Overcoming threat brain
Threat brain is an enemy of resilience. Building a resilient outlook depends on how a leader personally frames situations or setbacks. A positive, but realistic, outlook can help overcome perceived barriers and achieve even the most ambitious long-term business goals.
A commitment to the long term is what drove Sheila Mikhail, cofounder and former CEO, AskBio, and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 National Overall Award winner, to rescue a multimillion-dollar funding package — without letting instincts take over. “The night before closing a $240 million deal, everything collapsed,” says Mikhail. “I had six weeks of cash flow, $3 million in legal fees, and 180 employees to consider. … With a focus on our long-term purpose … we successfully renegotiated.”