Authentic Living

Roxanne provides an empowering and supportive space for everyone to listen and engage in thought provoking conversations about everyday life with real people who have a passion for living life to the fullest.

Understanding neurodiversity in the corporate world with Kristen Light

E285 • Apr 5, 2024 • 33 mins

Roxanne Derhodge engages with Kristen Light in a thought-provoking discussion about neurodiversity's role and implications in the corporate world. Kristen candidly shares her personal neurodivergence journey, including the concept of 'masking'. The conversation delves into the stigma surrounding therapy and mental health, authenticity struggles, and societal expectations. Emphasizing the power of diversity in problem-solving, they underscore mental health as a business strategy. They also offer guidance for leaders to aid neurodiversity in the workplace and discuss Kristen's neuro inclusion program. The episode wraps up with a glimpse into Roxanne's new book, "ROR: Return on Relationships".

Key Points

Kristen Light, a senior engagement strategist and award-winning speaker, shares her journey with neurodiversity, highlighting the importance of understanding and embracing the natural variations in our brains.
Creating a psychologically safe and inclusive work environment requires leaders to let go of the idea that there's only one correct way to be professional and to ask their team members regularly how they can best support them.
Kristen emphasizes that addressing mental health and neurodiversity should be a central business strategy, not a side project, and that flexibility and trust within the workplace can lead to better support for neurodivergent individuals.

Senior engagement strategist, vintage dancer and award-winning speaker, Kristin Light has split her eclectic career between the boardroom and the ballroom. As a vivacious showgirl and co-founder of multiple successful companies, she is perhaps the last person you'd expect to be dealing with both mental and cognitive disabilities. But following a brush with suicide that left her confined to a psychiatric ward (twice!), she now speaks out to demystify mental health and neurodivergence at both work and play.

connect with Award-Winning Speaker • Published Author [email protected] @kristinlight.ca

Speakers

Roxanne Derhodge

Host • 38%

Kristen Light

Guest • 60%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction to Authentic Living and guest Kristen Light
5:11	Neurodiversity: Understanding and implications in the corporate world
9:15	Kristen's personal journey with neurodivergence and the concept of 'masking'
14:17	Confronting the stigma around therapy and mental health
17:33	Struggles with authenticity and societal expectations
20:29	The power of diversity in problem-solving and mental health as a business strategy
26:35	Advice for leaders on supporting neurodiversity in the workplace
30:24	Kristen's neuro inclusion program and the importance of inclusion in every role
32:05	Roxanne's new book, "ROR: Return on Relationships" and closing remarks
32:40	End of the episode and contact information for Roxanne

Transcript

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