Learn to Lead

Every leader relies on maps. They are not geographic ones, but strategic ones: frameworks, dashboards, models, and plans that guide how we see the world. But what happens when those maps stop matching reality?In this episode, we explore the story of Gerardus Mercator, the 16th-century mapmaker whose revolutionary projectionchanged how the world navigated, and quietly distorted, how we viewed global importance for centuries. The result? A powerful reminder that even our most trusted tools can shape our perspective in ways we don’t see. The best leadersknow when it’s time to update their maps. —Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

What if your most important stakeholder isn’t sitting at the table? In this episode, we explore how great leaders givea voice to those who aren’t in the room. From Amazon’s “empty chair” representing the customer, to Procter & Gamble’s “Living It” approach to empathy, to The Mayo Clinic’s groundbreaking inclusion of patients in decision-making. The lesson is clear: leadership isn’t just about who’s speaking, it’s about who’s being heard. —Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a bizarre challenge: find 10 red weather balloons hidden across theUnited States and do it faster than anyone else. What followed was a test not just of internet savvy, but of leadership in the digital age. In this episode, we dive into the winning strategy from MIT, uncover why most teams failed, and extract powerful lessons about networks, incentives, and what it really means to lead when scale and speed matter most.—Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

Imagine being told that cars were a passing fad, that no one would want a computer in their home, or that phones without buttons would flop. In hindsight, these predictions seem absurd—but at the time, they were the prevailing wisdom.In this episode of the Learn to Lead Podcast, we explore the surprising stories behind some of history’s most spectacularly wrong predictions. From the birth of the automobile to the rise of Japanese carmakers and the launch of the iPhone, these moments remind us of a powerful leadership truth: progress often begins when someone dares to question the consensus.— Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below:Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

What if the lessons you’re learning from success are leading you in the wrong direction? In this episode, we revisit astunning insight from World War II, where Abraham Wald changed the course of military strategy—not with weapons, but with a shift in perspective. By showing that the real danger lies in what we don’t see, Wald exposed the blind spot of survivorship bias. We dive deep into what this means for today’s leaders: how chasing success stories can leave you vulnerable, how missing data skews decisions, and why learning from failure isn’t optional—it’s essential. If you’ve ever armored the wrong part of your plan, this story will stick with you. Because sometimes, the greatest leadership insight is found in what didn’t survive.—Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below: Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.comThe Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/Host Matthew Confer:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_makingMake sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.