What’s Possible w. Ilene Schaffer

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 [https://www.svchange.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-change-executive-coaching/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G984wxAvpUM&list=PLXY813hnUnJzKWYuVj94gwtipQTBaEM1N] Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website [https://www.ileneschaffer.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ileneschaffer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileneschaffer]  This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

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 [https://www.svchange.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-change-executive-coaching/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G984wxAvpUM&list=PLXY813hnUnJzKWYuVj94gwtipQTBaEM1N] Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website [https://www.ileneschaffer.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ileneschaffer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileneschaffer]  This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

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 [https://www.svchange.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-change-executive-coaching/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G984wxAvpUM&list=PLXY813hnUnJzKWYuVj94gwtipQTBaEM1N] Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website [https://www.ileneschaffer.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ileneschaffer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileneschaffer]  This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

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 [https://www.svchange.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-change-executive-coaching/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G984wxAvpUM&list=PLXY813hnUnJzKWYuVj94gwtipQTBaEM1N] Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website [https://www.ileneschaffer.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ileneschaffer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileneschaffer]  This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

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 [https://www.svchange.com/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/silicon-valley-change-executive-coaching/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G984wxAvpUM&list=PLXY813hnUnJzKWYuVj94gwtipQTBaEM1N] Connect with Ilene Schaffer Website [https://www.ileneschaffer.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ileneschaffer] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ileneschaffer]  This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co. [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]