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.

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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.com

The 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_making

Make 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.

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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.com

The 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_making

Make 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.

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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.com

The 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_making

Make 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.

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 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.com

The 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_making

Make 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.

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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.com

The 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_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

We often treat failure as the end of the road—but for great leaders, it’s just the beginning. In this episode, we explore the hidden stories of public setbacks that led to extraordinary impact. From Walt Disney’s bankruptcy to Abraham Lincoln’s long trail of election defeats, from Oprah Winfrey’s career derailment to The Beatles’ early rejections, these stories remind us that success is rarely a straight line. If you’ve ever stumbled, doubted yourself, or been told “no,” this episode is for you.

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 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.com

The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Host Matthew Confer:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer

Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

What if the price you put on something didn’t just reflect value—but created it? In this episode, we explore three real-world stories where pricing reshaped perception, influenced behavior, and even altered experience itself. From shirts to luxury office supplies to the world of wine, each example reveals how price can tell a powerful story. And for leaders, that story matters—because how you position value can shape how others see your product, your brand, and even your leadership.

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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.com

The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Host Matthew Confer:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer

Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

Some problems are so obvious, we forget they’re problems at all. In this episode, we explore two surprising stories: how the tin can was invented nearly 50 years before the can opener, and why it took centuries after the invention of the wheel to finally put wheels on luggage. These examples aren’t just amusing—they reveal a deep truth about leadership and innovation. Often, the biggest opportunities are hidden in the pain points we’ve learned to tolerate. What frustrations have you accepted without questioning? Join me as we explore how fresh thinking turns the obvious into the extraordinary.

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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.com

The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Host Matthew Confer:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer

Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

What do a photography giant and a live comedy show have in common? In this episode, we explore how two iconic institutions—Kodak and Saturday Night Live—faced the same challenge: what to do when the thing that made you successful starts holding you back. One resisted change and paid the price. The other built reinvention into its DNA and stayed relevant for nearly five decades. These stories reveal the high stakes of clinging to comfort and the power of breaking what works—before the world does it for you. If you’re leading anything today, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

 —

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.com

The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Host Matthew Confer:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer

Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

Setbacks are an inevitable part of any journey, but what if they were actually the first step toward success? In this episode, hear the fascinating stories of how a failed adhesive experiment led to the creation of Post-it Notes and how 5,126 failed prototypes became the foundation for Dyson’s billion-dollar breakthrough. Discover how seeing opportunities in obstacles can transform failure into a launching pad for greatness.

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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.com

The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/

Host Matthew Confer:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MatthewConfer

Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making

Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.