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.
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.
48: The Company That Built America, Then Destroyed Itself
What if your greatest strength today becomes the very thing that destroys you tomorrow? In this episode, I take you inside the dramatic collapse of Bethlehem Steel, once America’s industrial backbone that built the Empire State Building and over 1,100 warships in World War II.
47: The Greed That Toppled an Empire: The Fall of the British East India Company
What happens when a company gets so powerful, starts behaving like a country, and then forgets it was ever a business? Well, today we dive into the story of the British East India Company, a cautionary tale for modern leaders navigating unchecked growth, internal drift, and the dangers of forgetting your mission.
46: How BlackBerry Lost 80 Million Users in 5 Years (And What Every CEO Must Learn)
Have you ever wondered how a global powerhouse like BlackBerry, once dominating half the U.S. smartphone market, could collapse so dramatically? This week’s episode dives into the leadership blind spots that turn success into vulnerability.
45: What Blockbuster Didn’t See Coming (This Could Destroy Your Business!)
What if the very instincts that made you successful are now putting your business at risk? Dominant leaders often double down on what’s worked in the past instead of seeing the world as it’s becoming. In today’s episode, we unpack the real reason Blockbuster failed—and it’s not just about missing the tech wave. It’s about biology!