The Workplace Is the Disability: Rethinking Neurodiversity at Work, with Shaun Arora

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Shea Belsky about neurodiversity in the workplace.Shea Belsky is an autistic self-advocate. He is a Tech Lead II at HubSpot, and the former Chief Technology Officer of Mentra. Shea brings several unique perspectives to the discussion on neurodiversity: He is the manager of neurodivergent & neurotypical employees, has reported to neurodivergent & neurotypical managers, and has advocated for the needs and wellbeing of all who seek to be heard and understood in the workplace. Shea has championed neurodiversity for organizations like Novartis, the College Autism Summit, Northeastern University, in addition to being featured in Forbes and the New York Post. He also hosts his own podcast, Autistic Techie, empowering neurodivergent self advocates to feel more confident in the workplace and ready to take on the day to day challenges of their job. He's excited to share his perspectives on neurodiversity and how to be a meaningful ally and advocate!https://www.amazon.com/Brainstorm-Guide-Neurodivergent-Talent-Future/dp/1394388772https://autistic-techie.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheabelsky/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Doug Ladden about why you can't achieve sustainable leadership success without help from others along the way.Doug is a co-founder and the CEO of Deliveright Logistics, Inc., a technology, logistics, and final-mile delivery provider to retailers of big and bulky goods such as furniture and exercise equipment. Deliveright's patented Grasshopper technology platform offers a complete solution to delivery companies specializing in big and bulky products. Deliveright's nationwide network also powers the U.S. logistics supply chain of major eCommerce and brick-and-mortar retailers, from the manufacturer's dock to the customer's home. Deliveright simplifies complex logistics for hard-to-handle goods and provides best-in-class service to its customers. Before Deliveright, Doug was a co-founder and Senior Partner of DLJ Investment Partners, a private equity manager of middle-market mezzanine funds with $3.5 billion in AUM. As an active investor, he sat on multiple boards of directors for companies, including TransCore, a leader in electronic toll collection systems and owner of DAT digital load boards at truckstops. He currently serves on the Investment Committees of Quilvest Capital Strategies' private debt funds. Doug has expertise in logistics, related technology applications, and private debt investing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Shaun Arora about what companies get wrong about neurodiversity.Shaun Arora seeks opportunities in the margins. As a coach, he propels leaders and their teams to thrive. Emerging leaders, founders, and technologists seek out Shaun’s lens to explore non-linear pathways for reducing daily friction as they grow their companies and their teams. While working within organizations as a coach, advisor, and COO, he has built the infrastructure and workflows that transform a company’s neurodiversity into a strength and asset.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jason Silver about his book, Your Grass is Greener, Helping People Do and Feel Better at Work (without Changing Jobs).Jason Silver is a multi-time founder of kids and a multi-time founder of companies. He gets his biggest thrill helping modern employees and their teams unlock a better way to work—surfing is a close second. He was an early employee at Airbnb and helped build an AI company from the ground up back before AI was the cool thing to do. Today, he advises a startup portfolio valued in the billions on how to build great, lasting companies that people actually enjoy working for. He’s a sought-after public speaker, instructor, and advisor on how to transform work into one of the biggest drivers of positivity in your life. When he’s not busy helping people solve their hardest workplace challenges, Jason’s kids are busy reminding him just how much of a work in progress he still is too.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Aiko Bethea about why we need more learners instead of knowers in the workplace.Aiko Bethea is a leader, builder and connector who has successfully navigated leadership roles in government, philanthropic, nonprofit and private sectors. The founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, Aiko guides leaders and organizations, including Fortune 100 companies and global nonprofit organizations, to remove barriers to inclusion. She has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top seven anti-racism educators for companies and is a senior equity consultant for the Brené Brown Education and Research Group. Find her new book here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Eran Nachshon about leading through integration and how to unify global teams without slowing down.Eran Nachshon is the Chief Operating Officer at Rapyd, the global leading financial technology company. He is currently leading the operational transformation of the company following the acquisition of PayU Global Payments Organization (GPO). This move has fortified Rapyd’s global network, specifically cementing its footprint across Latin America and Africa while connecting these high-growth markets to the rest of the world. This is not a standard expansion story. Eran is managing a complex integration where established regional powerhouses must merge into a single global infrastructure. He understands the specific leadership mechanics required to break down silos, maintain speed