Neurodiversity and the Future of Work with Dr. Maureen Dunne

Maureen Dunne is a cognitive scientist, neurodiversity expert, global keynote speaker, board director, and business leader with over two decades of experience helping organizations build thriving cultures. She has served as a Senior Advisor to some of the world's top corporate brands, Fortune 500 companies, universities, venture capital funds, and government officials, including the LEGO Foundation, Cornell University, and Members of Congress. She also recently co-created the executive education program for business leaders on "Future-Ready Leadership" at the Harvard Kennedy School.

 

A member of the neurodiversity community, she is a frequent media commentator and contributor on neurodiversity and the future of work. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Entrepreneur, MIT Sloan Management Review, Chicago Tribune, DiversityQ, Salon, New York Times, People Management magazine, USA Today, Inside Higher Ed, Unleash and Newsweek. A keynote speaker at Stanford University and the National Science Foundation, she was also a featured speaker at The Atlantic Festival where Neurodiversity was included as part of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion theme for the first time in history.

 

A successful entrepreneur and business leader, Maureen is CEO of Nodi.ai and a member of the Young Presidents' Organization, an invite-only organization for the world's top chief executives. At LEGO, Maureen helped launch a Social Impact Accelerator Fund to support innovation and entrepreneurship in neurodiversity. The first community college graduate to be named a Rhodes Scholar, she is also an elected official helping to build the talent pipeline with community colleges, representing over 12 million students at the national level. She received a joint BA/MA from the University of Chicago, MSc from the London School of Economics, and doctorate from the University of Oxford. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children. 

Website: www.maureendunne.org

 

Book synopsis: 1 in 5 people are estimated to be neurodivergent (have a mind that works differently), but we are often wasting their potential. I’m very excited to be representing Dr. Dunne’s forthcoming book, THE NEURODIVERSITY EDGE: The Essential Guide to Embracing Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Differences for Any Organization (Wiley, March 12, 2024). Dr. Dunne is absolutely brilliant and can discuss what it means to be neurodivergent, how society often overlooks unique skills neurodivergent individuals can bring to the table (nonlinear thinking, advanced creativity, keen observation skills, and many more) and how we can do better to change the stigma outside the neurotypical script for working and living. 

 

Dr. Dunne will discuss:

 

• Why are neurodivergent employees the most untapped talent opportunity for organizations to compete?
• What exactly does neurodiversity mean and what are the nuances?
• How should we rethink “culture fit” as it relates to considering neurodivergent employees?
• What are some of the challenges neurodivergent employees face at work?
• What benefits do neurodivergent employees bring to the workplace?
• How have your own experiences as a neurodivergent employer, entrepreneur, board member, and CEO informed your decision to write this book?
• What is the “double empathy problem” and how do we bridge the gap between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals?
• What is the largest misconception about neurodivergent employees?
• What is the best way organizations can avoid the pitfalls of the “check the box” mindset to neurodiversity and make meaningful change?
• How do neurodivergent workers compliment the growing AI focused workplace?
• Which companies are some of the best role models for tapping neurodiverse talent and what have they done to make an impact?
• What is something recruiters or HR personnel could start working on today to immediately improve workplace conditions for neurodivergent candidates and employees?

 

Social links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-n-dunne-ph-d-a2609a45