
The Mammoth in the Room
Can leaders learn how to harness the evolutionary foundations of human behavior to create better business outcomes? How much do evolutionary forces shape our own individual behaviors, decisions, and group dynamics? In each episode, multinational executive leader and author Nicolas Pokorny shares practical, research-based strategies, and stories about how to align humans around common goals and lead them effectively through ever-changing markets and times.
The Mammoth in the Room is an engaging listen of interest to leaders who wish to better lead their people by understanding the evolutionary foundations of human behavior and how to harness them.

54: The Illusion of Control: How Overconfident Leaders Make Fatal Mistakes
Drawing on real-world examples such as the Deepwater Horizon incident and startup failures, we examine how success often breeds a false sense of certainty. We explore the planning fallacy, the inside view, and how ignoring base rates can lead to missed deadlines, bloated budgets, and strategic misfires.

53: Why Overconfidence Kills Leadership Success (And How to Overcome It)
Overconfidence is often hailed as a strength in leadership, but what happens when that confidence blinds us to crucial risks? In today’s episode, we explore the dark side of overconfidence and its impact on leadership decisions.

52: Why Cooperation Beats Conflict: Leadership Lessons from History
What if the walls you’ve built for protection are actually keeping you trapped? In today’s interconnected world, the ancient instincts that once kept our tribes safe now sabotage our global potential. So, today we explore the necessities of leadership evolution beyond retaliation in a world where cooperation isn’t just nice—it’s survival.

51: STOP Retaliating! The Counter-Intuitive Leadership Strategy That Actually Wins
In today’s high-stakes business environment, many leaders unknowingly fall prey to a primal impulse: retaliation. It feels justified, even righteous. But the moment we act from status anxiety rather than strategy, we risk turning boardrooms into battlegrounds—and profits into collateral damage.

50: The Truth Behind Global Trade Wars: Leadership Lessons from History
Why do leaders sometimes make unexpected or counterintuitive decisions in times of crisis? In today’s episode, we explore how deeply rooted human instincts can influence global leadership—particularly by adopting inward-looking trade and policy decisions.

49: The Outsider CEO Who Broke Every IBM Rule (And Saved The Company!)
You’ll learn how bold leadership, strategic pivots, and a relentless focus on solving real-world problems can transform any business. It is time to rethink the way you lead and approach change. Tune in for insights that will reshape your mindset and transform your business.