Respond, Don't React: Recognizing and Managing Emotional Triggers

In a world of nonstop change and pressure, even the most experienced professionals get triggered in ways that throw us off course—hurting performance and straining relationships. In this presentation by the Silicon Valley chapter of the NHRA, we’ll explore what’s really happening when emotions take over, why it matters, and what we can do about it. Through real stories, group discussion, and practical tools, you’ll learn how to spot your own triggers, make space to respond instead of react, and better support others in the process. These tools aren’t just for managing stress—they help build trust, empathy, and stronger teams. You’ll walk away with simple strategies you can use right away for tough conversations, conflict, or just when everything feels like a little too much - both personally and professionally.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Spot the signs—learn to recognize how your body and brain react when you’re emotionally triggered.

• Get curious about cognitive blind spots—where might triggers be getting in the way of how we show up and lead?

• Build our ability to pause, regroup, and respond instead of react.

• Walk away with simple tools to better support yourself and create more space and trust for others, too.

AGENDA

5:30 PM IN-PERSON NETWORKING (dinner included)

6:00 PM VIRTUAL SESSION BEGINS

6:05 PM LEGAL UPDATES

6:15 PM PROGRAM

7:15 PM Q&A

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Jeff Jacobs
Jeff is a recognized leadership development and organizational effectiveness executive who has facilitated and consulted on 500+ engagements over the past 10 years as an employee of top-tier companies like Adobe and Intuit. His diverse experience expands beyond the corporate world to chairing three non-profit boards, serving as an Assistant Lecturer at Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, acquiring three certifications in compassionate leadership and mindfulness practices, including from Stanford Medical School, and even years of working with maximum-security inmates in California prisons. Jeff is a Contributing Author to the Amazon Best-Seller, "Leading with Self Awareness, Starting from the Inside Out," and is working on his own first book, "Still Coming of Age, Cultivating Compassion for Lifelong Flourishing."

This event is co-sponsored by the UCSC Silicon Valley Professional Education Human Resource Management certificate program.