S7: E5. Supporting neurodivergent talent in tech ft. Parul Singh (Parallel Minds)

Supporting and engaging neurodiverse talent is a vital part of team building. Parul Singh comes from a background in tech and recruitment and has first-hand experience of the challenges faced by neurodiverse people in the workplace, having been diagnosed in 2021 with autism and ADHD. 

Prior to diagnosis, she had experienced burnout, self-destructive behaviour and had struggled in both education and workplace settings. Now with a better understanding of her own needs and divergence, she is the founder of Parallel Minds. She is dedicated to creating positive change for neurodivergent people in the workplace, and supports businesses with recruitment training, coaching for leaders and line managers, running neurodivergence awareness sessions and more.

During this series, we’ll be discussing the art of building strong, high-performing teams to give your startup the best foundation possible.

3:00 - What was your personal journey towards diagnosis and what made you seek that out?

7:41 - Was there a sense of relief that came with being diagnosed?

11:08 - What led you to leave the workplace and set up Parallel Minds?

13:00 - Key definitions around neurodiversity.

19:08 - Why is it important to talk about and understand neurodiversity in the workplace?

21:56 - Why is there a lack of disclosure between employees and employers?

25:22 - What can companies do to create a safe environment where people feel comfortable to have conversations about their neurodivergence?

28:15 - Startups are very fast-moving and experience a lot of change. Autistic people often struggle with change, so how can you create an environment where everyone can thrive?

31:47 - You can’t be everything to everyone, so at what point do you say ‘this is our company and it might not be for everyone’?

35:33 - What could companies be doing better to tackle common challenges?

46:36 - What coping mechanisms and toolkits do you use to help you?

RESOURCES:

Connect with Parul 

Neurodiversity resource bank 

Neurodiversity in tech report 2023 

Research on the link between ADHD and burnout 

DARE report on adjustments

CIPD neuro-inclusion at work report 2024

Equal tech report 2023 

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