Author: Tomasz Drybala
Tomasz Drybala - Author, Researcher, Coach, and Director of the Neuro-Based Leadership Centre.
My work is grounded in lived experience, research, and ongoing studies with more than 100 CEOs and senior executives — examining how dopamine–cortisol dynamics influence decision-making, execution, and recovery under pressure.
My academic development now includes targeted programs at Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, and the University of California, Berkeley. I am pursuing a Master’s and — fingers crossed — a PhD in Applied Neuroscience, specialising in decision-making.
I’m also the author of three forthcoming books exploring the neurochemistry of leadership, including Breaking Patterns (June 2026), Neuroscience of CEO Decision-Making (January 2027), and Choosing the Right People (March 2027).
The Neurochemical Decision Cycle: Why Your Choices Don’t Start from Neutral
Most CEOs believe they make decisions through logic — that strategy, data, and experience lead the process. But every decision begins in a body and brain already biased by what came before. The confidence you feel in a boardroom, the urgency that drives a new initiative, or the […]
Reward-Driven Momentum: Why Conviction Often Arrives Before Logic
Most CEOs trust their conviction. That deep sense of “this feels right” has built companies, driven bold decisions, and carried teams through uncertainty. Yet the same conviction that powers progress can also protect blind spots — not because of arrogance or ignorance, but because of chemistry. The system […]
Avoidance Under Discomfort: Why What You Don’t Feel Can Hurt What You Decide
As a CEO, you’re accustomed to pressure, tension, and managing complexity. You lean into discomfort; you push through doubts. But what if the most dangerous hesitation isn’t the one you feel—it’s the one you don’t feel? The silent slide away from uncertainty, the rationalisation of risk, the decision […]
Reward-Driven Activity: When Dopamine Hijacks Execution
Every CEO knows the surge that comes with a fresh idea — that spark that hits early in the morning, during a shower, or on a walk when the mind is clear. It feels exciting, fast-moving, and certain, like the answer you’ve been waiting for has finally landed. […]
Avoidance-Driven Resistance: When Cortisol Turns Strategic Work into Escape Routes
Even at the highest levels, there are moments when execution drifts — not because of unclear strategy, but because of the quiet chemistry that shapes how attention moves. You plan to focus on the work that compounds value, yet find yourself starting somewhere else. The day remains full, […]
Reward-Driven Continuation: When Dopamine Keeps You Working After You’ve Stopped
You finish the project, deliver the board presentation, or close the deal. Logically, it’s done — yet your mind refuses to move on. You replay what was said, refine slides that no one will ever see again, or draft an email you never send. Even as you want […]
Alertness After Completion: When Cortisol Mistakes Rest for Risk
The deadline passes, the call ends, the day should be over — yet something in you keeps running. The body stays slightly charged, the mind keeps scanning, and even when silence returns, a faint current of alertness remains. It feels like responsibility, but it’s chemistry. The same system […]
Reward-Escape Pattern in Daily Execution
Every leader knows this moment: a decision that carries weight sits in front of you. Yet somehow, your focus drifts toward reviewing numbers, reshaping strategy, or mentoring someone on a side project. It all looks like progress — but it’s the brain’s way of escaping tension while rewarding […]