As a partner at RHR and the capabilities lead for the firm’s Scaled Consulting practice, Jay Chaffin is a skilled assessor of leadership talent and potential across a range of industries, including consumer packaged goods, hospitality and gaming, and pharmaceuticals. He also serves as a coach for executive leaders. Jay is a facile problem solver who enjoys looking at situations from all angles to find the most effective outcomes. Formerly a professional actor, he is deeply curious about what makes people tick and brings a well-honed ability to appreciate each individual’s unique motivations, history, and character traits to every client engagement.
With more than a decade in leadership development, Jay has vast experience partnering with executives in the C-suite as well as high-potential leaders working their way there. He finds it important to take a holistic view of each leader’s world—making sure he understands the entire context they work in to help them succeed.
Jay holds a PsyD in clinical psychology and an MBA from Widener University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard University. Dedicated to his family, Jay is also an avid poker player and reader (favorite topics: decision-making, economics, and theology). He is also a budding pianist who has finally made time to take lessons after decades of self-taught songwriting and improvisational noodling.
Focus Areas
- Leadership assessment
- Executive coaching
Special Skills
- Applying multi-industry experience
- Understanding context
Education
- Widener University, MBA and PsyD, clinical psychology
- Harvard University, bachelor’s degree, psychology
Leadership philosophy
In every client engagement, it’s important to appreciate each leader’s unique motivations, history, and character traits.
Passions
An avid poker player and reader, Jay is also a budding pianist who has finally made time to take lessons.