UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders

What happens when you spend nearly three decades ignoring the pull of entrepreneurship? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Yusef Marshall, a leader, coach, musician, author, and man of deep faith, who opens up about his biggest UH-OH — resisting the call to build something of his own.

Yusef reveals how chasing stability cost him relationships, health, and nearly his marriage. He shares the breaking point that came during COVID, when a cardboard box showed up at his job, and how that moment finally pushed him to choose purpose over comfort.

Through humor, honesty, and storytelling, Yusef talks about the danger of living someone else’s version of success, why identity must be separate from titles, and what it takes to rebuild yourself after years of delay.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a role that doesn’t fit, this episode is a wake-up call: don’t go to the grave with your music still in you.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Ben-Jamin Toy chats with Jake Isaacs, a serial integrator, fixer, and behind-the-scenes operator who has made a career out of turning chaos into order.

Jake shares his unlikely start working for the Chicago Bears as a teenager, his journey through hospitality, tech, and nonprofit leadership, and why he proudly embraces the role of “number two” in business. But the heart of this episode is Jake’s candid story of a career-defining UH-OH: a careless text message that nearly derailed his trajectory as a young hotel manager.

Listen as Jake unpacks the fallout, how he rebuilt trust, and the leadership lessons he carries into his work today. From the importance of firing fast to the value of showing up even when it’s uncomfortable, this episode is full of wisdom for anyone who wants to grow as a leader without pretending to be perfect.

Failure isn’t fatal. It’s just your first attempt in learning.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Michelle Merritt, Chief Strategy Officer at D&S Executive Career Management, shares her UH-OH moment from early in her career. After accepting a role with an automatic “yes” and no negotiation, she later realized the long-term cost of leaving money on the table. Over time, that $10,000 gap added up to $1.4 million in lost earnings.

Michelle discusses the lessons she learned from that experience, including the importance of negotiation, knowing your value, and recognizing that compensation is about more than just salary. She also reflects on the role of friendships, support systems, and the importance of advocating for yourself in both career and leadership.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, hosts Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Mathias Lemos Castillo, founder of MLC Consulting.

Mathias shares his most recent UH-OH moment: leading a presentation for board members when his laptop suddenly shut down mid-session. With only seconds to react, he pivoted to a backup computer, reconnected, and carried on, proving that leadership often comes down to staying calm, moving quickly, and keeping the show going.

The conversation explores:

• How Mathias mobilizes, listens, and connects in his work
• Why acknowledging mistakes and moving forward builds credibility
• The role of growth mindset and fluidity (“move like water”) in leadership
• Practical lessons for handling technical failures and unexpected challenges

Mathias also reflects on advice from mentors, the importance of mindset when pivoting careers, and how he helps organizations strengthen their boards and communities.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, hosts Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Will Crosswell, Chief Retail Officer at Ardent Credit Union. Will shares a pivotal career misstep when he walked into a credit union presentation underprepared and overconfident. Instead of gaining buy-in, he faced a hard reality check that became a turning point in his leadership journey.

Through this candid conversation, Will unpacks what happens when trust is assumed rather than earned, why preparation is non-negotiable, and how humility plays a role in leadership growth. His story offers a reminder that even our most uncomfortable UH-OH moments can become the foundation for stronger, more cohesive leadership.

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What happens when your first big leadership role turns into a reality check? In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, hosts Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy chat with Nick Wodogaza, a seasoned credit union executive and leadership advisor, to uncover the costly lesson he learned when he went from peer to manager overnight.

Nick shares the UH-OH moment that reshaped his leadership philosophy, why feedback and self-awareness matter more than titles, and the steps he took to transform early stumbles into a 44-year career marked by growth, culture building, and purpose-driven leadership.

Plus, hear Nick’s advice for anyone feeling stuck or overlooked in their organization, and how to position yourself as a difference-maker, no matter your title.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn mistakes into momentum, this episode is your roadmap.

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What happens when a leader realizes their team fears them? For bestselling author and speaker Kyle McDowell, that was the big UH-OH moment. In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Kyle shares how self-reflection and vulnerability transformed his leadership—from ego-driven “me” to purpose-driven “we.”

Expect raw honesty, lessons on accountability, and a fresh perspective on why transparency alone isn’t enough. If you’ve ever wrestled with the gap between the leader you are and the leader you want to be, this conversation will hit home.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Ben-Jamin Toy and Dr. Troy Hall sit down with marketing strategist and journalist Ellie White-Stevens to talk about the costly mistakes new business owners make and how to avoid them.

Ellie shares her own “Double UH-OH” moments, from overlooking the value of a good bookkeeper and business attorney to discovering unexpected expenses that could have been prevented. With candor and humor, she walks us through the lessons learned, the power of compassionate leadership, and why building the right professional team early on saves both money and sanity.

Along the way, you’ll hear how her opera training, love of karaoke, and background in journalism all shaped her approach to marketing, storytelling, and business growth. Whether you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or simply love hearing behind-the-scenes leadership stories, this episode delivers insights you can put into practice today.

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What happens when your future plans get completely rerouted at 18? In this raw and reflective episode, Jon Clark sits down with Dr. Troy Hall and Ben-Jamin Toy to share his biggest UH-OH—becoming a father as a teenager—and how that life-altering moment shaped everything that followed.

From trading dorm rooms for diapers to discovering the power of presence, Jon opens up about how his identity evolved beyond just roles like “dad” and “business owner.” He unpacks the mindset shift from selfish ambition to servant leadership, and how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and setting boundaries help him thrive as a product manager, entrepreneur, and parent of three boys.

You’ll hear about:

• The real cost and unexpected value of a detour from college dreams
• Why changing your clothes might be the leadership tool you never knew you needed
• The balance between being driven and being present
• How Jon uses intentionality to guide parenting, partnership, and personal growth

If you’ve ever wrestled with past decisions, questioned your leadership identity, or struggled to switch from “work mode” to “family mode,” this episode will hit home. Because growing up doesn’t just happen with time. It happens through choice.

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In this episode of UH-OH Conversations with Cohesive Leaders, Joe Caruso shares a moment that almost turned into an UH-OH, and the unexpected tool that helped him avoid it: a sticky note.

Listen in as Joe reflects on:

• The power of emotional regulation in leadership
• How a simple pause can change your next move
• Why it’s better to respond than to react especially when trust is on the line
• What it means to hold someone accountable without burning bridges

Through a story about one unsent email and a lesson in emotional discipline, Joe reminds us that self-awareness is a strategic advantage.

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