Becoming an institutional chief advancement officer would be so much easier with an instructional manual. Beyond functional expertise in a CASE discipline, the best CAOs exhibit keen political instincts, thoughtful and sound judgment, and an ability to motivate their teams to surpass their own expectations of themselves. This interactive session will feature successful CAOs discussing the surprises and lessons that greeted them when they became CAOs - and may still linger even as they make their way through the long list of outcomes they assigned themselves when they arrived. Although the panelists are from various types of organizations, the lessons are often universal. Walking into these big roles without a clear understanding of expectations and a vision for how you will meet them, the road to success can be elusive. No one can be everything to everyone, so having a plan is the only way to avoid playing whack-a-mole for one's whole tenure. There are battles worth fighting and others that are just distractions. Join this discussion as you consider how to approach your next - or first - role as chief advancement officer.