The role of Chief of Staff – long established in military and political circles – is finding a new home: In thriving corners of the private sector. It’s a title of great intrigue and mystique – no two people ever take the same road to occupy the position and the range of responsibilities is so broad from company to company. But it’s undoubtedly growing in prominence, particularly at large-scale corporations harbouring complex portfolios and delivering big revenue numbers – senior leaders in these organisations often require support carrying out their duties, executing their purpose, and navigating the disruption that is a constant fixture in the business world right now.

So is the case at global healthcare giant Sanofi, where Joanne Kennedy is Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President of R&D, responsible for leading the Management Office team. Joanne recently spoke with our Industry Analyst Simon Hall about the work she is doing day-to-day and the integral part she is playing in the AI and digital transformation journey Sanofi is pursuing. Our interview with her covered a broad range of topics: how to prevent digital fatigue, how to create psychological safety, the importance of having a north star, quashing imposter syndrome, the benefits of diversity in leadership, and a whole lot more.