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What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer
What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer
Author: Silicon Valley Change
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© 2026 What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer
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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.
124 Episodes
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What if defining a successful day could fit right in the palm of your hand? In this In the Moment episode of What’s Possible, executive coach Harry Hofer shares a simple five-finger framework born out of a moment of chaos that helps leaders break down daily priorities into clear, actionable steps. Host Ilene Schaffer reconnects with Harry to unpack how this tactile exercise guides leaders and teams in focusing on what matters most—from connecting with people to engaging hiring managers and pr...
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. - - - - - -...
What if being yourself at work wasn’t a risk, but your greatest advantage? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and author of “Be Yourself at Work,” for a deeply human conversation about authenticity, emotional intelligence, and what it really means to belong at work. Claude shares powerful lessons from her personal journey, including a life-changing Outward Bound experience, and how those insights shaped her philo...
As we step into a new year, one thing is clear: our social connections are not optional, they’re essential. In this special In the Moment New Year’s episode, Ilene Schaffer explores why investing in relationships may be the most powerful decision you make for your health, happiness, and well-being in 2026. Drawing on research from Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ilene shares why social disconnection can be just as harmful as smoking, and how high-quality relationships protect against burnout, improve ...
Sometimes life gives us “pinnacle moments”—those rare times when everything feels aligned, purposeful, and alive. In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer and Christian van Nieuwerburgh share personal and professional stories of reaching these high points, from speaking at wellness retreats to riding with hundreds of motorcyclists up a volcano. Together, they explore what creates these moments and how to intentionally prepare for them while staying open to emergence and flow. You’...
What does it really means to connect with others, whether in the workplace, on a Zoom call, or in everyday life? In this part of the series, Ilene Schaffer and Christian Van Nieuwerburgh talk about creating authentic connection in a disconnected world. Drawing from personal stories, practical experience, and expert insights, they discuss the transformative power of listening, the importance of genuine presence, and how authenticity can unlock stronger relationships. You'll learn actionable ...
What if the way we talk to people is the thing that most shapes whether they feel heard, valued, and understood? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer sits down with communication scientist and author Dr. Haesun Moon to explore the extraordinary power of ordinary words, and how small shifts in language can transform coaching, leadership, and everyday human connection. Dr. Moon shares insights from her groundbreaking research, including: Why rapport isn’t something you build, it’s...
We’re obsessed with time management—but what about energy management? In this episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer and Christian Van Nieuwerburgh unpack practical strategies to sustain and recharge your energy throughout the week. Through tools like energy audits, color-coding your calendar, and creating “replenishment wheels,” Ilene and Christian show how small shifts can prevent burnout and keep you thriving. They share real-world examples—from choosing a motorcycle ride over email,...
What does it really take to scale coaching across an organization, and how do you measure its impact? In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with two of her trusted partners, Eric Wong and Kailey Alongi from Adobe, for a candid and forward-looking conversation about the evolution of executive coaching. Together, they unpack how coaching has shifted from a “wild west” approach where access depended on title or luck, to a strategic, data-informed practice that develop...
In this special series from "In the Moment," Ilene Schaffer and Professor Christian van Nieuwerburgh turn the coaching lens on themselves. After years of guiding leaders and clients through transformation, they reflect on the lessons that unexpectedly reshaped their own lives. At the root of this new essential series, Ilene and Christian share what it looks like to “walk the talk.” From weight management breakthroughs to pursuing long-deferred dreams, like riding Route 66 on a motorcycle or ...
What if loving your job wasn’t just a nice idea, but an achievable goal? In this inspiring episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Dr. Arlene Pace Green, CEO of Enelra Talent Solutions and author of You Deserve to Love Your Job. Drawing from her 20 years as an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and Fortune 500 leader, Dr. Green shares a refreshing, faith-grounded, and actionable approach to finding fulfillment at work. Together, Ilene and Arlene explore how t...
What makes a leadership offsite truly effective? How can you make sure your team leaves more aligned, connected, and inspired than when they arrived? In this episode of minisode, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Eric Wong, Principal of Organizational Effectiveness at Adobe, to break down the art and science of a successful offsite. With experience facilitating more than 500 leadership sessions, Eric shares four key elements every great offsite needs. Plus, Eric shares how clarity, creativit...
How does self-awareness impact your leadership? In this episode, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with speaker, author, educator Margaret Andrews to explore the foundations of great leadership: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and managing yourself before leading others. Margaret’s new book, Managing Yourself to Lead Others, distills decades of research and experience from her acclaimed Harvard course and her work as founder of The MYLO Center, helping leaders develop the mindset and tool...
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, tu...
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....
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, ...
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, courag...
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 emp...
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 offer...
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 conta...



