In 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.

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This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

The Minimum Viable Manager: A Practical Leadership Framework for First-Time Managers with Matt Gjertsen