The Challenges of Being a Neurodivergent Founder (and How I Navigate Them)
Running a business as a neurodivergent founder is both a challenge and a superpower. My AuDHD shapes the way I work, process information, and interact with others, sometimes in ways that make things harder, but often in ways that give me an edge.
I’ve had to unlearn traditional ideas of productivity and leadership, and instead build a way of working that supports how my brain functions. Here are some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, and how I navigate them.
1. Leadership Expectations vs. My Reality
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is knowing that people have rigid expectations of what a leader should be. How they should speak, how they should present themselves, how they should work.
I don’t fit into that box. I never have. The way I think, the way I process information, the way I solve problems — it’s different.
This is both a challenge and a strength. It’s a challenge when I’m in spaces where people don’t understand or respect neurodivergence. But it’s a strength because my brain sees solutions that others don’t. I often pick up on things that go unnoticed, or approach problems from a completely different angle.
2. Navigating Spaces That Don’t Understand Neurodivergence
For a long time, I masked without even realising it. Before my diagnosis, I had unknowingly trained myself to adapt to different rooms, different people, different situations. And even now, some of that still happens automatically.
But I’ve also learned to hold onto my authenticity. I don’t over-explain myself, and I don’t try to force people to understand me. My quirks, my way of thinking, my approach to leadership — they are my strengths. If someone doesn’t get that, that’s okay. I’m not here to fit into a traditional mold of what a leader should be.
3. Executive Dysfunction & Small Tasks That Feel Impossible
One of the hardest parts of being a neurodivergent entrepreneur is dealing with executive dysfunction. The small, seemingly simple tasks can feel overwhelming, and the more they pile up, the harder they become to start.
What’s helped me:
✅ Breaking tasks down: I use a colour-coded blackboard to prioritise my work so I don’t get lost in an endless to-do list. ✅ Time blocking: I schedule deep work, admin time, and even LinkedIn posting into my calendar so I have dedicated spaces for each task. ✅ Creating the right work environment: I switch up my workspace, use movement to help me focus, and optimise my sensory surroundings. ✅ Adapting when needed: What works one week might not work the next. I stay flexible and tweak my approach as needed.
4. Trusting My Own Productivity Patterns
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that, My productivity isn’t linear.
I go through cycles. Some days, I’m in deep hyperfocus, working 12–13 hours straight. Other days, my brain refuses to function, they’ll be days where I can’t process information, I struggle to start tasks, and I feel mentally drained.
In the beginning, I used to panic during those low-productivity days. I’d convince myself that I had lost my momentum, that I’d never have a good idea again.
But over time, I learned to trust my process.
Instead of forcing myself to be productive when my brain isn’t cooperating, I step away. Because I know the hyperfocus days will come, and when they do, I’ll get more done than I ever planned for.
The key is to work with my brain, not against it.
Advice to My Past Self (and Any Other Neurodivergent Founder)
If I could go back to when I first started my company, I’d tell myself this:
🔹 Trust yourself. You don’t have to work the way everyone else does. Your brain knows what it needs, just listen to it. 🔹 Don’t force productivity. The low-energy days will pass, and when the high-energy days come, you’ll more than make up for it. 🔹 Create systems that work for you. If something isn’t working, change it. Keep experimenting until you find a workflow that makes sense for you. 🔹 Be kind to yourself. You don’t need to fit into anyone else’s expectations of how a leader or entrepreneur should be. The way you work is valid.
Originally posted here: https://medium.com/@tarrah_85368/the-challenges-of-being-a-neurodivergent-founder-and-how-i-navigate-them-428b35e3f81b