Season 10, Episode 2: Building Companies With Mental Illness (with Collin Williams)

Notes To My (Legal) Self

What happens when you’re building a company while managing mental illness? In this episode of Notes to My (Legal) Self, we continue our Future Belongs to Builders series with a deeply personal and empowering conversation, “Building Companies With Mental Illness,” featuring Collin Williams, founder and chairman of New Era ADR. Collin shares his journey as a lawyer turned entrepreneur, offering invaluable insights into how mental illness can both challenge and fuel success in the high-pressure world of startups.

In this raw and insightful discussion, Collin opens up about his own experiences living with depression and how he’s reframed it as a unique motivator rather than a weakness. With a focus on practical coping strategies, from therapy to structured routines, Collin explains how mental illness doesn’t have to be a barrier but can instead be a source of strength. His candid reflections will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to succeed while navigating mental health challenges.

This episode is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship and mental health are not mutually exclusive. Collin offers a roadmap for founders living with mental illness, showing how to manage stress, maintain resilience, and build a company with the right support systems in place. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, legal professional, or someone curious about mental health in high-stakes careers, this episode offers a compassionate and honest perspective on the intersection of mental illness and business.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how mental illness can serve as both a challenge and a unique strength in entrepreneurship.
• Learn about the importance of routine and structure in managing mental health while running a company.
• Explore how Collin reframed living with depression from a burden to a source of resilience and strength.
• Gain insights into how being open about mental illness can help destigmatize the conversation and encourage others to seek help.
• Discover practical strategies for balancing the stresses of startup life with mental health, from therapy to medication and community support.
• Learn the importance of transparency with business partners, employees, and investors regarding mental health.

Collin’s message is clear: mental illness doesn’t define you, but how you live with it can shape your success. Join us for a conversation that breaks the silence and empowers entrepreneurs to thrive, not in spite of their challenges, but because of them.