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...
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 practi...
Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. In this short, actionable episode of What’s Possible, Ilene Schaffer and executive coach Harry Hofer share practical nudges to help you step out of the weeds and lead with clarity. Find out how shifting from tactical tasks to strategic thinking frees you to focus on your unique contribution, why mindset, is often the biggest barrier to progress, and the importance of delegation and creating space for vision, strategy, and well-being. Plus, learn a second...
In this milestone 100th episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with author, positive psychology coach, and happiness expert Robert Mack to find out what it really takes to be happy, and why leaders can’t afford to wait until life is perfect to start. Author of Happiness from the Inside Out, Love from the Inside Out, Robert shares his own journey from depression to deep joy and his 4 AM morning routine. Plus, you’ll get his insights on the concept of “peaceful aliveness,” wh...
Feeling burned out, stressed, or disconnected at work? It’s time to explore a powerful alternative: social prescribing. In this episode of What’s Possible, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Julia Hotz, award-winning author of The Connection Cure, to uncover how prescribing nature walks, art workshops, volunteering, and community activities can dramatically improve your mental health, workplace productivity, and overall well-being. Julia shares evidence-backed insights on how movement, nature...
When you are called to communicate critical messages that truly resonate with your audience, where do you start? In this episode, Harry Hofer shares an essential framework that can transform how you connect with people in just minutes. Ilene Schaffer sits down with Harry to get the inside scoop on the “Know, Do, Feel” communication framework. Harry, an internal executive coach at a Fortune 500 company, shares practical insights for senior leaders on effectively crafting messages that resonate...
Do you really know how you're showing up as a leader? We all have blind spots, those hidden areas in our behavior, thinking, and communication that can unknowingly hold us back. In this episode, host Ilene Schaffer sits down with Marty Dubin, clinical psychologist, executive consultant, and author of the forthcoming book Blind Spotting, to explore how recognizing and addressing your leadership blind spots can dramatically improve your impact. You'll learn about the six crucial areas of self-a...