We often talk about success stories, not the moments when things completely fall apart. But sometimes, that’s where the biggest lessons hide. 

In part one of my two-part conversation with my teammate Aly Solly, we talk about Inventium’s hardest year yet – the one that tested trust, stretched leadership, and forced us to rebuild from the inside out. 

After I released my Leadership Lessons episode from 2024, I had so many people reach out asking what really happened. How bad did it get? And how did we fix things? 

So, I sat down with Aly – who lived through that tough period – to unpack what it actually feels like when a high-performing team starts to unravel. 

Together, we talk about the cracks that appeared when trust faded, what it’s like to lead through burnout, and how even the best intentions can backfire. 

Aly and I discuss: 

• The inside story of Inventium’s most challenging year – when hierarchy and structure divided the team instead of strengthening it. 

• How burnout crept in and why high performers stopped working together. 

• The unexpected damage caused by trying to “do the right thing.” 

• How Aly’s trust in the team – and in me – began to fracture. 

• The small moments that started to rebuild trust between us. 

• What it’s like to face retrenchments as both a leader and teammate. 

• The moment everything finally broke – and the phone call that changed how we work together. 

KEY QUOTES 

“It’s funny how the most instinctive thing to do is often the least constructive thing to do.”  

“I was so burnt out, but that moment we rebuilt trust reminded me what mattered about the work we do.” 

Connect with Aly Solly on LinkedIn.