Both Rebecca and I had been part of the NHS for years which is an enormous organisation with different departments and suddenly it was just us, being clinicians by background but having to get to grips with marketing, HR, accounts, the list goes on. Here’s how I managed it…

Embracing my strengths

As a neurodivergent professional I have a profile of dyslexia and ADHD which presents its own unique set of challenges – and, as I’ve discovered, incredible strengths. My journey as an entrepreneur and co-founder has been defined not by limitations, but by the ability to harness the strengths that is my neurodivergence.

Let me give you a bit of background, I grew up in the 1980's before the term neurodiversity had  even been coined and little was known about the strengths associated with these conditions. I come from a family of neurodivergent parents, which means we tend to be more specialist and good at specific roles rather than generalists and good at everything. My mum was always an advocate seeking out my dyslexia diagnosis when I was very young. However, teachers weren't very well versed on adjusting teaching methods, so it was a case of fitting into a mould that I didn't fit into.

Reading, writing, editing my work, organisation, and concentration were constant struggles, leading to frustration and self-doubt, as I was expected to learn like everyone else which simply wasn’t designed for how my brain operated. This always left me feeling like I wasn’t good enough. However, there was something else beneath the surface – an ability to think outside the box, to problem-solve creatively, to question the status quo, and to see patterns where others saw chaos. I later realised these were not weaknesses; they were my greatest strengths.

Skip forward to completing with my undergraduate degree, a post graduate diploma, and a MSc in speech and language therapy, it developed a number of compensatory strategies including use of voice to text technology, to help with procrastination, timers to help break the tasks down, body doubling to help with accountability, and the constant re-writing of my to do list.

As an entrepreneur, I leverage my ability to hyperfocus on what excites me, I love projects and thinking creatively. I am lateral in my approach and tend to think in big-picture terms, and take risks that others might shy away from. My mind works quickly, generating ideas at a rapid pace, which has allowed me to identify opportunities and innovate in ways that might not be conventional but are highly effective.

What I would tell my neurodivergent teenage self

If I could go back and speak to my teenage self, I would say this: “You are not ‘less than others you bring your own set of strengths.’ The way your brain works is powerful – it is wired for innovation, for resilience, and for creativity. The things that make school difficult are the same things that will make you an incredible entrepreneur. Don’t be afraid to embrace who you are, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t succeed because you think differently.”

I spent so much of my early years trying to conform, when in reality, my biggest breakthroughs came when I leaned into my unique way of thinking. Once I stopped trying to suppress my differences and instead used them to my advantage, everything changed. I still struggle to manage my own energy and can become depleted when I overdo it, but I am learning to accept that some days I am not as productive as I would like to be but on other days, I am turbo charged and feel unstoppable.

 The power of being a co-founder and business owner

Co-founding a business has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life. It’s given me the freedom to structure my work in a way that aligns with how I function best. Instead of being confined to rigid systems that don’t support neurodivergent thinking, I work in a team that values me for me capabilities and have built an environment that fosters creativity, flexibility, and innovation.

I’ve also learned the importance of surrounding myself with people who complement my strengths. My co-founder and team members bring skills that balance out my challenges, and together, we create something far greater than what any of us could achieve alone. Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about knowing where you excel and empowering others to fill in the gaps.

Owning my strengths

There was a time when I felt like I had to apologise for the way I processed information or worked differently from others. Now, I own it. I’ve learned to advocate for myself, to structure my business in a way that plays to my strengths, and to celebrate the unique perspectives that come with being neurodivergent.

My story is proof that success doesn’t come from fitting into a predefined mould – it comes from breaking it. To anyone out there who feels like their differences are holding them back, I want to say this: Your uniqueness is your advantage. Learn to embrace it, harness it, and use it to carve your own path.

I also feel that being a diagnostician for autism and ADHD I can empathise with the children, young people, and adults I work with in navigating their condition; always looking for their unique areas of interest and strength to show them that they do not need to be held back by a label. Labels do not define us, they help signpost others to know what is helpful in accommodating our different needs.

Being dyslexic with ADHD isn’t a disadvantage in business – it’s an edge. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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