during complex changes, and build a unified "One Rapyd" culture that bridges diverse high-growth markets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Dustin Snyder about his book, Sink or SWIM: Stop Managing Employee Behavior. Design Systems That Drive It.Dustin Snyder stewards the trajectories of companies navigating critical inflection points. As founder and Chief Advisor of Wayforward, he personally developed Strategic Workforce Insight Mapping - the diagnostic methodology that defines the standard for organizational behavior consulting - and wrote the book on it. Sink or SWIM: Stop Managing Employee Behavior. Design Systems That Drive It is the definitive framework for diagnosing and solving workforce dysfunction at its root, deployed across organizations nationwide - from family businesses navigating generational transition to Fortune 500 multinationals launching new divisions. Dustin's client portfolio spans mid-market companies in manufacturing, healthcare, professional services, agriculture, distribution, and hospitality, alongside divisions of large enterprises in aerospace & defense, SaaS, and advanced manufacturing. He works extensively with executive teams charged with managing challenging, multi-stakeholder operations, to build structures that can sustain aggressive growth while preserving founding values. He serves on the AWS Workforce Development Advisory Committee and the Harvard Business School Research Advisory Group. His practice bridges psychology and executive business leadership. Prior to founding Wayforward, Dustin served as President of Aurubis AG's 600-employee US manufacturing division, leading it to profitability through an organizational transformation. Earlier HR leadership roles spanned tier 1 automotive supplier Oetiker Group, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He also founded an axe-throwing venue chain that was acquired in 2019. Dustin holds an MBA from SUNY Buffalo, an MA in Industrial Labor Relations from Cornell, and a BA in Organizational Psychology from Canisius University. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and Myers-Briggs certified practitioner. His next book, Learn to SWIM, a practical field manual for HR executives, is currently in development. Outside work, Dustin practices muay thai, competes in strongman and shooting sports, and is an avid mountaineer working toward the goal of summiting the highest peak on all seven continents. Wayforward specializes in organizational diagnostics and change management for companies at critical growth or transition points. Its Strategic Workforce Insight Mapping (SWIM) process provides leadership teams with the most actionable insights and implementation roadmaps that consistently generate workforce buy-in on change.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Adrian Koehler about how to push through the fears of being a leader.Adrian Koehler, the no-nonsense leadership engagement expert and Senior Partner at Take New Ground, is the go-to guide for fast-moving leaders. Dedicated to breaking through barriers, he spends his time helping entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders cut through the noise and create transformative outcomes. Adrian coaches executives globally, encouraging authentic leadership and fostering courage for meaningful change. His passion for human performance has led him to diverse contexts, from Fortune 500 organizations to startups and healthcare, making Adrian a catalyst for real talk and impactful results. Adrian Koehler extends his influence beyond the boardroom as the co-host of "Raising The Bar" and "The Naked Leadership Podcast." Drawing on his background in philanthropy, ministry, activism, and medicine, he thrives in difficult conversations and engaging complexity, challenging listeners to live authentically. Currently residing in the heart of Hollywood, with his children Scout and Charli, Adrian is on a mission to inspire authentic leadership, urging individuals to raise the bar in both personal and professional realms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Amy Spurling about employee well-being and engagement.Amy Spurling is the Founder and CEO of Compt, HR software that revolutionizes employee benefits through personalized, inclusive, and tax-compliant Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs). With a distinguished background as a three-time CFO and two-time COO, Amy is dedicated to fostering symbiotic growth between companies and their employees. Under her leadership, Compt has become a pivotal tool in enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity with LSAs. With over two decades of experience in venture-backed startups, Amy has driven over $200M in financing and successfully led two acquisitions to close. Her expertise and innovative approach have made her a leading voice in the HR and tech industries. Amy holds an MBA from Simmons School of Management and a BA from the University of Rochester.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jake Mealy about What's fundamentally broken about employee surveys and what to do about it.Jake Mealy is a data analyst and storyteller whose experience spans biotech, sales, marketing, HR tech and people analytics. He holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and previously led data teams at Indeed and Analytic Partners. As Welliba's Chief Data Solutions Officer he pioneers AI-powered people analytics solutions. The insights delivered by this technology reveal the influence that employee experience has on hard business performance metrics like revenue and shareholder return.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.