“Executive function is like the CEO of your brain. It’s how you plan, prioritize, manage time, reach goals. That is what ties together many different neurodiverse conditions.”
– Chris Wang
What do remarkable individuals like Simone Biles, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson share in common? They, along with numerous other brilliant and successful people, have been reportedly diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Even today, ADHD often carries a negative stigma and bias, particularly in the workplace. From experience as an executive search firm specializing in Edtech, we often see that professionals with ADHD face difficulties during the hiring processes and are frequently passed over for promotions, despite significant talents and potential. So this week on the podcast, Debbie sits down with Chris Wang, co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, an ADHD coaching platform for adults.
Three main themes emerged:
- Dialing back on ADHD Misconceptions: We discuss what ADHD is, and how it manifests in the workplace. Chris explains that ADHD is not a deficit of attention, but rather the inability to control attention. They emphasize the importance of understanding ADHD as a disability that is contextual to the environment, rather than a fixed limitation.
- ADHD Challenges in the Workplace: We talk about the challenges individuals with ADHD face in the workplace, including executive functioning difficulties and the stigma associated with the condition. Chris highlights the importance of providing accommodations and support to help individuals with ADHD thrive.
- Late Diagnosis and Cultural Factors: Chris shares her personal experience of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and the reasons behind the late diagnosis. They discuss the different treatment modalities available, including medication, therapy, and ADHD coaching, emphasizing the importance of finding a personalized approach.
Give this conversation a listen, and don’t hesitate to Contact Us if you have any
questions, comments, or feedback.
About our guest, Chris Wang:
Chris Wang is co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, which is an ADHD coaching platform for Adults – and which, a few months ago, raised their seed funding round.
Chris was previously a design thinking consultant with The Berkeley Innovation Group, a venture fellow with Berkeley SkyDeck, a consultant with Value for Good, and she worked for several years at Bain & Company. She has an MBA (Haas school of business), as well as a Masters in Public Health; she’s a YC alumn, and noted in the Forbes 30 under 30 list. She has also been diagnosed – only quite recently – as having ADHD.
Helpful Links:
Free ADHD in the Workplace Guide Chris shared
Follow Chris on LinkedIn
