My professional background
Later, I complemented this business-focused experience with the people-oriented role of Chief-of-Staff. I honed my change management and psychology skills by focusing on transforming a disengaged and toxic environment into one that was supportive, empowering and trusting.
These experiences mean that when you work with me, you have a partner who is equipped to get things done. I am comfortable working with team members across all diversity dimensions and at all seniorities, including C-suite. My project management skills are second to none, and I can always find a way to progress. I work by lifting people up, and by uncovering and scaling your organization’s existing strengths. I am skilled at creating a safe and trusting environment, and transform your complex, emotive, ambiguous aspirations into an actionable, measurable plan that everyone engages with.
You can learn more about my career and reinvention as an entrepreneur by listening to my podcast theme, Meet Lisa: my journey from science to inclusive leadership, or taking a look at this curated reading list, Meet Lisa: insights on cognitively inclusive leadership.
I bring a broad, some say eclectic, mix of skills and experience from my career.
I brought my fascination with science, honed by studying and researching the beauty and complexity of biochemistry, molecular biology and immunology, transitioned into the corporate world. With over 20 years of varied experience in a complex, global, political and demanding high-performance culture, I’ve developed a unique perspective.
I first applied my love for making sense of complex situations as a founder in the start-up incubator team that developed an information analytics venture. My specialty was transforming large data sets into actionable insights. I forged strategic alliances with key academic and government influencers globally to build trust by developing best practices in responsible use of these insights.
What inspired me to set up this business?
In 2021, I learnt that my son’s developmental challenges were caused by autism with learning difficulties. Getting the diagnosis was a relief because I could educate myself to understand the causes of his behavior, and to learn how the important people in his life could help him to engage more happily and productively with the world. Consciously implementing small changes in our behavior made a huge difference to him, even enabling him to learn to speak.
As often happens, the universe opened a door. A colleague introduced me to the Enabled employee network which championed inclusion for those with disabilities. It was the perfect platform to raise the profile of neurodivergent employees, and I was astounded by the number of people who connected, and by their positive response.
The emergence of that wonderful community provided the opportunity to test the impact of behaviors inspired by neuro-inclusion, similar to those I’d learned for my son but in a corporate environment. The impact was just as transformative and scaled easily beyond any one individual. The best part was that these behaviors helped not only neurodivergent team members feel more welcome and able to contribute to the collective success, but everyone.
Those experiences led me to launch this business. Inclusion is a skill that can be developed, and neuro-inclusion is a shortcut to a more enabling, engaging working environment for all. I want to build a world where everyone has an equal chance to contribute their unique value and to feel appreciated in return.