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What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer

Silicon Valley Change

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.

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23 episodes
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Avg 28 min
English

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S1 · E150
August 27 · 34 min
How to Know When It's Time to Leave: Jen Feri on Work, Life, and Alignment
In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with HR executive Jen Feri for an honest and deeply reflective conversation about work, grief, alignment, and what it means to honor yourself. Jen shares the story of being in a role that looked like a dream job on paper, while privately realizing that the culture and environment were no longer a fit. When her father entered hospice, the stillness of those final days became a catalyst for clarity. Jen began asking what it would really mean to honor him by honoring herself. Together, Ilene and Jen explore why so many high-achieving professionals stay too long in roles that leave them exhausted, misaligned, or disconnected from their values. They talk about non-negotiables, belonging, overwork, recovery, and how creating space to pause can help us hear what our mind, body, and spirit may already be trying to tell us. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone wondering whether the work they are doing still fits the life they want to live. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E149
August 20 · 12 min
In the Moment: Navigate Change with Ilene Schaffer's STAR Inventory
In this In the Moment episode, Ilene Schaffer continues the short series on navigating change by introducing her own STAR Model: a practical framework for staying grounded through uncertainty, transition, and change. From protecting sleep, movement, hydration, and nourishment, to noticing and fact-checking our thoughts, to accepting what we cannot control and leaning on supportive relationships, this model offers a simple but powerful way to move through change with more resilience and intention. This short episode is a reminder that navigating change is not only about strategy. It is also about how we care for ourselves, manage our mindset, stay flexible, and stay connected to the people who help us keep going. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E150
August 13 · 37 min
Jonathan Stutz on Inclusive Leadership, Daily Practices, and Building Legacy Teams
In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Jonathan Stutz, co-author with Eddie Pate of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders, for a timely and practical conversation about what inclusive leadership really looks like inside organizations. Jonathan shares how his early experiences with discrimination, his commitment to repairing the world, and his corporate diversity work at companies like Microsoft and Amazon shaped his path into inclusion and leadership. Ilene and Jonathan explore why diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be treated as a one-time program or check-the-box training. Instead, inclusion has to be woven into the culture and practiced through everyday leadership behaviors. They discuss practical ways leaders can create belonging across the employee experience, from recruiting and hiring, to one-on-one meetings, employee resource groups, executive listening sessions, allyship, and using data to uncover inequities. Jonathan also shares one simple but powerful practice anyone can use right away: hitting the pause button when something happens that interrupts trust, dignity, or inclusion in the room. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, coaches, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to build teams where people feel valued, supported, connected, and able to do their best work. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E149
August 6 · 10 min
In the Moment: Navigate Change with William Bridges' Transition Model
In this In the Moment episode, Ilene Schaffer closes out the short series on navigating change by introducing William Bridges’ Transition Model. This simple and powerful framework helps us understand the human side of change. Ilene explains that transition does not begin with a new beginning. It begins with an ending. Whether the change is unwanted, like a layoff, or deeply desired, like a marriage or new opportunity, endings can still bring grief, uncertainty, and disorientation. This short episode is a reminder that meaningful change requires patience. When we give ourselves time to pause, get centered, and listen before stepping into the next beginning, we can move forward with more clarity, intention, and trust. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E149
August 6 · 6 min
In the Moment: Navigate Change with Prochaska's Stages of Change Model
How do leaders navigate change at work? This "In the Moment" episode of What's Possible kicks off a short series on just that. Up first, Ilene Schaffer introduces Prochaska’s Stages of Change Model, and explaining why it can be such a helpful tool for leaders guiding teams through uncertainty. Originally developed to understand behavior change, Ilene applies the model to today’s workplace, where leaders are often rolling out new strategies, systems, and decisions in the middle of unfamiliar territory and rapid change. Leaders may already be in action mode because they have had time to think, plan, and prepare behind the scenes. But their teams may still be at the very beginning of the change cycle, just starting to understand what is happening and what it means for them. This short episode gives leaders a practical framework for meeting people where they are, slowing down with empathy, and helping teams move through change with more awareness, clarity, and trust. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E148
July 30 · 43 min
What Failure Teaches Leaders: Stephen Scharf on Courage, Communication, and Growth
What if failure is not the thing that holds your career back, but one of the things that helps you grow into a stronger leader? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer talks with Stephen Scharf, a Chief Information Security Officer with more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, about failure, managerial courage, communication, and career growth. Stephen shares candid stories from his own leadership journey, including early career mistakes, high-pressure decisions, and the moments that helped prepare him for the C-suite. He also explains why leaders need the courage to make decisions under pressure, adapt their communication style to different audiences, manage stress, and build relationships with people who can advocate for them when opportunity arises. This conversation is full of practical insight for leaders, early-career professionals, recent graduates, and anyone trying to build a meaningful career without pretending the path is always perfect. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E147
July 23 · 56 min
Bonus Episode: Menopause, Leadership, and the Power of Feeling Seen with Dr. Marni Carlyle and Stella Grizont
In this special bonus episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer is joined by OB-GYN and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marni Carlyle and work happiness expert Stella Grizont for a candid, science-informed, and empowering conversation about menopause, work, leadership, and well-being. They explore the symptoms many women experience during perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, including brain fog, irritability, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and changes in energy. You’ll also learn why these experiences can have a real impact on leadership, performance, relationships, and daily life. Dr. Carlyle brings a medical perspective on what is happening in the body and why women should feel empowered to talk openly with healthcare providers. Stella shares her personal experience with surgical menopause and offers a powerful lens on self-compassion, identity, and redefining success during this life stage. This bonus conversation is especially relevant for women navigating midlife, senior leaders, coaches, and anyone who wants to better understand how to support women’s well-being at work. It is a reminder that menopause is not something to hide or simply push through. It can also become a meaningful pivot toward wisdom, confidence, self-advocacy, and a more compassionate way of living and leading. - - - - - - - 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.
