Dyslexia is my differentiator: The need for neuroinclusion in our workplace
Neurodiversity can make people and workplaces extraordinary. My own experience with dyslexia, and working with some of the tech industry’s most brilliant minds at Colt, are a testament to what we can achieve when we champion different gifts.
Dyslexia is a powerful differentiator in the way I think and the skills I bring to the table as CEO. I’ve noticed over my career when deliberating with colleagues, board members or employees, I am usually among the first to see the big picture. l can zoom out and envision how entire systems and processes work without getting lost in the details. When I was working in commercial sales, I found this skill very useful; I could problem-solve for my clients by approaching their pain points with this higher-level thinking, which ultimately enabled me to deliver more effective requests for proposal (RFPs).
Dyslexia has given me the gift of being able to think outside the box and adapt. When situations unfold in unexpected ways, as they often do, I can quickly pivot and adopt alternative perspectives. I can look at situations in different ways, and conversations become more expansive when diverse perspectives are considered.
I accept my dyslexia sometimes presents its challenges, like when I send texts from my phone or hastily draft messages while I’m on the train. Sometimes what I write can look like it was authored by a child who’s still learning to spell. I also enjoy reading, but sometimes it is difficult to focus on all the words and it takes me longer to get through a book, email or paper. Aside from these areas, the challenges I face allow me to learn and grow; they help me understand my weaknesses and allow me to focus on building teams of amazing people who help me work better, bridge the gaps with their own strengths, and call out mistakes when I make them.
For all the gifts that my neurodivergence has given me, I fully embrace the challenges – and I invite everyone I work with to do the same, because a diverse and inclusive workforce is one that thrives. Neuroinclusion is a key element of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) which is core to our ESG strategy at Colt. We want to foster an innovative, exceptional and inclusive place to work and by embracing neurodiversity, we are enriching our culture and our competitive advantage. I am proud to lead a company that embraces differences and empowers everyone to be extraordinary.
