What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer

Silicon Valley Change
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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.

  1. In the Moment: The Power of Internal Succession and Trusted Leadership with Eric Wong

    1D AGO

    In the Moment: The Power of Internal Succession and Trusted Leadership with Eric Wong

    What happens when a beloved senior leader suddenly leaves, and the person stepping in isn’t a high-profile external hire, but someone already within the organization? In this In the Moment, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Eric Wong, Principal of Organizational Effectiveness at Adobe, to talk about a real-life story that redefined his view of succession planning and leadership culture. Eric shares a pivotal experience where an untested internal successor stepped up to lead a global team, turning what could have been a moment of chaos into a story of collective confidence and resilience. Together, Ilene and Eric find out what makes internal succession work, from creating teams that can operate without you to cultivating leaders who are loved, trusted, and ready. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    14 min

  2. OCT 9

    The Leader’s Journey: Donna Lichaw on Storytelling, Superpowers, and Transforming Leadership

    In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Donna Lichaw, executive coach, author, and former tech and product leader, to hear about her new book, “The Leader’s Journey: Transforming Your Leadership to Achieve the Extraordinary.” With a background spanning documentary filmmaking, tech startups, and executive coaching, Donna brings a refreshingly unique lens to leadership. She shares how storytelling shapes the way leaders see themselves, their teams, and their work. Plus, we learn why rewriting those internal stories is essential for growth. Tune in to hear: How personal stories can either hold us back or propel us forwardWhy embracing quirks and “kryptonite” behaviors can unlock leadership strengthsThe role of systemic awareness in creating meaningful, sustainable changePractical steps for identifying and harnessing your own leadership superpowersHow joy, authenticity, and purpose fuel transformational leadershipFrom collecting tin robots to guiding executives through chaos, Donna’s journey is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or simply curious about the intersection of storytelling and leadership, this episode will help you discover what’s possible when you embrace your whole self as a leader. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    42 min
  3. In the Moment: Are You at Your Best to Do Your Best? with Harry Hofer

    OCT 2

    In the Moment: Are You at Your Best to Do Your Best? with Harry Hofer

    Instead of starting tough conversations with “These results are unacceptable,” Harry Hofer reminds us that everyone wants to do their best. And when performance slips, it’s often because of unseen burdens like caregiving responsibilities, health struggles, or personal stress. In this In the Moment episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down again with Harry Hofer, coach and leadership thinker, to explore a powerful shift in how leaders approach performance challenges. Together, Ilene and Harry unpack how leaders can move from judgment to curiosity by asking open-ended questions like “What’s taking up your energy right now?” This simple but transformative question creates psychological safety, builds trust, and helps employees return to their best. Listeners will learn: Why assuming the best intentions changes the way leaders address performance issuesHow to reframe conversations from punishment to support and growthPractical coaching questions that open up dialogue and uncover hidden challengesThe role of team activation and collective support in helping employees thriveHow positive psychology principles like grace, visualization, and forward focus boost engagementIf you’re a leader, manager, or HR professional navigating performance conversations, this episode will give you actionable insights to build stronger teams, foster resilience, and create workplaces where people feel supported to do their best. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    16 min

  4. SEP 25

    Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: Dr. Max Klau on Wholeness, Shadow Work, and Transformational Leadership

    What if leadership is not just about skills, but something deeper? In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Dr. Max Klau, author, coach, developmental psychologist, and founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness, to explore the future of leadership through the lens of servant leadership. Dr. Klau’s new book, Developing Servant Leaders at Scale: How to Do It, and Why It Matters, offers a powerful methodology for building leaders who serve with humility, courage, and wholeness. Drawing on two decades of designing transformational leadership programs at City Year and the New Politics Academy, Max shares his insights on the interconnectedness of inner development and systems change. You’ll learn: What servant leadership really means in today’s world—and why it’s needed now more than everHow to confront your shadow mission and align with your true purposeThe flame model of leadership (Be, Know, Do) and why the “Be” is the most overlooked capacity in organizationsHow to build developmental organizations where growth, wholeness, and service are woven into the culturePractical ways leaders can invite teams into this deeper work without resistance or fearIf you’re a leader, coach, or professional curious about how inner growth fuels outer impact, this episode will inspire you to reimagine leadership as a dual journey of serving others while becoming more whole yourself.  - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    37 min
  5. In the Moment: How Leaders Can Reframe “No” with Harry Hofer - Nudge #5