July 16 · 40 min
The Go-Giver: Bob Burg on Value, Influence, and Stratospheric Success
What if success is not about getting more, but giving more value first? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer talks with Bob Burg, co-author of the international bestseller The Go-Giver, about the five laws of stratospheric success and why they are still deeply relevant for leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and professionals today. Bob shares how value, compensation, influence, authenticity, and receptivity can change the way we think about business, leadership, sales, and human connection. He also explains why providing more value than we take is generous and strategic, and why people still do business with those they know, like, and trust. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, digital noise, and transactional interactions, this conversation is a timely reminder that genuine service, authenticity, and relationship-building remain powerful drivers of success. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E147
July 9 · 12 min
In the Moment: Kami Sip on Managing the Cost of Indecision
In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer continues her conversation with Kami Sip about the hidden costs of indecision, and what leaders can do when a decision cannot be made right away. Kami explains that indecision is still a decision, and when leaders delay without clarity, they often distribute ambiguity, risk, and stress to the people around them. Building on part one, she revisits three common blocks to decision-making and offers practical ways leaders can manage those blocks more intentionally. This short conversation is a practical reminder that, sometimes, leadership is about managing uncertainty clearly enough that others can keep thinking, working, and moving forward. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E146
July 2 · 47 min
Leading Through Uncertainty: Michael Park on AI, Change, and Human Readiness
In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Michael Park, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships and Channels at ServiceNow, for a conversation about leadership, AI, and how to navigate a world of work that is changing faster than ever. Michael has spent the last five years with AI at the center of his work, including serving as ServiceNow’s CMO and leading the company’s first dedicated AI go-to-market function. In this conversation, he shares what he is learning from the front lines of transformation. Including why leaders need to take action before they have complete certainty, build AI fluency, strengthen domain expertise, and stay deeply connected to human relationships. Together, Ilene and Michael explore what it takes to lead through ambiguity, why gratitude and patience are essential leadership practices, and how organizations can prepare people for AI in ways that are practical, human, and grounded in trust. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, teams, and anyone working in an organization where AI is becoming a larger part of how work gets done, which increasingly means all of us. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E143
June 25 · 13 min
In the Moment: Kamila Sip on the Hidden Cost of Indecision
In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Kamila Sip to explore why indecision is not a neutral act, especially for leaders. Kami explains how stalled decisions at the top can create cognitive, emotional, and performance costs across an entire team. When leaders delay, teams are often left to operate in ambiguity, make fragmented assumptions, and carry the stress of uncertainty. Ilene and Kami unpack why this matters so much for leaders stepping into bigger roles, where quick, data-informed decisions are often expected. This short conversation introduces three common blocks that get in the way of effective decision-making: data anxiety, loss aversion, and accountability avoidance. It offers a practical reminder that understanding why we hesitate is often the first step toward making clearer, faster, and more confident decisions. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E142
June 18 · 39 min
5 Communication Blunders That Can Stall Your Career and How to Avoid Them with Dr. Laura Sicola
What are the communication mistakes that quietly hold leaders back? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with executive communication coach, TEDx speaker, and author Dr. Laura Sicola to unpack five common communication blunders that can quietly stall a career, and what leaders can do instead. Drawing on more than two decades of experience coaching Fortune 500 executives, nonprofit leaders, and government agencies, Laura explains how even highly capable professionals can lose influence when they get stuck in the expert’s curse, stay silent in meetings, let their nervous system take over, confuse authenticity with rigidity, or listen only to respond instead of listening to lead. Ilene and Laura explore what it really takes to build authentic authority, executive presence, and stronger communication in high-stakes conversations. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, managers, and ambitious professionals who want to communicate with more clarity, confidence, and impact in a world moving faster than ever. Learn more about how to elevate your leadership here: sicola.info - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E141
June 11 · 14 min
In the Moment: What Working in Prison Taught Jeff Jacobs About Diversity and Belonging
In this episode of What’s Possible: In the Moment, Ilene Schaffer continues her conversation with Jeff Jacobs, exploring what his work in prisons revealed about diversity, belonging, and leadership. Jeff reflects on a striking moment of racial separation among inmates and the unexpected insight that followed: people often gravitate toward what feels familiar, not always out of hostility, but out of habit and comfort. From there, he and Ilene dig into what that means for the workplace, where diverse teams often outperform homogeneous ones, but require more intentionality, vulnerability, and trust to truly thrive. This short conversation is a thoughtful look at how leaders can build safer, more honest environments where people feel able to share feedback, challenge assumptions, and belong without creating exclusion. - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E140
June 4 · 54 min
Marcus Buckingham on Why Love Is the Missing Ingredient in Leadership and Business
In 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 | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E139
May 28 · 12 min
In the Moment: What Working in Prison Taught Jeff Jacobs About Trust and Empathy
In 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 | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E138
May 21 · 38 min
Leading Change from the Middle: Adriano Pianesi on Progress, Power, and Participation
What 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 | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
May 14 · 33 min
In the Moment: How to Lead Teams When Everything Is Changing with Eric Wong
In 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 | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E136
May 7 · 35 min
Keith Ferrazzi on Teamship, Co-Elevation, and Thriving in the Age of AI
In 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.com connectedsuccess.com - - - - - - - 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.
S1 · E135
April 30 · 15 min
In the Moment: The Patterns Running Your Leadership with Jen Ostrich
What 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 | YouTube Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website | Instagram | LinkedIn This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E134
April 23 · 37 min
The Minimum Viable Manager: A Practical Leadership Framework for First-Time Managers with Matt Gjertsen
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. - - - - - - - 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.

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