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The Outsider CEO Who Broke Every IBM Rule (And Saved The Company!)
Episode 493rd July 2025 • The Mammoth in the Room • Nicolas Pokorny, PhD, MBA
00:00:00 00:08:37

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In this week’s episode, we explore the incredible story of how IBM pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in business history. It's not just about the right strategy—it's about having the courage to shift everything, from company culture to core values. 

You’ll learn how bold leadership, strategic pivots, and a relentless focus on solving real-world problems can transform any business. It is time to rethink the way you lead and approach change. Tune in for insights that will reshape your mindset and transform your business.


Don’t forget to order my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a practical roadmap on how to embrace evolutionary truths for outstanding  business results. 


In this episode:

- IBM’s fall and remarkable reinvention

- Leadership lessons from IBM's transformation

- A summary of lessons from business evolution case studies

- Final thoughts and how to order Mammoth In The Room



Resources Used in the Episode: 

Gerstner, L. V. (2002). Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance? Inside IBM’s Historic Turnaround. HarperBusiness:  https://a.co/d/8FR2Why 

 

Christensen, C. M. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma. Harvard Business Review Press: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=46 


Tushman, M. L., & O’Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous Organizations: Managing Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change. California Management Review: https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Organizational_Learning_and_Change/Tushman_&_OReilly_1996_Ambidextrous_Organizations.pdf 


Van Vugt, M., & Ronay, R. (2014). The Evolutionary Psychology of Leadership. Organizational Psychology Review.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274471020_The_evolutionary_psychology_of_leadership_Theory_review_and_roadmap  



Get in Touch: 

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com    

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences   

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