330: Why Your Decision Making Under Pressure Fails | Michelle "MACE" Curran
Michelle "MACE" Curran, combat veteran, former fighter pilot, and former U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Lead Solo, shares why fear isn't something high performers need to eliminate. It's something they can learn to use. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and MACE explore what fear looks like when it disguises itself as self-doubt, anger, or overthinking, and how leaders can regulate their response when the stakes are high. Drawing from her experiences flying F-16s, navigating a near-death experience with the Thunderbirds, and performing under extraordinary pressure, MACE shares practical tools for making better decisions, building trust, and choosing how to respond in the moments that matter most.
Read the full breakdown of Michelle "MACE" Curran's episode on Learnit.
Key Leadership Lessons from Michelle "MACE" Curran's Journey:
Create Space Between Fear and Your Response – Learn how a simple two-second reset can help you regulate your emotions and make better decisions when pressure is highest.
Make It Safe to Admit Mistakes – Discover why responding to costly mistakes without blame strengthens trust, encourages honesty, and helps teams learn faster.
Sometimes You Need to Borrow Someone Else's Confidence – Understand how a leader's belief in someone's potential can give them the courage to step into opportunities they aren't yet confident enough to pursue themselves.
Connect with Michelle "MACE" Curran:
Michelle "MACE" Curran is a combat veteran and former fighter pilot who became only the second woman in history to fly as Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force's elite demonstration squadron. Today, she is a sought-after keynote speaker who has worked with organizations including Microsoft, PwC, and SpaceX, helping people build courage, trust their instincts, and take decisive action under pressure. Her latest book, The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower, translates lessons from high-stakes aviation into practical tools for leadership and life and reached the Top 20 on the USA Today bestseller list.
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