Qualities of Risk Taking Entrepreneurs

Susan Desmond-Hellmann, chancellor of UCSF, identifies traits that appear over and over again in successful entrepreneurs. The first trait is a relentless tenacity mixed with optimism, a quality she describes as being like “a dog on a bone.” The other critical trait is not being afraid to be embarrassed. According to Desmond-Hellmann, risk-taking entrepreneurs make choices others may find embarrassing, but entrepreneurs must continue to follow their own path.