Scott McGohan: One Morning, One Mission—Leading with Story

Scott McGohan has spent over 35 years shaping leadership, culture, and mental health advocacy in the workplace as the recently retired Co-Chairman of McGohan Brabender, author of Culture Is an Inside Job, and founder of your newest adventure. One Morning, he’s on a mission to inspire self-awareness, authenticity, and real cultural change. A passionate believer in love, acceptance, and vulnerability, Scott is here to challenge how we think about leadership—from the inside out.

In this episode, Wendi and Scott discuss:

• How vulnerability, not ego, became Scott's greatest leadership tool
• Why storytelling is a powerful catalyst for mental health support in the workplace
• The birth of One Morning and its mission to humanize EAPs and drive cultural change
• The dangers of destructive heroes and how one employee’s honesty changed Scott’s life
• Practical leadership strategies to create belonging without sacrificing professionalism

Key Takeaways:

• Scott redefines vulnerability as the ultimate leadership asset—one that forges deeper trust, authentic relationships, and sustainable influence.
• Rather than being compartmentalized, mental health emerges as a vital thread in organizational culture, with acknowledgment and support proving transformative for morale, retention, and human connection.
• It’s emotional resonance—not raw data—that ultimately breaks barriers and dismantles stigma around mental health in the workplace.
• A single voice, unafraid to speak truth to power, can catalyze a leader’s awakening and reshape the cultural fabric of an entire company.
• Employees don’t crave perfection or relentless strategy—they yearn for leaders who slow down, show up, and offer hope in uncertain times.

“I believe vulnerability is probably one of the greatest gifts that we can give people, because everybody's dealing with something... and when we're vulnerable, we let other people know that they're not alone, and it allows other people to stand up taller. We give people a reputation to live up to.” - Scott McGohan

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