Toast’s CMO is also its COO. Here’s how she makes room for both jobs

Kelly Esten, Toast's Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer, has mastered the art of delegating responsibilities as she juggling two C-suite titles. Her leadership style revolves around willingly relinquishing other duties, a habit that has defined her career over the past nine years at the restaurant technology company.

Currently, she oversees Toast's digital ordering and payments functions, requiring her to think holistically about the organization. To manage this dual role, Esten regularly evaluates which aspects of her previous positions should no longer be under her purview, offloading tasks to her team members. "I get to supervise, but I don’t get to do the work anymore," she admits.

The operational side of her job "certainly dominates," making her increasingly selective about where she allocates her time and energy. Esten's threshold for diving into details has increased, and she now shares her insights with her team to empower them to make decisions independently. By writing weekly updates, she ensures that her team has the necessary context to operate efficiently without her constant involvement.

In an interview with Fortune, Esten discusses her experiences transitioning between marketing and operations and how holding both positions has influenced her management style. She also explores how artificial intelligence could further intertwine functions within the C-suite, highlighting the evolving landscape for leaders in multiple roles.