    SEP 18

    In the Moment: How Leaders Can Reframe “No” with Harry Hofer - Nudge #5

    In this In the Moment mini-episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down again with Harry Hofer to explore an unconventional but powerful leadership idea: celebrating the word “no.” Drawing from Blue Zones research on longevity and his own experience coaching high-performing teams, Harry explains why hearing “no” isn’t a setback, it’s a catalyst for growth. By reframing “no” as a positive, leaders can foster psychological safety, encourage innovation, and create cultures where employees push boundaries without fear. Whether you’re a CEO, team leader, or coach, this short episode will change the way you think about rejection, and show you how embracing “no” can unlock new possibilities in your leadership and your organization. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    15 min

  6. SEP 11

    The Win-Win Workplace: Dr. Angela Jackson on Employee Well-Being, Leadership, and the Future of Work

    In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Dr. Angela Jackson, workplace futurist, Harvard lecturer, ESG expert, and author of the award-winning new book The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success. Dr. Jackson shares her powerful personal story of a career-changing accident that shifted her focus to employee well-being, leadership, and sustainable success. From her experiences at Viacom and Nokia to her research at Harvard, Dr. Jackson offers real-world insights into why well-being at work isn’t just nice to have, it’s a business imperative. Listeners will learn: Why measuring and investing in well-being increases ROI, retention, and engagementThe role of frontline managers in shaping employee experienceHow personalized benefits and skills-based hiring can unlock untapped talentWhy AI-powered personalization is the future of employee well-being and career developmentPractical steps leaders can take to center employee voices and create cultures of belongingWhether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or professional looking to thrive in the workplace, this conversation offers actionable strategies for building organizations where people and performance flourish together. Tune in to discover what’s possible when we embrace the future of work as a win-win for both employees and employers. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    47 min
  7. In the Moment: Managing Core Tension in Leadership with Harry Hofer - Nudge #4

    SEP 4

    In the Moment: Managing Core Tension in Leadership with Harry Hofer - Nudge #4

    In mini episode, Ilene Schaffer welcomes back executive coach Harry Hofer for the fourth nudge in this series. Harry introduces the concept of core tension in leadership: the inevitable push and pull between competing priorities like quantity vs. quality, execution vs. engagement, tactical vs. strategic, and short-term vs. long-term goals. Harry explains that core tension is not a problem to solve but a reality to recognize, monitor, and manage. Drawing on real-world examples, including contact center performance, he shows how focusing too much on one side can cause breakdowns on the other. Listeners will learn: What “core tension” means and why it’s at the heart of every systemHow leaders and coaches can identify when a tension is out of balanceOpen-ended questions to ask instead of making assumptions about prioritiesWays to engage teams in meaningful discussions about managing tensions togetherTune in to find out what's possible when embrace core tension to lead with clarity and resilience. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    11 min

  8. AUG 28

    Beyond the Boxes and Lines: Organizational Design That Drives Alignment and Engagement with Susannah Robinson

    What comes to mind when you hear “organizational design”? If it’s just charts and reporting lines, think again. In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Susannah Robinson. As an HR leader, consultant, professor, and author of Beyond the Boxes and Lines, Susannah explores how thoughtful organizational design can make or break a company’s success. Susannah shares why design goes far beyond the boxes on a page, encompassing job design, structure, and employee practices. She explains why alignment is the secret ingredient for thriving organizations, using real-world examples like Disney to show how every role contributes to the bigger picture. Listeners will learn: How to spot organizational design issues before they derail performanceWhy leaders — not just HR — must take ownership of designPractical steps to align roles, incentives, and practices with business goalsHow to build organizations where employees feel valued and connectedWhether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or manager looking to strengthen your team, this episode will give you actionable insights to rethink your organization’s design and unlock new possibilities for growth and well-being. - - - - - - - Learn more about Silicon Valley Change Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

    34 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Silicon Valley Change
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer
  • Show Website
    What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer