Microsoft Executive Reveals the Future of Executive Leadership Support
Microsoft Chief of Staff AnneMarie Otanez Challenges Organizations to Rethink Strategic Partnership Between Administrators and C-Suite
This isn't about doing more with the same resources. It's about recognizing that the role has already transformed, and organizations need to catch up.”
— Anne Marie Otanez
WASHINGTON, DC, DC, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As organizations navigate unprecedented complexity and rapid change, a Microsoft Chief of Staff is challenging the corporate world to fundamentally rethink how executive support delivers strategic value.
Anne Marie Otanez, founder of Own Your Power With Anne Marie LLC, argues that the future of effective executive leadership depends on organizations recognizing and leveraging what she calls "one of the most misunderstood dynamics in business"—the strategic partnership between Executive Administrators and Chiefs of Staff.
The Traditional Model Is Broken
Drawing from her experience navigating reorganizations, budget cuts, and high-stakes pressures at Microsoft, Otanez contends that the traditional view of administrative support as purely operational is not only outdated—it's actively limiting organizational effectiveness.
"We're at an inflection point," Otanez explains. "Executive Administrators are already operating at strategic levels that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The question isn't whether their role has evolved—it's whether organizations will recognize that evolution and structure support accordingly."
According to Otanez, companies that continue to view executive support through an outdated lens are leaving significant operational value on the table and limiting their executives' ability to drive enterprise-level impact.
The "Power Pair" Framework: A New Model for the Future
Central to Otanez's vision is what she calls the "Power Pair" framework—a model that positions Executive Administrators and Chiefs of Staff as complementary strategic forces rather than competing or hierarchical roles.
This framework challenges conventional corporate structure by suggesting that the future of executive effectiveness lies not in choosing between administrative support models, but in understanding how they work together to multiply executive influence.
"When properly aligned, these roles don't just support an executive—they transform how leadership operates across the entire enterprise," Otanez notes.
"That's where organizations need to focus if they want to compete in increasingly complex environments."
Three Pillars for Future-Ready Executive Support
Otanez's approach centers on three critical competencies that she believes will define effective executive support in the coming decade:
Strategic Role Clarity — Understanding where Executive Administrator and Chief of Staff roles complement versus overlap, and designing support structures that leverage both
Partnership Over Hierarchy — Building collaborative relationships between support roles that elevate executive decision-making rather than creating operational silos
Enterprise-Level Influence — Scaling administrative impact beyond individual executive support to drive organizational excellence
From Tactical to Transformational
Otanez's perspective represents a fundamental shift in how organizations should view and invest in executive support. Rather than focusing on task management and logistics, she advocates for a model where administrators operate as strategic partners—a relationship she describes as critical not just to executive effectiveness, but to organizational competitiveness.
"This isn't about doing more with the same resources," she emphasizes. "It's about recognizing that the role has already transformed, and organizations need to catch up. The companies that understand this will have a significant advantage."
Real-World Lessons, Real-World Solutions
Unlike academic approaches to organizational structure, Otanez's insights come from direct experience in high-pressure corporate environments. Her time at Microsoft included managing through significant organizational changes, giving her firsthand knowledge of what works—and what doesn't—when executive support systems are tested.
"These are lessons learned from the reality of corporate leadership—the real challenges, the real solutions, and the real opportunities that exist when you understand how these roles work together," she notes. "Organizations that want to lead in the future need to start building these structures now."
Sharing the Vision at Global Summit
Otanez will share these perspectives and more at the global summit "Welcome to YOUR NEXT MOVE: Your Career Your Terms" on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The virtual event, organized by industry leaders Jodie Mears, Fiona Young, and Alicia Fairclough, brings together executive support professionals from around the world.
About Anne Marie Otanez
Anne Marie Otanez is the founder of Own Your Power With Anne Marie LLC and Chief of Staff at Microsoft. She specializes in executive leadership dynamics and strategic organizational support, with a focus on elevating administrative professionals from tactical execution to strategic influence. Her "Power Pair" framework is reshaping how organizations structure executive support for maximum impact.
For more information, visit annemarieotanez.com
Media Contact
Anne Marie Otanez
Own Your Power With Anne Marie LLC
Phone: +1 (801) 597-4103
Email: amotanez@outlook.com
Photo Credit: Brett Colvin Photography
Anne Marie
Own Your Power with Anne Marie
thecos@annemarieotanez.com
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