Maggie Olson

Maggie Olson is the CEO and Founder of Nova Chief of Staff, the premier destination for Chief of Staff education, certification, and development. With two decades of experience across some of the largest companies in retail, food and beverage, and technology sectors, Maggie’s extensive career is marked by a consistent ability to step into new roles and industries, transforming teams and businesses from the ground up. Nova Chief of Staff offers first of its kind certification, coaching, and consulting services for current and aspiring Chiefs of Staff.

Maggie's career began at Nordstrom, where she honed her skills in customer experience and business process management. She worked as a Buyer in multiple departments and later with the technology team, developing user tools that enhanced operational efficiencies. Her time at Nordstrom solidified her passion for leadership and set the stage for her future endeavors.

Pursuing an MBA at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, Maggie was recruited into T-Mobile's highly competitive Executive Development Program. There, she led a district of stores to success, crafted human strategies for new store concepts, and spearheaded the company's COVID-19 response initiative for over 26,000 retail employees.

From her success in the Executive Development Program, Maggie's impressive work led her to become the Chief of Staff to the President of the T-Mobile Business Group. In this role, she built the Chief of Staff model from the ground up, creating a highly efficient team and establishing an executive back-office structure that continues to drive organizational success at T-Mobile today. Her leadership was recognized with a significant achievement award, underscoring her impact on the company's growth and efficiency.

Recognizing a significant gap in the market for Chief of Staff training and education, and the lack of awareness among CEOs about the role's benefits, Maggie founded Nova Chief of Staff in June 2023. She noticed that many leaders were unfamiliar with the strategic value a Chief of Staff brings to an organization and that aspiring Chiefs of Staff had limited resources to develop their skills. Nova addresses these needs by offering a first-of-its-kind Chief of Staff Certification course, fractional consulting services, and placement and recruiting services. The course has quickly gained traction, attracting over 400 students from 20 countries in its first year.

Maggie's journey is shaped by her early leadership experiences, strong female role models, and a deep-seated belief in the power of effective business practices. She is passionate about empowering leaders, promoting business efficiency, and supporting women in leadership roles. Outside of her professional life, Maggie enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, their animals, and their young son, Max.

Through Nova Chief of Staff, Maggie continues to shape the future of business leadership, providing the tools and resources necessary for Chiefs of Staff to excel in their roles and drive company success.