Kathleen Gauden

About Kathleen Gauden

Based in the Pacific Northwest | Global Executive Support I am a Chief of Staff, Senior Executive Assistant, and Executive Virtual Assistant with 20+ years of experience supporting CEOs, founders, authors, thought leaders, spiritual entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and academic executives. I specialize in executive operations, business management, and strategic administrative leadership for fast-growing organizations.My background includes supporting globally recognized leaders such as Brian Tracy, Dr. Mark Stengler, Rev. Michael Beckwith, and Cyndi Dale, as well as University of California, Davis, and University of Connecticut faculty, startup CEOs, and public figures. I’ve also led high-profile event production and executive logistics for leaders including Senator Tom Harkin, former Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton, and musical artist Jewel.Core Expertise & Keywords• Chief of Staff / Fractional Chief of Staff• Senior Executive Assistant / Executive Virtual Assistant (Remote & Hybrid)• Founder & CEO Support• Executive Operations & Business Management• Calendar, Inbox & Travel Management• CRM Setup (ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Salesforce)• SOP Creation, Process Optimization & Workflow Automation• Team Coordination & Executive Communications• Event Management & Retreat Production• Marketing Operations, Funnels & Launch SupportHow I Add ValueExecutive & Administrative OperationsEnd-to-end executive support, including calendar and inbox management, CRM implementation, SOP development, newsletter coordination, internal systems, team onboarding, and operational oversight.Strategic & Chief of Staff SupportTrusted right-hand partnership for founders and executives—supporting decision-making, cross-functional coordination, goal execution, and scalable operational frameworks.Event & Experience ManagementPlanning and producing retreats, conferences, and high-visibility events with precision, discretion, and flawless execution.Marketing & Systems OptimizationStreamlining operations and implementing marketing workflows, funnels, and backend systems that support sustainable growth and revenue.Results That Matter• Increased operational efficiency and scalability• Improved executive focus and decision velocity• Strong client retention and referral-based growth• 50+ professional endorsements across LinkedIn and my website I help executives move from operational overwhelm to strategic clarity—so they can lead, grow, and scale with confidence.

Experience

1. Chief of Staff Senior Executive Assistant Event Management Human Resources

   The Virtual Assistant & Company

   Sep 2015 — Present · US

   Executive Assistant | Project Manager | OBM for HomeLight, Friends of the Children, HomeBay, House of Kaizen Executives.Managed and coordinated a four-day fundraiser for Former US Senator Tom Harkin at the Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, CA.Managed and organized a formal dinner for Navy Secretary John H. Dalton.Executive Assistant to Chris Heller, former CEO of Keller Williams.Executive Assistant to Brian Tracy, world-renown author of over 70 books, motivational speaker, and business coach.Executive Assistant to C-Suite Executives at Smith-Nephew, Digital Gene Technologies, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, and Life Technologies.Virtual Assistant to Dr. Mark Stengler, a best-selling author and one of America\'s most respected integrative doctors in America.Ghostwriter, for author Kevin Trudeau known for his dedication to the fight for free speech and protection of the First Amendment. Other experience includes start-up companies, the Department of Defense, Real Estate, and biotech companies. EXPERTISEExecutive support to entrepreneurs, startups, small companies, and corporations. International/domestic travel arrangementsCalendar NinjaExecutive Gate KeeperEvents ManagerProject management of day-to-day operations Design and streamline standard operation procedures (SOPs)Coordinating meetings/speaker engagements/training classesPowerpoint creation and updatesMarketing & social media assistanceReal Estate Assistant servicesGoogle Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Calendar), Dropbox, Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive), DropBox, Box, Slack, Asana, Trello, MailChimp, QuickBooks, TriNet, Bamboo, Gusto.Real Estate (MLS, DocuSign, Mail Chimp, marketing, scheduling appointments w/ clients and vendors, sending thank you cards and gifts, managing staff meetings, listings.

Education

• Cuyamaca College

  Associates Degree in Business/Real Estate, Business & Real Estate

  1995 — 1998

• California Department of Real Estate

  California Real Estate Salespersons' License, California Real Estate

Skills

• Social Media
• Training
• Staff Development
• Program Management
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Management
• Project Management
• Time Management
• Teamwork
• Event Planning
• Social Media Marketing
• Public Relations
• Entrepreneurship
• Customer Service
• Outlook
• Start-Ups
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Office
• Mailchimp
• Slack
• Basecamp