Leadership, Resilience, and Owning Your Journey: Lessons from Mike Donahue

In the latest episode of The Struggle Bubble, we had the privilege of sitting down with Mike Donohue , Senior VP of Global Sales at Gupshup and former U.S. National Team rower. We explored the grit, passion, and mindset needed to excel in both sports and business.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

No Pressure, All Passion: Mike shared how his parents created an environment where there was no pressure to hit specific goals, but instead supported his drive to explore new opportunities. It’s a powerful reminder that passion-driven motivation often outlasts external pressure.

Delayed Gratification: Whether training for the national rowing team or navigating his sales career, Mike emphasized the importance of putting in the work today for results that may not come tomorrow, but in the next quarter or year. In a world of instant results, it’s a lesson in perseverance and larger aperture.

Adrenaline Junkie for Self-Improvement: From rowing to mountain biking, Mike’s pursuit of pushing himself physically mirrored his professional ambition. He talked about how applying the same principles from sports—preparation, discipline, and a willingness to fail—has helped him thrive in sales leadership roles.

Surround Yourself with the Best: A key theme throughout our conversation was the importance of mentorship and surrounding yourself with people who are passionate and excellent at what they do. “Find people who are doing things at a high level, and learn from them.”

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or sales leader, these insights are universally applicable. Building resilience, taking calculated risks, and staying grounded in passion are the pillars of success.

Check out the full conversation here or anywhere you get your podcasts and share your biggest takeaway in the comments!

#Leadership #Sales #Resilience #AthleteMindset #Mentorship #Podcast #PersonalDevelopment #TheStruggleBubble #GrowthMindset