Tania Martin: EY UKI’s Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence Leader

Neurodiversity with Theo Smith

Tania Martin, EY UKI’s Neuro-Diverse Centre of Excellence Leader, shares her journey and the work being done to promote neurodiversity and neuroinclusion in the workplace.

The conversation covers the shift from autism at work to neuro-inclusive programs, the evolution of neurodiverse centers of excellence, and the importance of breaking down barriers to entry and supporting hidden neurodivergent individuals.

Tania also discusses the changes made to the recruitment process, the impact of her ADHD diagnosis on her personal and professional life, and the need for self-acceptance and self-kindness.

The conversation concludes with insights into the recruitment process and opportunities for improvement.

Takeaways

• The shift from autism programs to neuro-inclusive programs is essential to support a broader range of neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.
• Breaking down barriers to entry and supporting hidden neurodivergent individuals are crucial aspects of neurodiversity initiatives.
• The recruitment process should be adapted to be more inclusive and accessible, with a focus on building psychological safety for neurodivergent candidates.
• Self-acceptance and self-kindness are important for individuals with neurodivergent conditions, and organisations should create an environment that supports and values neurodiversity. The way content is presented and the partners chosen can greatly impact the success of neurodiversity recruitment efforts.
• Sensitivity and representation are crucial to avoid marginalisation and stigmatisation.
• Learning from D&I leaders and their experiences can provide valuable insights for neuroinclusive recruitment.
• Consistency and budget investment are necessary to achieve long-term success in neurodiversity initiatives.
• Educating others and promoting widespread understanding of neurodiversity can lead to a greater impact.
• Starting small, testing, and piloting initiatives can be an effective approach to implementing neurodiversity recruitment strategies.
• Neuro-inclusion is not only important for business performance but also for our social responsibility to create a better future for all.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:05 Shifting from Autism Programs to Neuro-Inclusive Programs

03:30 Positive Shift in Neurodiversity Approach

04:27 Evolution of Neurodiverse Centers of Excellence

05:25 Breaking Down Barriers to Entry and Hidden Neurodivergent Individuals

06:24 Changing the Recruitment Process

07:20 Investment in Talent Acquisition and Neurodiversity

09:01 Anti-Recruitment Process and Innovation

10:56 Recognition and External Validation

11:54 Personal Journey and Understanding of ADHD

12:39 Challenges and Opportunities in Career

17:05 Impact of Diagnosis on Self-Acceptance and Self-Kindness

20:58 Journey to Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence

32:07 Recruitment Process and Building Psychological Safety

48:19 Learnings and Opportunities for Improvement

51:57 The Importance of Content Presentation

52:27 The Impact of Partner Selection

53:08 Sensitivity and Representation

54:09 Learning from D&I Leaders

55:06 Consistency and Budget Investment

56:07 Educating Others for Greater Impact

57:00 Advice for Starting the Journey

59:36 The Social Responsibility of Neuro-Inclusion Follow Tania here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniafmartin/

Learn more about EY NCOE here:

https://www.ey.com/en_uk/news/2021/07/ey-launches-first-neuro-diverse-centre-of-excellence-in-the-uk-to-boost-client-innovation

This episode is supercharged by Dynamis Group

https://dynamisgroup.com/

Love the intro music... it's from a past guest High Contrast: Music is Everything