Hi, Anna. And absolutely delighted to be here.So thank you very much, for inviting me, and particularly, for allowing me to talk, and share some thoughts on on this specific, topic, embracing the potential of the dynamism of neurodiversity and women, as a force for good and for change, and for the for the future, basically.

This is a community, that is very close to my heart. It is alive and well in my house. I have a daughter who is neurodiverse. She is, autistic. And although her kind of symptoms, if you like, are relatively mild, She is also, dyslexic. And because of this, many of her everyday experiences can be quite a challenge. So a clock ticking for her can be booming loudly. Things and experiences, particularly around social situations that I don't even, notice are hugely intensified for her. But every day, she gets up. She tries to make each day her own masterpiece, despite living in a world that actually wasn't really designed for for people like her. So it's really with her in mind, that I would like to share some perspectives with you and maybe invite you to be a part of the journey of change, especially in in the world of work. Because the thing about neurodiversity is that, it's about all of us. It includes everybody, who's participating in this conference.

Our brains are basically as diverse as our personalities, and then therefore they cause us to process information, deal with life very differently. So neurodiversity really encompasses the whole range of variations of human cognitive processing. Within that range, we talk about two common profiles, neurotypical and neurodiverse. And I guess the neurotypicals amongst us, we display cognitive profiles that are more measured across a variety of of traits. So the gaps between our highs and lows, if you like, are not hugely different. Whereas those people who are not identified as being neurodivergent, they they have what might be described as a much more spiky profile. So the difference between their highs and lows, is is much greater. So it it on a line graph, for example, it might appear like mountains and ravines.

And that that includes people with ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia. And those similar in broad profile type, each individual's profile is personal to them. So when you've met one person who's neurodiverse, you have just literally met that one person. You've not, in effect, met met the whole community. And, obviously, the impact of a neurodiverse profile can vary hugely. For some, it's extreme. And in many instances, there there are huge struggles that this population encounter navigating the world. For some, though, in the neurodiverse community, there are spikes, if you like, of real strengths. There are things that they can do exceptionally well, which does enable them to better cope and and which does enable them to better cope and and, thrive.

And current estimates would say that, the neurodiverse population makes up about 20% of all of us. So in real terms, it's a of the people who are on this on this conference. And the number seems to be getting greater with, every every generation. And the thing is, there's an ongoing debate really as to to how neurodiversity should be seen, whether it is should be considered as a disability or or celebrated as a as a difference. When you think about it at a human level, there is nothing innately disabling about the differences in ways that human beings cognitively process. For many who are neurodiverse, it's often only when they're encountering the world that's been built for what has been historically the cognitive majority, in other words, the neurotypicals, that it becomes a disabling, experience. So in in essence, they they are different, but they are definitely not, less. I think the challenge comes, arguably a double challenge, for women who are neurodiverse.

Across the globe to a greater or lesser extent, women are often, often swimming against the tide to succeed and to have their voices heard. And for many women who are neurodiverse, there is often an increased level of challenge presented to them as they they navigate, the world. And sometimes despite the stigma that can come with it, being diagnosed as neurodiverse, whether or not that is a formal or an informal diagnosis, it can actually be quite liberating because it helps a person understand their own cognitive profile. It can also help them reposition who they are, and the value that they bring. And it can aid other people around them. Typically the the neurotypical, population to better understand them. When you add in, the, gender mix here, you can get to a place where, you you you arrive with a group of people who bring a different perspective and a very different, voice.

And that voice is going to become increasingly increasingly crucial. Because if you think about where we are today, especially, in the context of the impact and infusion of generative AI and other emerging technologies, we need a different way of thinking. We need a different perspective. We need a different way of looking at life, and and its problems. And so the more that we can create a community that is holistically neurodiverse, the more we can get to a place where we can innovate and we can make the kind of progress that we need to in order to survive and thrive, as a society and keep pace with everything, that is that is around us.

So, oh, sorry. My slides are not moving. Just one second. There we go. So I think the the female perspective here is particularly important, and specifically in the world of technology. Combining the power of neurodiversity with a gender perspective means that there's an amplified voice and a differentiated voice into all of the thinking and the activities and the shaping of the future in in the space of technology. And this difference is is increasingly, as I say, what what we need. This quote here, just for those of you who might be interested and have, neurodiverse, children, This is from a book that's written by an autistic author, and it really beautifully covers all the pain, the hope, the frustration, the joy of being a neurodivergent child. And rather beautifully, the author says she will write about neurodivergence for as long as people don't truly understand the beauty of the word.

Because I think when we consider the problems of today and the challenges that we're we're facing, they won't be solved by the thinking of yesterday. And so embracing that divergent thinking style, those diverse perspectives, it requires that all of us think and engage differently and that we proactively, and intentionally seek to foster a neuroinclusive world and especially, a neuroinclusive, working world. Because as this book and the quote, illustrates, when everybody is included, everybody wins. And in fact, a study that we did within found that teams with members who were neurodiverse were 30% more productive overall, and their engagement and morale scores were also significantly, higher. But despite knowing all of the definite, the benefits that this community of women face still significant challenges. They're often underemployed with unclear pathways to skills development, and they have a a a lack of support to enter and then thrive in the world of work.

So I guess I have two calls to action here, really. My one, is to, those of us who are neurotypical. I challenge you, along with me, to really start to look at the world differently, to flip the narrative so that instead of seeing challenges, we see opportunities and we collectively aim to give this largely unheard population an amplified voice. And that really means trying hard to walk in their shoes, to understand the strengths and the joys that they bring, and to ensure that the systems and the working world, around them, appreciate that and do effectively whatever we can to ensure that the full potential of the strengths that come along with being neurodiverse and a woman are really pushed out into the world, of of technology.

For those of you who are, neurodiverse, I would encourage you, and invite you to be unapologetically who you are, and know that you are inspiring others and be as fearless and be as brave as you can. And I would add that this isn't just about neuro inclusion. It's it is also about, what I would call neuro, realism. There are neurodiverse folk, as I'm sure many of you will know, for whom life is profoundly challenging. After all, you know, nature can be very beautiful, but it it is not always kind. But if you can and your neurodiversity gives you strengths to lean into, champion those unique perspectives, and champion, those those strengths. Because, ultimately, whether you are neurodiverse or whether, you are neurotypical, we as women in technology need to be both the the travelers on this journey as well as the mapmakers.

We have to shape the future. We have to change the culture, and we have to, do it for for all of us. And we really have to believe, and, shine believe in and and shine that that light, to be that light that guides, the voice that speaks, the heart that hears. And I would add that please don't think, that whatever it is that you can do, whatever instance or opportunity you have, that your actions will be too small to make a difference. I think there's rarely been any change that hasn't started with a small group of people doing small things. It is true that there is double the challenge here. There is the neurodiverse challenge. There is the gender challenge. But that also means we have double the transformation opportunity. So whilst individually, we might amount to being just one drop of water, Together, we we really are, an ocean.

So I hope that, I have instilled, a little bit of insight, but a bit more motivation to explore this journey, to participate in it, whether you are neurodiverse or not, and to really start to maximize the potential that the both of these characteristics can bring so that we're optimizing the talent of individuals, but we're doing it in a way that makes the world a better working one.

Thank you, for listening.