I make ADHD human and profitable.
Using my unfolding story (+humour), I bring the human experience of ADHD in the workplace to life. We get better decisions, service, & outcomes when we seek to understand, accept, and work WITH difference - of any kind! We also get more belonging, retention, clients…and profit!
Your boards, leaders, employees, clients, and conference attendees will enjoy my unique blend of humour and education. Signature topics are suitable as keynotes, training sessions or series, and workshops. Full customization is also available.
Consider me for your next event.
We're all human.
WORKPLACE INCLUSION SERIES
everything you’ve always wanted to know about the “neurotypical” brain but were afraid to ask.
STIGMA & STEREOTYPES
Would it surprise you to know that at least 70% of the population may not be neurodivergent at all? And that’s just the percentage we know about!
This group is often referred to as “neurotypical” because their brains only allow them to relate to time, show empathy, manage their emotions, and organize their lives like most other people. They may be held back from taking risks, thinking of wildly creative ideas, or even following their noses to the most unique conclusions. ADHDers have much to learn about this dominant brain type so we can support them at work and foster belonging.
Make curiosity (and humour?) the gateway to stronger relationships in the workplace.
#meToo? affirming or denying ADHD.
SAFETY, EMPATHY & ADHD
Does everyone have “a little” ADHD?
Surely everyone forgets why they walked into a room sometimes? You’ve been late, impulsive, overwhelmed, or distracted too, right? We’ll unpack why ADHD is different, and why well-intentioned sympathy and acceptance can damage belonging.
You’ll leave with a new understanding of the best and worst of ADHD, plus the keys to unlocking its potential!
emotional executives.
EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS & ADHD
ADHD brains can be challenged with execution. They know just what to do, have a million ideas on how to do it, but can’t always act.
Importance, reward, and consequence seem not to make any difference! There are seven executive functions, but one seems to play an outsized role in holding us back. When our emotions are dysregulated, all the other functions are too. We freeze, we panic, we shut down.
Looking for more consistent regulation of the day-to-day brain administration centre? The first step is regulating emotion!
words matter.
DE-STIGMATIZING ADHD & MENTAL HEALTH
This program contains
1.0 EDI Professionalism Hour(s).
Experts estimate that by age 10, children with ADHD have heard 20,000 negative comments from their teachers alone. Adding parents at home, and peers in and out of school, it’s no wonder they also report lower levels of self-esteem.
It's hard to know what to say when someone shares their diagnosis. Curiosity plays a pivotal role in getting it right.
Perpetuating myth and stigma is harmful to everyone. We can change the narrative by choosing our words wisely.
mountains & molehills.
MOTIVATION & ADHD
Productivity culture says success comes from getting up early, “eating the frog,” and being consistent. ADHD brains don’t operate well under these conditions.
We flourish when we work with our natural rhythms, tackle bite-sized tasks to release “good dopamine”, and redefine consistency. Tap into curiosity and find creative ways to support your colleagues, and yourself, achieve real results.
“How we’ve always done it” be damned! It’s time we work on our own terms.
employees are just clients that you pay.
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION & RESULTS
It’s easy to see the employment relationship as a one-way street. We’re taught to presume a power imbalance, usually with employers on top.
Employees work best when they feel supported and confident. What if we could stop the see-saw of supply and demand by mirroring the client journey with our staff? Ask not how to manage employees for maximum profitability. Ask instead: “What am I prepared to do to ensure my workforce thrives?”
Lead candidates from attracted, to closed, then nurture them so they become evangelists! Profits will follow and everybody wins!
try softer, not harder.
COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP
ADHD is a condition that affects brain function. We think and process information differently because we’re programmed to!
Did you know that “trying harder” to operate like our peers is as effective at “curing” ADHD as it is diabetes or cancer? That is to say, it’s no help at all!
Learn how to “try softer,” using acceptance and self-compassion to get better results.
unpacking time.
SYMPTOM CASE STUDY
Sarah often describes herself as “having no relationship to time.” In truth, she has a non-linear relationship with it!
We'll consider a few different ways that Sarah's come to think of time since her ADHD diagnosis. The balance of the session is a group discussion that will explore how participants view time, how these views impact them in daily life, and how they affect the pursuit of goals.
We will discuss (or debate!) whether there is value in conforming to societally accepted, or neurotypical, rules about time.
(Previously delivered at the Annual International Conference on ADHD2024)
playing with ADHD, not against it.
