UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders

When Your Scaling Numbers Just Do Not Add Up

In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with John Lowe, the former long-time CEO of Jeni's Ice Creams and current co-founder of Amuck Consumer. John shares his fascinating career trajectory from practicing law and working as general counsel at GE during a global financial crisis to leading a hyper-growth creative ice cream brand. The heart of the conversation dives into a massive UH-OH moment: waking up to realize that after rapidly scaling into a new production facility, the company's cost accounting and ERP system were completely out of whack with the actual cash coming in. John opens up about the sleepless nights, the vulnerability of calling his private equity investors for help on day one, and why being transparent is always a leader's best asset. Tune in to learn why you do not have to be a lone wolf to be a great leader, how to manage the transition from corporate to creative spaces, and why raising a red flag early can actually save your career. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418119/support]

Why Volume Doesn’t Equal Value

What happens when your natural, high-performing, Type-A personality accidentally creates a culture of exclusion? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with author, professor, and founder of Coaching for Clarity, Matt Dickerson. Matt vulnerably shares an UH-OH moment from his corporate days: being blindsided by a formal HR complaint that forced him to confront how his hard-driving, extroverted style, and his tendency to favor similar voices, was completely silencing the introverted and deliberate members of his sales team. Tune in as we unpack the heavy professional and personal costs of equating "value to volume" (the Babel Effect). Matt shares his long, transformative journey toward repairing trust, the profound impact of Susan Cain’s book "Quiet", and the highly practical physical and relational feedback loops he uses today to ensure every voice truly belongs in the room. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418119/support]

Pivot with Purpose From Engineering to Impact

What happens when a lifetime of high-level problem solving meets a year of uncontrollable life events? In this episode, Ben-Jamin Toy interviews Eugene Manley Jr., a mechanical engineer and cell biologist turned nonprofit founder, to discuss the un-plannable side of leadership. Eugene shares his UH-OH moment regarding the steep learning curve of fiscal sponsorship and the high cost of missing out on critical funding. Beyond the technicalities of grants, Eugene opens up about a year marked by personal loss and physical injury, revealing how he navigated a complete career pivot into his new venture, Innovation for Impact Consulting. Tune in to learn why asking for help isn't a weakness, how to harness ADHD as a professional asset, and why "multiple chickens" are better than one basket. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418119/support]

Why Being a People-Pleaser Is a Career-Limiting Move

In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Zahaitis, a veteran sales leader in the global payments industry and an avid gamer who understands that whether you are in a military simulation or a boardroom, community is everything. Joe shares a vulnerable look at a massive UH-OH moment from early in his tenure at a senior leadership role: losing 50% of his team in one week. Joe opens up about the mistake of trying to "shield" his remaining team from the workload, the grueling 18-hour days that followed, and the "stinger" feedback from his boss that changed his perspective on leadership forever. Tune in to learn why the highest and best use of a leader’s time isn’t doing the work, but empowering the team to tackle the crisis together. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418119/support]

A Near Death Wake Up Call

In this episode of the UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders podcast, Dr. Troy and Ben-Jamin Toy are joined by Matan Cohen-Citron, a movement expert and hypnotist who shares a harrowing UH-OH moment that transformed his approach to life and business. After a near-death experience left him in a state of trauma and misalignment, Matan had to confront the hard truth that he was prioritizing his business at the expense of his family and his own well-being. Matan discusses the importance of "play" as a tool for exploration, the role of the unconscious mind in driving our behavior, and why we must develop a deep intimacy with our own somatic signals. Whether you are a high-achieving leader teetering on the edge of burnout or an emerging professional looking to align your career with your core values, this conversation offers a masterclass in emotional intelligence and self-regulation. Check this out: https://www.thecohesiveleader.com/Community Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2418119/support]