Podcast
What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer
Hosted by Silicon Valley Change · EN
Behind every powerhouse communicator, relationship builder, and resilient leader is a strategic thinker who leads with curiosity and honors wellbeing. Say goodbye to disengagement and team fatigue as we bring you science-backed strategies that will transform not just your leadership style but also your team’s and organization's success. Join Ilene Schaffer and industry leaders as they share tried-and-true methods, empowering insights, and a mission to elevate your leadership game.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Marcus Buckingham on Why Love Is the Missing Ingredient in Leadership and Business
6d ago00:54:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with renowned researcher, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Marcus Buckingham for a bold and deeply human conversation about leadership, work, and why love may be the most overlooked driver of performance in business today.Drawing from his research, his years at Gallup, and his own experience building and selling a company, Marcus makes the case that love is not soft fluff layered on top of business. It is a real force that drives trust, loyalty, energy, creativity, and results.Marcus and Ilene explore why extreme positive experiences matter more than “pretty good” ones, how leaders can intentionally create more life-giving moments at work, and why small practices like weekly check-ins can have an outsized impact on team performance and human flourishing.This episode is especially relevant for leaders navigating uncertainty, AI, burnout, and fast change, and looking for a more human, evidence-based way forward.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →In the Moment: What Working in Prison Taught Jeff Jacobs About Trust and Empathy
2w ago00:12:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Jeff Jacobs to explore the powerful leadership lessons he learned while working in maximum-security prisons.Jeff talks about how his time with incarcerated individuals challenged his assumptions, deepened his empathy, and taught him the importance of psychological safety, trust, and genuine human connection. He learned the value of showing up with curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and respecting the lived experiences of others.This short conversation offers a deeply human reminder that trust begins when people feel seen, heard, and valued, whether inside an organization, in a moment of transition, or in the most unexpected places.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →Leading Change from the Middle: Adriano Pianesi on Progress, Power, and Participation
3w ago00:38:10Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to navigate organizational change, especially when you’re leading from the middle? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with executive coach and professor Adriano Pianesi, who has worked with more than 2,500 leaders across sectors. Adriano shares why change so often feels exhausting, political, and stuck, and why middle managers are far more essential to successful change than they are often given credit for. Together, he and Ilene talk about a practical framework built around Preparation, Power, Participation, and Progress, offering leaders a more strategic and human-centered way to move change forward.This conversation is especially relevant for managers, founders, and professionals who are carrying the pressure of implementation without always having full authority. If you’ve ever felt caught between leadership vision and frontline reality, or blamed for change that isn’t taking root, this episode offers both validation and a concrete path forward.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →In the Moment: How to Lead Teams When Everything Is Changing with Eric Wong
4w ago00:33:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer is joined by Eric Wong of Adobe for a conversation about what leadership requires when the ground is shifting fast.They talk about how leaders can guide high-performance teams through uncertainty, rapid change, and pressure without defaulting to rigidity or control.Eric shares why adaptability, storytelling, transparency, and co-creation matter more than ever. And you'll learn why modern leaders need to be “imperfectionists” who stay open, curious, and willing to learn in real time.This episode is especially relevant for leaders navigating fast-paced environments, startup-like pressure, or organizational transformation. And at the end, there’s a short bonus segment with Eric on a topic they realized they couldn’t leave out: trust.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →Keith Ferrazzi on Teamship, Co-Elevation, and Thriving in the Age of AI
May 700:35:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Keith Ferrazzi for a deeply personal and forward-looking conversation about leadership, teamship, relationships, and the future of work in the age of AI.Keith shares candidly about his family’s experience navigating his son’s recovery, the self-care and curiosity practices that keep him grounded, and why he believes the future belongs not to individual stars, but to high-performing, co-elevating teams.Together, Ilene and Keith explore how AI is changing the workplace. Rather than a set of tools, Keith sees AI platforms as collaborative partners that will reshape roles, workflows, and leadership itself. They unpack what it means to move from traditional leadership to teamship, how to stay relevant in an AI era, and why uniquely human strengths like connection, courage, and accountability matter more than ever.This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, founders, and ambitious professionals who want to navigate rapid change without losing themselves or each other in the process.Learn more about Keith's work:beyondconnection.comconnectedsuccess.com- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →In the Moment: The Patterns Running Your Leadership with Jen Ostrich
