Boomers to Gen Z and why misunderstanding risks organizational friction. The workforce today spans   four living generations   — from Boomers in late career to Gen Z entering adulthood — each shaped by vastly different cultural, economic, and technological forces. These differences matter: not because one generation is “better,” but because misunderstanding them creates friction, erodes engagement, and limits organizational perfo

In September’s AFN CEO Hub Meeting, members tackled a topic shaping every industry — “Data as an Asset.”  What began as a discussion about analytics quickly became a conversation about strategy, ownership, and the responsibility leaders hold in transforming information into value. Today, data isn’t just an enabler of business; it is  the business. It’s a strategic resource to be gathered, protected, leveraged, and monetized. But how leaders think about data varies dramaticall

You might be thinking this isn't the right time to invest in yet another leadership event. But what if this one isn't just another event?...

At AFN, we believe your network is the answer, and that leadership flourishes when great minds connect. Our new partnership with Sixth...

In this powerful AFN Fireside Chat, Matt Sitter (CEO of AFN) is joined by Brian Ferguson , Founder & CEO of Arena Labs, and Jackie Pen ,...

Real talk. Real tools. Real transformation. Last week, we launched The Edge of Resilience , a new quarterly series hosted by Sixth Wing...

Leadership doesn’t happen at ground level; it requires lift. That’s the philosophy behind Leadership that Lifts , a high-impact...

If you’re leading an organization right now, chances are you’re feeling the pressure: to move faster, to innovate sooner, to respond...

When resources are abundant, everything seems possible. But it's when they're scarce that leadership gets real. In May's AFN CEO Hub...

Uncertainty isn’t new, but its flavor has been different lately. We sat with that feeling in our April CEO Hub for a moment. The...

"You live in the cracks of the org chart." That one line, shared by AFN CEO Matt Sitter during a recent Chief of Staff Office Hours,...

AFN Fireside Chat with Kip Morse: The Power of Trust in Business In this week’s AFN Fireside Chat, Matt Sitter  sat down with Kip Morse ,...

In this engaging fireside chat, Matt Sitter , CEO, AFN sat down with Dr. Ron Dixon , CEO of CareHive, to explore his journey from...

Brenda Darden Wilkerson , President and CEO of AnitaB.org , is the recipient of AFN's 2024 Patty Brandmaier Resilience Award. This...

View the fireside chat with John and Matt here . John Verge, CEO of Golden Lane Housing (GLH), joined Matt Sitter to discuss his...

The inaugural open session of Chief of Staff Office Hours brought together professionals for a candid exploration of tribalism and...

Unlock the full potential of your Chief of Staff journey with AFN's Chief of Staff Office Hours ! These complimentary sessions provide...

"The people in my network who challenge me and offer a different perspective are the ones I seek out." ~CoS Attendee