AFN Announces 2025 Chief of Staff Impact Award Recipient: Kristina Karalic

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 Staff position, she has grown with her organization, bringing operational depth, strategic clarity, and a steady, trusted presence to the leadership team.

A Foundation Built on Trust

When asked what advice she would give aspiring Chiefs of Staff, Kristina did not hesitate:

“There’s one foundational thing, and that’s trust. It’s what gives you access to information, to people. It’s what gives you credibility. And at the end, it’s what gives you influence without formal authority.”

Trust is the throughline of Kristina’s work. It is how she earned the role. It is how she expanded her impact. And it is how she continues to serve as a true extension of her principal and executive team.

Operational Grit Meets Strategic Growth

Kristina never shied away from the operational trenches, traveling internationally, meeting teams on the floor, and understanding the business from the inside out. That hands-on experience became the backbone of her effectiveness when asked to “connect the dots” during a period of rapid growth.

What began as organizing meetings and supporting the process quickly evolved into something bigger:

• Building bridges between the broader organization and the founder

• Ensuring experiments became repeatable processes

• Helping the executive team operate with clarity and cohesion

  
  

Like the best Chief of Staff roles, hers evolved as the company grew.

Leadership Is Reflection, Not Just Execution

Kristina is also a committed learner. Through AFN’s Chief of Staff Office Hours, she found something many in this role rarely have: space to reflect.

She described Office Hours as both an extension of work and a moment to step out of execution mode. A place to compare notes with peers navigating similar complexity in entirely different organizations. A “sanity check” in a role that can feel isolating.

And a reminder that this work requires resilience.

One of her key takeaways from the past year:

“Build micro-practices into your day. This work is hard and stressful. Build resilience in small, intentional ways every day.”

Humility. Curiosity. Impact.

Those who know Kristina consistently point to her humility and curiosity. She jumps in when needed. She asks thoughtful questions. She continues to earn trust even as new executives join and the organization evolves.

This award is not just a recognition of what she has accomplished. It reflects how she shows up.

Kristina Karalic represents the very best of the Chief of Staff profession: Operationally grounded. Strategically sharp. Deeply trusted. Continuously learning.

Congratulations, Kristina. We are honored to celebrate you as AFN’s 2025 Chief of Staff Impact Award Winner.

Watch Kristina's interview with AFN CEO and Sixth Wing Partner Matt Sitter.