COLLEEN CANNEY
Chief of Staff & Executive Adviser
Power Dynamics
Difficult Decisions
Leadership Fatigue
Team Dysfunction
Losing YourselfAfter 15 years working inside two of the world’s top tech companies, I know what it feels like to sit in rooms where everyone sounds polished but very few people feel safe enough to be honest.
“Colleen, you say what others are thinking but don’t have the courage to say.”
-Former Google colleague
WHAT I BELIVE
The most competent and respected leaders are not the ones obsessed with status, ego, or looking good.
They are the ones who realize:
Leadership is not performance art.
Presence is a leadership advantage.
Pressure reveals character.
Exceptional leadership requires inner work.
Leadership should build people up, not break them down.
EXECUTIVE ADVISING
The conversations leaders can’t afford to avoid.
I partner with senior leaders as a trusted adviser to navigate difficult decisions, challenge assumptions, and provide honest strategic counsel when the stakes are high.
WHO I WORK BEST WITH
Leaders who choose truth over comfort
Leaders who balance a care for people with profits
Leaders open to honest feedback
Leaders willing to make tough calls
Leaders committed to success without abandoning themselves
WHAT CHANGES AFTER WORKING TOGETHER
Stronger self-trust
Greater sense of grounded confidence
Firmer boundaries and healthier leadership habits
More honest and effective conversations
Increased focus and less overwhelm
FRACTIONAL CHIEF OF STAFF
I help leaders stay focused on the highest priorities of the business.
WHY LEADERS HIRE A CHIEF OF STAFF
A strong Chief of Staff creates clarity, alignment, and momentum. This allows leaders to spend less time reacting and more time driving the business forward.
Example Areas of Support:
AI Transformations
Change Management
Coaching & Mentoring
Operational Efficiency
Leadership Development
Talent Acquisition
Project Management
THE STAND TRUE METHOD
The best leaders don't have all the answers. They know what they stand for.
“Pressure eventually exposes what we refuse to confront”
Stand For What You Believe
Leadership begins with clarity.
Stand By Your People
Leadership is revealed in relationships.
Stand Behind Your Decisions
Leadership requires strong judgment.
THE G.U.T.S. FRAMEWORK
A practical tool for making decisions you can actually stand behind.
G
Ground Yourself
Who do I aspire to be?
U
Understand Your Internal Signals
Am I living in an embodied state?
T
Tell Yourself the Truth
Am I facing reality?
S
Stand Firm
Will I respect myself for this choice?
ABOUT ME
My background includes 15+ years working at Google and Microsoft, but what has shaped me most is working alongside leaders trying to remain human in environments that often reward performance over authenticity.
Over the years, I've worked with many leaders defining success on their own terms, facing the reality of politics at the top, and striving to build cultures where people can do exceptional work without sacrificing their humanity.
WHAT BRINGS ME JOY
Outside of work, you will find me:
Reading several books at once
Engaging in a daily meditation and mindfulness practice
Exploring new trails in CO (weather permitting)
BEING OF SERVICE
I volunteer my time:
Serving meals at a local homeless shelter
Spending weekends with service dogs in training
Supporting a non-profit as its Treasurer
EDUCATION
BA, English
MBA
CERTIFICATIONS
AI for Leaders - Harvard Business School
AI & The Law - Chief of Staff Network
Teacher of Presence - Eckhart Tolle's School of Awakening