September 13-16, 2026 | Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center | Nashville, TN

Produced by

ASAP
Register Now

Nova Chief of Staff Certification at APC:

Nova Chief of Staff Certification equips aspiring leaders to function at the highest levels of a company. Through hands-on practice doing the daily functions of the Chief of Staff role, Nova’s acclaimed course builds confidence and competence for aspiring and current Chiefs of Staff, as well as those looking to have a more significant impact in their current role, through its expertly crafted curriculum by Nova Chief of Staff Founder, Maggie Olson.  

In this exclusive IN-PERSON training, spend 3 days (Sun, Mon, Tues) diving deep into Nova’s six-module course covering ALL-THINGS Chief of Staff, including the wide variety of CoS roles, EA to CoS Transition, Business Planning, Business Process, Events, Communications, Executive Engagements, Executive Recommendations, Executive Project Management, Gap-filling, Employee Culture, First 90 Days in the Role, and more.  

Nova Chief of Staff is the Premier destination for Chief of Staff education and development. With nearly 1500 students across 40 countries and rave testimonials, now is your chance to complete Nova’s course in person in this proven format.  

Nova Students will attend most of APC’s Sunday summit, and all APC keynotes around the Nova training.

Ready to dive into the agenda?

Get Started

Nova Chief of Staff

$ 3,085 Early Bird Pricing Until 5/1/2026
  • 3 full-day course (Sun, Mon, Tues)
  • Headliner
  • Conference Program Access​
  • Networking Opportunities​ such as Braindates
  • Immersive, Cohort-Style Certification Training
  • Online Access to Certification Coursework​
  • Capstone Project
  • Pre-Event Guidance
  • Dedicated Certification Support
  • Post-Event Engagement & Networking​
  • Verified Credential
  • Daily Breakfast & Lunch
  • Attendee Party
Register Now
Please note: Full 3-Day attendance is required for Nova Certification. Please ensure your flight out is booked no earlier than 8pm on Tuesday, zero exceptions will be granted.

Why Attend?

  • Build Confidence and Competence: With more than a dozen hands-on assignments, brainstorming sessions, table projects, and live discussions about the Chief of Staff role with Nova Founder Maggie Olson, students will leave practiced and prepared to take on a Chief of Staff role or elevate themselves in their current role.
  • Navigate EA to Chief of Staff next steps: It’s no secret you’re a high performer, but what’s next? Navigate the elevation of your current role, pitching the next one, negotiating what you deserve, and transitioning to Chief of Staff.   
  • Hit the Ground Running as a Chief of Staff: Leave with proven frameworks, dozens of templates, and the knowledge of what to tackle first, second, and third as a new or aspiring Chief of Staff.  

Who Would Benefit?

Roles

  • Executive / Senior-Level / or C-Suite Level Assistants
  • Current & Aspiring Chiefs of Staff
  • Business Operations Managers
  • Highly Organized Leaders
  • Executive Business Partners 
  • Project Managers
  • Anyone who wants to learn more about the Chief of Staff position

Characteristics

  • Driven, fast, high achieving
  • Learns quickly & collaborative
  • Great at many things & prefers breadth vs. depth
  • High emotional intelligence
  • Strong executive presence
  • Wants more responsibility
  • Loves supporting a leader at the top of a business
"As I reflect on the past 3 days, I appreciated Maggie’s delivery and engagement, the hands-on work, the tools, and the peer connections. I may have met some—or all—of my 'core five' people at this training."
Marquette
In-Person Student

Ready to Save Your Seat?

Register Now

Meet the Instructor

Maggie Olson

Maggie Olson is the Founder of Nova Chief of Staff, the premier and first-of-its-kind destination for Chief of Staff education, certification, and development. She has 20 years of experience in retail, food and beverage, and technology sectors and has held leadership roles at Nordstrom and T-Mobile. At T-Mobile, Maggie’s impressive work led her to become the first 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, supporting the President, SVPs, and over 5,000 employees. She also built a Chief of Staff team, defining all roles, processes, and systems. 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. 

From Past Attendees:

"I really enjoy the tools we were given that we can take back and use in our current roles—and in future CoS roles. Creating a brief is something I’ll definitely use moving forward at my company."
StaceyIn-Person Student
"I thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative group discussions with my table. The in-depth conversations, the respective challenges, and salient solutions given were valuable. Discussing the Coffee Chat opened up discussions regarding readiness of the executive. Developing the briefing decks was valuable, as it provided structure to intermittent information. The decks were easy to follow and executive-level ready. I like Maggie's coaching style as it was encouraging and sharp, as she challenged us to be strategic thinkers, operators, and servant-leaders all at once."
CurtisIn-Person Student
"The course was exceptionally well-delivered, with content presented enthusiastically and engagingly. The staff provided outstanding support—consistently encouraging, uplifting, and attentive during challenging moments. Collaborative table work offered valuable insights into how peers in similar roles approach assignments, allowing me to learn diverse techniques and perspectives. Maggie's passion for teaching was evident and truly inspiring."
KaylaIn-Person Student
"The diversity of thought in the room was amazing. I appreciated the in-person connections and the opportunity to push beyond the foundation. I’m looking forward to adapting the tools to our org and especially using the time analysis exercise with my executive. I hope to serve as an in-person ambassador someday!"
HeatherIn-Person Student
"Over the past three days of our in-person training, I really appreciated the opportunity to delve into the importance of the Chief of Staff role. It helped me gain clarity on how my team and those around me should view me as I transition into this role. One of the key takeaways for me was learning how to craft cohesive storytelling for presentations. The training reinforced the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and strategic alignment—critical skills I’ll take with me."
MaritzaIn-Person Student

Schedule at a Glance

Please note: Full 3-Day attendance is required for Nova Certification. Please ensure your flight out is booked no earlier than 8pm on Wednesday, zero exceptions will be granted.

Prework

Before arriving at APC, all students are expected to complete 5–6 hours of required prework. This foundational work is essential for your success in the course. Completing it ensures you’re prepared to engage with the material and collaborate with your peers. 

Saturday, September 12

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Badge Pick Up / Attendee Services

Sunday, September 13

7:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast

9:00 AM – 11:45 AM | The Chief of Staff with Maggie Olson

11:45 AM – 1:30 PM | Lunch

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM | The Chief of Staff with Maggie Olson

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | APC Welcome!

Monday, September 14

7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast 

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Business Planning, Events, & Communications

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | HEADLINER: Momentum in the Mess: What Disruption Teaches Us with Rashida Jones

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Business Planning, Events, & Communications

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Business Planning, Events, & Communications

Tuesday, September 15

7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast 

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Storytelling, Presenting, & Executive Project Management

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

12:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Storytelling, Presenting, & Executive Project Management

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Grand Ole APC Social

Wednesday, September 16

7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Breakfast 

9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Storytelling, Presenting, & Executive Project Management

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Storytelling, Presenting, & Executive Project Management

Post Course Work

Students complete nearly the full Nova Chief of Staff Certification onsite (over 95% of the course), and then return home, and have about 10 more days to complete their final project. Once their final assignment is submitted, students receive certification!

Students will also have a few hours of pre-work to complete prior to arrival at the conference.

Step into Your Future

Lead boldly, today.

Register Now

Need Help Building Your Business Case?​

Complete a short questionnaire, and we’ll craft a personalized letter for you to share with your boss!

Get Started