Apr 3000:15:21Tap to summarizeWhat patterns are shaping the way you lead, without you even realizing it? In this In the Moment episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Jen Ostrich to explore the hidden patterns that shape how we lead, react, and relate to others.You'll learn how many of our behaviors were formed early in life as protective strategies and why those same patterns can become limiting as adults, especially in leadership. Jen shares how these patterns live in both the mind and body, and what leaders can do to begin noticing them with more compassion and intention.This conversation is full of practical insight for anyone who wants to better understand their automatic reactions, shift old narratives, and lead with greater clarity and choice.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →The Minimum Viable Manager: A Practical Leadership Framework for First-Time Managers with Matt Gjertsen
Apr 2300:37:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with leadership expert Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Every Day Studios and author of the upcoming book Minimum Viable Manager, to explore what new managers actually need in order to lead well.Drawing from his experience in the Air Force, at SpaceX, and now in leadership development, Matt offers a simple but powerful framework for first-time managers and technical leaders: build trust, set expectations, and ask for better feedback. Together, he and Ilene explore why management is fundamentally about people and why even small actions can have a big impact on team connection, psychological safety, and performance.This conversation is especially relevant for founders, high-performing individual contributors, and new managers who are brilliant at their craft but need a clear, practical way to grow into leadership. If you’re looking for a roadmap to build stronger teams without overcomplicating management, this episode is for you.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →In the Moment: Inside the Coach Toolbox — Finding Calm Through Awe and Nature
Apr 1600:13:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer is joined by Stella Grizont for the final conversation in our mini-series, Inside the Coach Toolbox.Throughout this series, Ilene has been asking SVChange coaches to share the real practices they turn to when life feels stressful, overwhelming, or ungrounded. Stella’s answer is both simple and profound: walks in the woods, paired with a conversation with something larger than herself.Together, Ilene and Stella connect Stella’s practice to research on awe, positive emotions, and the ways perceived support can literally change how we experience stress.This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder that calm doesn’t always come from control. Sometimes it comes from stepping outside, looking up, and remembering that we are part of something bigger._____Inside the Coach Toolbox is a special In the Moment mini-series from What’s Possible, where Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they use to regulate stress, manage pressure, and stay grounded in high-stakes moments.These short episodes offer practical, science-backed tools you can use immediately, whether you’re leading a team, navigating uncertainty, or simply wanting to show up with more steadiness and intention.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →Leading with Somatic Intelligence: Rebecca Arora on Presence, Posture, and Executive Impact
Apr 900:44:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with executive coach and author Rebecca Arora to explore somatic intelligence, or the intelligence of the body, and why it matters so much for leadership, communication, and connection.Rebecca works with senior leaders at companies like Google, Salesforce, and IDEO, helping them move beyond “head-only” leadership and use posture, pace, presence, and physical awareness to lead with more empathy, courage, and impact. Drawing on her new book, Somatic Intelligence, she shares how our bodies influence executive presence, resilience, creativity, and the way others experience us.Together, Ilene and Rebecca unpack the leadership archetypes many people unconsciously fall into, the role posture plays in empowerment and connection, and why learning to notice and shift your body can change the way you think, feel, and lead.This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, and high-achieving professionals who spend a lot of time in their heads and want to lead in a way that feels more grounded, human, and sustainable.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
Transcribe →In the Moment: Inside the Coach Toolbox — A 10-Minute Practice for Stressful Moments
Apr 200:12:02Tap to summarizeCan tapping actually help calm your nervous system? In this In the Moment episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer is joined by SVChange coach Lisa Zigarmi to share one of her favorite tools for reducing stress and finding calm: tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).This conversation is part of our mini-series Inside the Coach Toolbox, where Ilene sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they rely on when life feels stressful.Lisa explains how tapping works, why it helps the body feel safe, and what the science says about its impact on the nervous system. By gently tapping on specific points on the upper body, people can help regulate stress, lower cortisol, and allow emotions to move through rather than get stuck.This episode is a grounded introduction to a simple, practical tool you can use before a difficult conversation, after a stressful moment, or anytime you need to reconnect with calm in just a few minutes._______Inside the Coach Toolbox is a special In the Moment mini-series from What’s Possible, where Ilene Schaffer sits down with SVChange coaches to explore the real-life practices they use to regulate stress, manage pressure, and stay grounded in high-stakes moments.These short episodes offer practical, science-backed tools you can use immediately, whether you’re leading a team, navigating uncertainty, or simply wanting to show up with more steadiness and intention.- - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTubeConnect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
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