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PODCAST

The Mammoth in the Room

Nicolas Pokorny, PhD, MBA

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

business careers

All Episodes

08:21

The Illusion of Control: How Overconfident Leaders...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/08/07

This week, we continue with our discussion on overconfidence and explore how even the most experienced leaders can fall prey to the illusion of control. From the Chernobyl disaster to modern-day boardrooms, we’ll talk about the subtle ways overconfidence can distort leadership judgment.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

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09:57

Why Overconfidence Kills Leadership Success (And How...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/07/31

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.Using historical examples such as the Challenger disaster and the sinking of the Titanic, we’ll explore the dangers of unchecked certainty and the psychological forces at play that make this behavior so pervasive, even in the most capable individuals.Don’t let this

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09:43

Why Cooperation Beats Conflict: Leadership Lessons...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/07/24

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.Through the US-China trade war and the Marshall Plan, I reveal how visionary leaders can break free from primal escalation patterns. Evolution wired us for

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09:33

STOP Retaliating! The Counter-Intuitive Leadership...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/07/17

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.In this episode, we examine two historical case studies that illustrate how short-term revenge can profoundly impact industries and undermine alliances for generations. We'll unpack the evolutionary wiring

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10:04

The Truth Behind Global Trade Wars: Leadership...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/07/10

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.Drawing on two historical case studies, we examine well-intentioned efforts to protect local industries that ultimately led to unintended economic consequences. We also reflect on how similar patterns can emerge in today’s world, and how leaders can

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08:38

The Outsider CEO Who Broke Every IBM Rule (And Saved...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/07/03

In this week’s episode, we explore the incredible story of how IBM pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in business history. It's not just about the right strategy—it's about having the courage to shift everything, from company culture to core values.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

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08:30

The Company That Built America, Then Destroyed Itself

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/06/26

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.We explore three brutal leadership lessons from their downfall that you need to implement today. Bethlehem didn't die from weakness—they died from inflexibility, protecting sunk costs instead of future fitness.The hard truth

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08:28

The Greed That Toppled an Empire: The Fall of the...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/06/19

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.I’ll walk you through the rise and spectacular collapse of what was once the most powerful corporation on earth. You'll hear how coalitions of resistance form long before they’re noticed,

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08:34

How BlackBerry Lost 80 Million Users in 5 Years (And...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/06/12

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.I’ll walk you through the rise and fall of BlackBerry, unpacking evolutionary leadership lessons that you can apply in your business. From assigning challenger roles on your team to separating vision from ego and embedding exploration alongside exploitation,

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08:53

What Blockbuster Didn’t See Coming (This Could...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/06/05

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!We explore how the fear of loss can stall innovation and how Netflix thrived by doing the exact opposite: evolving early and often. Plus, I’ll share actionable strategies

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08:08

The Evolution of Alliances: Why Smart Leaders Build...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/05/29

As leaders, our instinct might be to dominate, but true power lies in finding complementary strengths and negotiating shared wins. Today, we explore how coalitions, not empires, are nature's secret to enduring power. The evolutionary truth is simple: groups that collaborate grow stronger together, while those driven by dominance alone eventually crumble.Throughout history, from the Allied powers in World War II to modern corporate partnerships like Starbucks and Spotify, coalitions have proven to be

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08:04

Status Anxiety in Business: Why Rivals Push You to...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/05/22

What drives your decisions as a leader? Is it strategy or primal instincts? Today, we explore the status anxiety—the subtle force that drives many leadership decisions and often leads to missteps. Even when your business is thriving, seeing competitors succeed can trigger panic, pushing you to act without a clear strategy.Through historical examples such as the Cold War arms race and Kodak's downfall, we uncover how status anxiety can cloud judgment and lead to disastrous outcomes. It's not about

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08:11

The Fairness Instinct: Why Pride, Not Profit, Breaks...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/05/15

