Thinking Clearly Under Pressure: Adrian Wolfberg on Decision-Making, Leadership, and AI

Send us Fan Mail Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Adrian Wolfberg, a former naval flight officer, national security practitioner, researcher, and author. Drawing on four decades of experience and research across national security, sports, health care, law enforcement, and business, Adrian explores how people make decisions under pressure—and why more information doesn’t always lead to better action. Listeners will gain insights into: - What leading a seven-person crew on aircraft carrier missions taught Adrian about teamwork, trust, and understanding people’s capabilities - How a clear, concise explanation helped alert senior military leaders to a potential risk during an overseas operation - Why experienced people can struggle when new realities challenge the assumptions behind their success - How organizational culture, psychological safety, and uncertainty can keep people from taking action - Practical ways to question old assumptions, recognize change, and take small steps toward meaningful goals Adrian also discusses his book *Who Leads When AI Thinks?*, which examines the human qualities leaders must bring to decisions involving AI, including critical thinking, empathy, and accountability. He shares details about his forthcoming book *Drift*, focused on how our understanding of reality can fall out of step with changing circumstances. For more information, visit www.oic.org, connect with Adrian on LinkedIn, or search for his books on Amazon. Support the show