Nova Chat: Neurodivergence in the C-Suite, Sponsored by Mentra
Whether you are Neurodivergent, think you might be, or just want to be a better ally to people who identify as Neurodivergent, please join us for this discussion: Neurodivergence in the C-Suite!
Nova Chief of Staff is delighted to have three social impact advocates and entrepreneurial guests join us in a special 90-minute edition of our next Nova Chat. Our guests will be discussing their personal experiences with Neurodivergence in the C-Suite, touching on topics like neuroinclusion, intersectionality, masking at work, and resources to help navigate the challenges in the workplace that come along with being neurodiverse.
We hope this chat will shine a light on some of the benefits and challenges of Neurodivergence in a workplace setting and provide pathways to supportive resources and community for those who need them.
We are honored to have this Nova Chat be sponsored by Mentra which provides both assistance to neurodivergent job searchers and a community of inclusivity.
Sponsored by Mentra:
Mentra is the brainchild of both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, working synergistically to create the bridge that connects recruiters with neurodivergent candidates. By leveraging the scalability of Artificial Intelligence and a neurodivergent-first design approach, Mentra provides a neurodivergent-friendly application process that will put candidates in front of inclusive recruiters rather than forcing them to navigate through the challenging process of finding a job.
Nova Guest: Eliana Bravos (She/Her) Bio
Eliana is a social impact entrepreneur passionate about neuroinclusion, accessibility, and creating community spaces where people can form deep social ties and feel like they belong. As one of the co-founders of ND Connect, Eliana is building an intersectional mentorship and peer connections platform for neurodivergent adults to connect with others that share lived experiences and grow with community. She also co-founded a non-profit, Viability, where she's led organizational development, community programming, and neurodiversity education initiatives. To date, she’s supported 1000+ leaders in making their cultures and processes more accessible, including at organizations like Interac, IBM, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto. She also brings seven years of experience facilitating non-hierarchical peer programming with neurodivergent young adults. Eliana brings her lived experiences with neurodiversity (ADHD + mental health) when advocating for systems change, and ultimately, hopes to create more spaces where neurodivergent people can live as their authentic selves and thrive. In her personal life, Eliana loves traveling, hiking, art, cooking, and spontaneous adventures that get her dopamine flowing.
Nova Guest: Sydney Elaine Butler (They/Them) Bio
HR Professional | Founder, Speaker, and HR/DEIA Consultant at Accessible Creates | Neurodiversity Coach | DEIB Facilitator | They/Them Pronouns
It is Sydney’s understanding that their professional purpose must be to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be successful regardless of barriers and that they must as a professional remove these barriers. Sydney conducts training and consulting for other companies on how to be more Accessible and Inclusive from a Human approach and how to recruit and retain more diverse individuals through the lens of Intersectionality/Human Resources as well as other areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in an authentic manner at the company they founded called Accessible Creates due to understanding the barriers that exist within the workplace for diverse individuals.
Nova Guest: Jessica McBride (She/Her) Bio
Jessica McBride, Founder of Tech Savvy Assistant, was diagnosed with neurodivergence later in life, a revelation that profoundly impacted her career trajectory and passion for empowering administrative professionals. This late diagnosis illuminated the unique strengths and challenges she had navigated throughout her professional journey, inspiring her to create Tech Savvy Assistant. Through this platform, Jessica is dedicated to educating and supporting administrative professionals, leveraging her own experiences to advocate for inclusivity, understanding, and the effective use of AI in the workplace. Her mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of neurodivergence, can harness their potential and thrive in their careers.