The Story of Dara Douglas - Stories, Humanity, and the Courage to Learn
Release Date: 10/21/2025
The Architecture of Learning | Personal Styles and Leadership Strategy
Radio Future Skills Academy
We are often taught what to learn, but rarely how we learn. Understanding your cognitive learning style is the ultimate career cheat code. In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore the mechanics of individual learning. We dive into why self-awareness in learning isn't just a personal growth tool, but a fundamental business asset. If you don't know how you learn, you can’t accurately define where you struggle—and that makes growth nearly impossible. Inside the Episode: Identifying Your Cognitive Signature: A deep dive into different learning modalities (visual, kinesthetic, social, or...
info_outline
The Multitasking Myth | Context Switching and Cognitive Load
Radio Future Skills Academy
We’ve been told that being able to "do it all at once" is a badge of honor. The truth? Your brain is physically incapable of it. In this episode of Brains at Work, we dismantle the urban legend of multitasking. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, the cognitive mechanics are the same: your brain cannot perform two high-level cognitive tasks simultaneously. What we call multitasking is actually Multi-threading—and it’s costing you more than you think. Inside the Episode: The Biology of Focus: Why the prefrontal cortex can only handle one complex stream of information at a...
info_outline
The Multitasking Myth | Context Switching and Cognitive Load
Radio Future Skills Academy
We’ve been told that being able to "do it all at once" is a badge of honor. The truth? Your brain is physically incapable of it. In this episode of Brains at Work, we dismantle the urban legend of multitasking. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, the cognitive mechanics are the same: your brain cannot perform two high-level cognitive tasks simultaneously. What we call multitasking is actually Multi-threading—and it’s costing you more than you think. Inside the Episode: The Biology of Focus: Why the prefrontal cortex can only handle one complex stream of information at a...
info_outline
The Disclosure | Leading Through High-Stakes Conversations
Radio Future Skills Academy
When a team member says, "I’ve just received a neurodivergent diagnosis," they aren't just sharing medical news. They are extending a hand of trust. In this episode of Brains at Work, we tackle one of the most delicate and vital moments for any modern leader: how to respond when a colleague or direct report discloses their neurodivergence. Whether you are a manager or the CEO of an entire organization, your reaction sets the tone for your company’s culture and determines the future performance of that individual. Inside the Episode: The First 60 Seconds: Why your immediate reaction...
info_outline
The Unspoken Contract | Alignment, Expectations, and Invisible Rules
Radio Future Skills Academy
When we sign a job offer, we agree to a salary and a set of tasks. But what about the "hidden" expectations we never actually discussed? In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore the concept of the Psychological Contract—the unspoken partnership between an employer and an employee. Just like in a personal relationship, discovering you aren't "on the same page" usually happens too late. For neurodivergent professionals, these invisible rules can be the difference between thriving and failing. Inside the Episode: The "Defined" vs. The "Implicit": Breaking down the gap between the formal...
info_outline
How AI is reshaping the world of consultancy
Radio Future Skills Academy
Undercurrents of Change is a podcast about the signals beneath the surface of change. In each episode, Marc Bolick and Arne van Oosterom explore the deeper shifts shaping business, leadership, and innovation, beyond the headlines and the hype. Through conversations with entrepreneurs, builders, and thinkers, we look at what people are actually experiencing as they navigate uncertainty and transformation in their work. In this first episode, we speak with Miikka Leinonen, entrepreneur, business owner, and co-author of AI Pathway. Mika works closely with leadership teams trying to turn AI...
info_outline
The Cost of Fitting In | Professionalism, Masking, and Burnout
Radio Future Skills Academy
Every professional wears a mask, but for some, the weight of that mask is unsustainable. In this episode of Brains at Work, we explore Masking—the conscious or subconscious suppression of natural responses to conform to social expectations. We start with a universal truth: in the business world, everyone masks to some degree. However, for neurodivergent individuals, this isn't just "office etiquette"—it is a constant, high-stakes performance that leads to a specific type of exhaustion. Inside the Episode: The Universal Mask: Why the modern workplace demands a "standardized" persona...
info_outline
Brains@Work - Now vs. Not Now | The Neurobiology of Time Blindness
Radio Future Skills Academy
Time management is often treated as a skill to be learned, but for many, it is a sensory experience that differs at a neurological level. In this episode of Brains at Work, we break down the concept of "Time Blindness" and the Now vs. Not Now binary that defines the ADHD and neurodivergent experience. If you’ve ever wondered why some professionals thrive under last-minute pressure while struggling with long-term project milestones, this conversation is for you. Inside the Episode: The Binary Horizon: Why the neurodivergent brain often categorizes tasks into only two buckets: Now...
info_outline
Brains@Work - Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up | The Mechanics of Decision Making
Radio Future Skills Academy
How does your brain build a map of the world before you make a choice? In this episode of Brains at Work, we dive into the fundamental cognitive divide in the workplace: the difference between Top-Down and Bottom-Up information processing. While these terms are often used in management, they have a profound neurological basis that dictates how neurotypical and neurodivergent professionals navigate data, projects, and strategy. Inside the Episode: The "Big Picture" vs. The "Foundational Detail": Understanding why some brains start with a mental framework (Top-Down) while others build reality...
info_outline
Brains@Work - A brand new series on Neurodiversity and work -
Radio Future Skills Academy
In this inaugural episode of Brains at Work, I delve into the profound relationship between human cognition and our work environments. As a designer and researcher with a focus on psychology and neuroscience, I explore how understanding the intricacies of the brain can revolutionize the way we approach work. We uncover the significance of decision-making processes, recognize inherent biases, and highlight the importance of neurodiversity in the workplace. Throughout our discussion, I emphasize the need for inclusivity and emotional safety in professional settings. It's essential to recognize...
info_outlineIn this episode of Creative Leaders Unplugged, Morgan Duta and Arne van Oosterom speak with Dara Douglas, who leads the Co-Design Lab at PwC in the UK. Dara describes her work as a kind of corporate therapy, helping senior leaders align, make decisions, and connect beyond their roles. Listening to her, it’s clear this comes from somewhere deeper: growing up as one of nine siblings, learning early how to mediate, listen, and bring people together.
What stands out most is her view on stories. Dara reminds us that stories are not just how we communicate, they’re how we connect, learn, and reframe the world around us. Science shows that when we listen to stories, our brains sync with the storyteller’s; we literally align. It’s what makes empathy possible. In a time when technology is everywhere, she believes real lived experiences and authentic stories are what separate us from machines.
We also spoke about learning, creativity, and the importance of making the process enjoyable. Dara told us how she’s learning piano with her father—not for perfection, but for the joy of learning together. It’s a reminder that growth happens when we slow down, make space for curiosity, and find meaning in the process, not just the outcome.
Finally, we explored bravery in conversation, especially in today’s polarized world. Dara shared her approach to diversity and inclusion: be curious, be forgiving, be brave. These simple principles open the door to understanding perspectives that challenge our own, and they’re just as vital in design, leadership, and everyday life.
If there’s one thread through all of this, it’s that creativity and empathy begin with stories, our own and those of others. As Dara puts it, “We can’t always change what happened, but we can change the story we tell about it.”