From tunnel phobias in Japan to the relentless pursuit of perfection, this candid story reveals how one leader turned personal struggles into strengths. Her journey offers timeless lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs on resilience, humility, and redefining success beyond money.
erfectionism can be both a gift and a curse. For one visionary leader, it became the very force that pushed her to confront fear, embrace vulnerability, and ultimately discover new dimensions of strength. In an intimate conversation, she opens up about battling insecurities, overcoming a lifelong phobia of tunnels, and the hard-won wisdom she now shares with aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Weight of Perfectionism
“I was a perfectionist—I still am,” she admitted. “But what that does to me is it makes me scared. And when I’m scared, I’m not pulling in my 100 percent. Instead, I get reactive. That’s not how I want to operate.”
Like many leaders, she struggled with wanting to be liked. Criticism cut deeply, and the fear of disapproval lingered for years. With time, counseling, and self-work, she began to accept that not everyone would embrace her—and that was okay. “Sometimes it’s not due to my fault. They just don’t like me. And that’s fine,” she said with hard-earned clarity.
A Phobia That Challenged Her Reputation
Perhaps the most vivid story she shared was her lifelong phobia of tunnels. Unlike planes or elevators, tunnels suffocated her. Traveling in Japan, where tunnels are unavoidable, her fear became impossible to hide.
On one occasion, surrounded by prominent surgeons in Kobe, she suddenly realized the van had entered a tunnel. Panic set in—her breathing constricted, her heart pounded, and she was desperate not to collapse in front of her colleagues. “It was miserable,” she recalled. “I decided this is not acceptable. I have to do something about it.”
What followed was a years-long journey of research, counseling, and gradual exposure therapy. Painful though it was, she committed to facing her fear head-on. The breakthrough came in Shanghai, traveling under a lake through a massive tunnel. “I was calm. My heart was content. I even filmed myself in the tunnel and sent it to my counselor. That was victory.”
Her message is clear: fears are real, but avoidance only deepens them. Confronting them can transform limitations into sources of strength.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
For those daring to start a company, she offers both encouragement and caution:
Know your why. “Sit down honestly and ask yourself: what do you want? What will success look like, and what struggles might you face in the middle? You won’t predict everything, but be clear about what you do know.”
Stay open—but filter wisely. Challenges and feedback will come in abundance. Pause before reacting, and treat each as a potential teacher.
Seek wisdom from others. “Older generations have lived through it. Their lessons are transferable. Don’t waste time reinventing the wheel.”
Know when to pivot—or quit. “Quitting is no shame. Going at something too long, beyond reason, is the real mistake.”
Don’t do it for money. “Nine out of ten startups fail. The true product of a startup is not an IPO—it’s you, your team, and the lessons learned along the way.”
Redefining Success
Her story is a reminder that leadership is not about avoiding flaws or fears, but about owning them, working through them, and turning them into stepping stones. Perfectionism may have once held her back, but today it fuels her drive to balance objectivity with emotion, courage with humility.
To entrepreneurs chasing their dreams, her advice resonates beyond business: “The main product of the startup is you. Grow from it. That growth is the real success.”
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