SKILLS, STRENGTHS & STRATEGY
We’re on the same team. Whether it’s work or sport, team members have agreed to a common goal and are working together to achieve it.
Focussing on comparison can leave us annoyed with our teammates’ differences - even feeling superior. We easily see character flaws and bad attitudes, rather than seeking to understand. But side-eye and lectures don’t produce better results. The strongest motivator for performance is encouragement, which requires curiosity. The same is true for ADHDers battling their judgy inner monologue.
Our brain is on our team, too! Learn how to nurture the ADHD brain for optimal results.
babysitters & cheerleaders: the ADHD support squad.
STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP
People with ADHD are magnetic. We’re naturally creative, curious, and energetic risk-takers. But unwanted change or excess process can overwhelm us.
What do wildly successful ADHDers do differently? We don’t waste energy fighting our natural programming! We honour our strengths and get help with the rest, seeking out environments that allow just that. Ready to create a workplace that propels your neurodivergent staff to success?
Reimagine how you use resources to support the ADHD brain’s need for both babysitters and cheerleaders!
the professional power: play.
CREATIVE COLLABORATION
Ever been told to “play the game” at work? What does that even mean?! Why limit your results by sticking to mere competitive or strategic play-making?
ADHDers are born to play, with our impulsiveness so closely tied to our creativity. And business innovation only emerges when we let go of tradition and explore. Can embracing imagination, creative expression, risk-taking, and social connection drive results?
Possibility unfolds naturally when we replace professional conformity with courage, confidence, and fun!
g.e.t. authentic.
BELONGING & SELF-AWARENESS
True psychological safety and belonging only exist when everyone feels accepted for who they really are. Can you share your goals and aspirations? Are these supported or punished? Can you be yourself without fear of any repercussions?
Greater self-awareness comes from understanding your ADHD. It's your job to make sure you thrive at work. Use the 'g.e.t. authentic' formula to ensure you can work more authentically and achieve your own version of success.
Learning from Sarah's experience, you’ll be ready to advocate for yourself too!
We're on the same team.
LEADERSHIP & PERFORMANCE SERIES
performance anxiety to high performance.
GIVING & RECEIVING ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK
Formal reviews feel burdensome when we’re full-out. But folks with ADHD can falter without a formula to follow.
Having difficult conversations is, well, fraught! Reviewees fancy flattery - yet fear failure, fretful we’re frauds. Reviewers face firm pressures and may flail for empathy when fixated on flustering flaws. It’s easy for everyone to fall back on frank, fast, and flimsy. But fuzzy feedback is futile! It fuels friction rather than fixing it.
Does your framework fulfill its function? Fix it by first framing and fact-finding, then field testing and finessing for fully actionable and inclusive feedback!
(This talk is brought to you by the letter F.)
from fix to fill.
BUILDING TEAMS
Winning teams need more than just skill. Team building is both art and science.
When coaches and leaders reflect on our goals and fill our gaps, we amplify our chances of success. Caitlin Clark’s leadership, intensity, and scoring ability make her a standout athlete. But risk-taking can lead to turnovers and reliance to exhaustion. Even this powerhouse needs defenders supporting her. She needs teammates to pass to when things get sticky. The same rules apply at work. Take the focus off of “fixing” what each team member lacks. Start “filling” with the unique strengths each player has hiding in plain sight.
Does your team have the right mix of culture, craft, and charisma to meet its goals? Once it does, everyone wins!
finding flow with ADHD.
THRIVING WITH ADHD
Coming soon!
neuroinclusion 101.
ADHD IN THE LEGAL WORKPLACE
This program contains
1.0 EDI Professionalism Hour(s).
ADHD is often stigmatized as an excuse for laziness and misbehaviour. Yet nearly 3 times more lawyers report having experience with ADHD than the general population. Maybe ADHD isn't what we think!
Every person with ADHD experiences different symptoms and strengths. Many rely on the support of others to thrive at work. What makes the legal workplace so attractive to the ADHD brain? How and why might the positive and negative traits of ADHD may show up at work? What role can folks without ADHD play a key role in unlocking their colleagues’ potential?
When we cultivate a neurodiverse workforce, the unique blend of strengths and skills can generate impressive results. Just like every role contributes to a profitable and efficient workplace, so too does every thinking style!
Ready to take your first steps?
Reach out if you'd like to learn more about ADHD and how I can support your firm, leaders, and staff.