UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders

Cohesion Culture

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Hear real-time stories from leaders confessing their most crucial or recent "UH-OH" experiences in business. Learn what their "UH-OH" cost them, steps they took to fix it, and how they planned not to "do that one" again. Hosted by Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy.

3D AGO

Trying to Be Everyone’s Friend Cost Me Everything

What happens when a leader wants to be liked more than trusted? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, John Little shares a pivotal leadership UH-OH from his early career at CNN. This mistake cost him credibility, confidence, and a leadership role. At just 27 years old, John stepped into leadership with good intentions and the wrong strategy: trying to be everyone’s friend. What followed was a lesson in accountability, trust, and the difference between being nice and being kind. John unpacks how avoiding tough conversations, playing favorites unintentionally, and prioritizing approval over clarity eroded trust, and how discovering emotional intelligence and self-awareness helped him rebuild his leadership foundation. This conversation is a must-listen for emerging leaders who want to lead with empathy and backbone, build trust without losing authenticity, and avoid one of the most common leadership traps. You don’t have to know everything. You just need to be teachable. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

34 min
DEC 16

The Promotion He Didn’t Want and the Price He Paid

What happens when success comes faster than wisdom? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Donzel Leggett shares a powerful early-career UH-OH that many emerging leaders will recognize and few will admit. Thrust into management before he even wanted the role, Donzel felt the pressure to prove himself, deliver results, and not let anyone down. He did exactly that. And it nearly wrecked his health, his energy, and his life. Working 16 hour days, pursuing an MBA, and chasing performance at all costs, Donzel ignored the warning signs until one unforgettable moment forced him to confront the truth: success without balance collapses. This conversation is a masterclass on leadership, personal well-being, defining success on your own terms, and why sharpening the axe matters more than swinging harder. If you are early in your career, hungry to win, or quietly burning out, this episode might save you years of learning the hard way. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

41 min
DEC 9

When Your Business Partner Buys a Car with Your Money

Regina Huber has lived in six countries, speaks multiple languages, knows dances from across Africa, and built businesses on two continents. But her biggest UH-OH didn’t happen on the dance floor. It happened in Brazil when a trusted business partner drained a joint account to buy himself a shiny new car, derailing their entire venture and leaving Regina with a $100,000 loss, an angry neighborhood, and a long road back to confidence. In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Regina shares the moment everything fell apart, what it cost her financially and emotionally, and the two-year climb it took to close the business, recover from the blow, and rebuild her identity. Most importantly, she reveals how owning the mistake, stepping out of victim mode, and reclaiming integrity set her up for the next chapter of her leadership journey in New York City. This episode proves that even the toughest crash can lead to a stronger comeback if we’re willing to face the lesson, forgive ourselves, and keep moving forward. Courage isn’t found in the win. It’s forged in the UH-OH. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

35 min
DEC 2

The Weekend That Cost Millions

In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Ben-Jamin Toy chats with the endlessly energetic Dr. Danny Brassell, a man who’s lived enough careers to fill a mini-series and enough UH-OH moments to keep it interesting. Danny opens up about the weekend he and his wife bought ten investment properties across the country, from Phoenix, to Salt Lake City, Mississippi, Indianapolis, and Florida. The deal looked golden… right up until it evaporated into a multi-million-dollar catastrophe that came bundled with stress, travel overload, bankruptcy, and a spiritual reckoning. He talks candidly about what the mistake cost him, the toll it took on his family, and how it pushed him into the speaking business that eventually became his professional sweet spot. Danny shares what he learned about trust, judgment, marriage, faith, and the gritty reality of getting back up after life knocks you flat. He also reframes his big UH-OH as the turning point that unlocked everything he does today, including coaching, storytelling, and helping leaders turn their own vulnerabilities into powerful narratives. And yes, he leaves you with a gift: a free story-crafting blueprint at freestoryguide.com. It’s an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation with a guy who proves you can lose everything… and still come out with more than you expected. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

33 min
NOV 25

Navigating Growth Seasons

In this episode of Uh-Oh Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin welcome the dynamic and deeply authentic Kenya Dunn. Known for her power, influence, and transparency, Kenya brings the kind of honesty leaders rarely show publicly. From plant lessons to business lessons, Kenya draws unexpected connections between growth, care, and the moments where everything nearly falls apart. You’ll hear the candid UH-OH that shaped Kenya’s leadership approach, the cost of the mistake, how she turned it around, and the intentional plan she uses so it never happens again. This episode is a refreshing mix of humor, self-awareness, humility, and practical leadership advice you can use immediately. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

44 min
NOV 18

Why Women Must Advocate for Themselves

In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, hosts Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy welcome Rosie Zilinskas. Rosie is a Certified High Performance Coach, keynote speaker, and founder of No Woman Left Behind. Rosie shares her powerful journey from surviving a difficult divorce to thriving as a corporate executive and coach dedicated to empowering women in the workplace. Listeners will hear Rosie’s candid UH-OH moment: the realization that waiting to be noticed for her hard work was holding her back from career advancement. She reveals how self-advocacy, preparation, and intentional action transformed her trajectory, leading to promotions and leadership roles. The conversation dives into practical strategies for speaking up, building a vault of accomplishments, and being “promotion ready” before opportunities arise. Rosie also discusses the importance of addressing personal wounds, overcoming self-doubt, and the role of resilience in professional growth. We connect her story to broader themes of leadership, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and the value of preparedness. Whether you’re an emerging leader, a woman seeking advancement, or anyone navigating workplace challenges, this episode offers actionable advice, inspiration, and a reminder: success comes from preparation, self-discovery, and the courage to advocate for yourself. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

32 min
NOV 11

The Day Assumptions Broke the Budget

In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Jeff Price, CEO of Communications Advisory Service. Jeff opens up about the costly UH-OH that hit his company for $47,000 and the even bigger impact it had on his confidence, delegation habits, and leadership mindset. From learning to ask the obvious questions to understanding how integrity sometimes comes with a price tag, Jeff walks through what happened, what it taught him, and how his team rebuilt trust and processes on the other side. This one’s packed with honest leadership insight, personal accountability, and a refreshingly real look at what it means to learn the hard way and grow anyway. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

39 min
NOV 4

The One Where the HR Pro Learned Her Own Lesson

Even the best leaders have their UH-OH moments. For Danielle Shroyer, a seasoned HR leader turned coach, her big one came down to something deceptively simple: unclear expectations. In this episode, Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Danielle to unpack how a performance improvement plan turned into a lesson in communication, comprehension, and compassion. They talk accountability, silent toxicity, and why Brené Brown's “clear is kind” is a leadership survival skill. If you’ve ever thought, “They should just know what I expect”, this episode is your wake-up call. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community

32 min

Hear real-time stories from leaders confessing their most crucial or recent "UH-OH" experiences in business. Learn what their "UH-OH" cost them, steps they took to fix it, and how they planned not to "do that one" again. Hosted by Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy.

Creator

Cohesion Culture
Years Active

2K
Episodes

42
Rating

Clean
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UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders