Learn to Lead

In crowded markets, most organizations fight to be slightly better than everyone else. But some of the most successful companies in history took a different path. They chose to stand apart instead of blend in. In this episode, we unpack how AOL, Red Bull, and IKEA each broke industry norms, challenged conventional wisdom, and built enduring brands by leaning into what made them unconventional. These stories reveal a powerful insight for leaders: sometimes the smartest move isn’t to improve the playbook, it’s to throw it out and write your own.-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 is it about a new beginning that makes us feel more motivated, more hopeful, and more ready to change?Behavioral scientists call it The Fresh Start Effect — the idea that temporal landmarks create psychological separation from our past selves and give us permission to begin again.In this episode, we explore three fascinating examples: why people are far more likely to run their first marathon at ages ending in nine, why searches for “gym” and “diet” spike everyMonday morning, and why birthdays trigger major goal resets.The leadership takeaway is powerful: momentum isn’t just about discipline, it’s about timing and framing. Great leaders know how to intentionally create “January moments” throughout the year.— 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.

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.