Radio Show #621: The Evolutionary Science Behind Leadership

Guest: Nicolas Pokorny: CEO; Global Commercial Executive

Nicolas earned an MSc in Neurobiology and wrote his doctorate and master thesis for his PhD and MBA on neuroethology and the neuroscientific aspects of human behavior in group settings. He’s been an entre- and intrapreneurial global marketing and sales business executive since the early 1990s specializing in building cultures of collaboration and inclusion that drive profitability through increased engagement and continuous transformation. His talent for developing global visions and strategies and translating them into executable plans, a fierce commitment to operational excellence, and a passion for empowering people has helped Nicolas boldly shape the future of organizations. A decisive, intelligent risk-taker, he challenges paradigms by “doing the right things rather than doing things right.”

Equipped with business acumen developed over more than thirty years, his approach to apply a business framework of dynamic stability has helped businesses in mature and emerging markets to secure and optimize the basics that pay the rent today and focus on continuous innovation and transformation to execute on strategies that deliver the extraordinary results needed to navigate companies successfully through ever-changing markets and times. His track record includes multiplying global and local commercial portfolios, launching award-winning innovative business models, focusing businesses on staying lean and nimble to be able to invest in their future, and reaching all-time-high market shares. With his keen understanding of human behavior, Nicolas has built high-performing, cross-functional, and multicultural teams. His belief that leaders must focus on the individuals first and then harness the power of the group second has helped drive transformational culture change. His approaches to talent development, team-based selling, and empowering high-performance teams have led to increases in productivity and exemplary engagement rates among the markets and teams he led.

He has lived and worked in multiple countries and companies and is still leading teams of all sizes across geographies and functions. He is an avid skier, road bike mountain racer, accomplished tennis player, lifetime MMA athlete, with marathons and an Iron Man under his belt. Originally from Austria, he currently resides in Boston, MA, with his amazing wife, watching their four spectacular children trotting the globe.

Join us as we discuss the evolutionary science behind leadership.

Listen Live (Archive Available)

Host: Andy Goram