Have you ever walked away from a great deal just because something “felt” unfair? You are not alone! In this week’s episode, we explore the primal instinct of fairness—an ancient force wired deep into our brains that still shapes billion-dollar decisions today.From workplace resentment to the Treaty of Versailles, I share how perceived unfairness destroys trust faster than any spreadsheet can measure, and why logic alone can’t fix what emotion breaks. Plus, I’ll walk you through three powerful

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09:14

The Real Cost of Dominance: How Pride Undermines...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/05/08

In today's fast-paced business world, it’s easy to overlook the ancient forces still shaping the way we lead. As leaders, we often react to challenges out of pride, signaling dominance to assert control and protect our position. But this primal drive—rooted in evolutionary psychology—can cloud our judgment and lead to costly mistakes.In this episode, we dive into how primal instincts influence decision-making and the potential consequences on your business. Rather than acting on impulse, you’ll

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15:54

Wheelchair-Bound and Unstoppable: How Sir Frank...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/05/01

What does it take to lead a team through adversity and still come out on top? In this week’s episode, we explore the leadership principles exemplified by Sir Frank Williams, founder of the legendary Williams Racing Formula One team. Frank’s journey from humble beginnings to world championship provides powerful lessons for leaders in any field.We’ll discuss how Frank's bold vision inspired his team to achieve the seemingly impossible, and how fostering innovation played a key role in his success. His

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12:19

Why Playing It Safe Could Be the Riskiest Move You’re...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/04/24

Have you ever walked into a strategy meeting, reviewed a well-polished forecast, and felt confident it was solid, only to watch everything unravel months later? You’re not alone. In this episode, we dive into one of the most dangerous yet overlooked pitfalls in leadership: the forecasting trap.We unpack the three most prominent ways this decision making pitfall shows up and sabotages strategic business decisions: the overconfidence, recallability, and prudence traps. These aren’t just

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09:17

Why Apple Fired Steve Jobs (And Why It Made Him...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/04/17

As leaders, we're fascinated by Steve Jobs' legendary impact, but what really made him one of history's most iconic business figures? In today’s episode, we explore the depths of Jobs' leadership genius and flaws to reveal the evolutionary psychology behind his extraordinary yet controversial success.From his theatrical product launches to his infamous fish tank demonstration, we examine why Jobs' leadership style worked—and where it went terribly wrong. You'll discover why vision without execution

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10:50

The Hidden Framing Bias That Could Ruin Your Business...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/04/10

Today, we are uncovering the sneakiest cognitive trap that every corporate leader needs to be aware of—the framing trap. I'll walk you through how your brain processes information in ways that skew your decision-making, showing how small shifts in framing can dramatically change outcomes, often for the worse.We’ll look at real-world examples, such as Kodak’s failure to adapt to Apple’s innovative approach with the iPhone, to reveal the true cost of falling into the framing trap, where decisions are

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10:25

The Confirming Evidence Trap - The Hidden Bias That’s...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/04/03

As leaders, we’re wired to favor the familiar, but this can blind us to critical shifts in the market and the emergence of disruptive innovations. In today’s episode, we are talking about the confirming evidence trap—a bias that can skew even the sharpest minds, causing you to cling to beliefs and data that reinforce what you already think.We’ll explore how this evolutionary shortcut leads to costly mistakes and why leaders must confront their assumptions to make better decisions. From Blackberry’s

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09:02

How a $10 Billion Mistake Could Have Been Avoided...

The Mammoth in the Room ·

2025/03/27

In today’s episode, we uncover yet another dangerous psychological trap that keeps leaders pouring money and resources into failing projects—simply because they’ve already invested too much to walk away. I’m talking about the sunk cost fallacy.Using examples from history, such as the Concorde jet, Quibi's billion-dollar flop, and Kodak's disastrous delay in embracing digital photography, we'll explore why leaders sometimes double down on doomed investments instead of cutting their losses. I'll also

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75 results

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