Supporting Neurodivergent Employees: A Guide for Engineering Leaders

“People don’t always take it well, unfortunately. But managers, a lot of the time, don’t do it out of malice.”
Neurodivergent employees face unique challenges in tech—struggling with information overload, unspoken workplace norms, and the pressure to mask their differences. Yet, many organizations fail to provide the support they need to thrive.
In this episode, Lena sits down with Adya, an experienced professional in tech, to explore the lived realities of being neurodivergent at work. From navigating ableism in performance reviews to advocating for accommodations, Adya shares deeply personal stories and actionable insights for leaders who want to build truly inclusive teams.
They discuss:

• How neurodivergency impacts communication, collaboration, and career progression
• The subtle but pervasive ways ableism shows up in tech
• Why many neurodivergent employees hesitate to ask for accommodations—and how leaders can change that
• Practical strategies for making workplaces genuinely supportive
• What managers and peers need to unlearn about “normal” work behaviors

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to better understand neurodivergency, create more inclusive teams, and move beyond performative allyship to real change.

⁠⁠⁠Full episode transcript link⁠⁠⁠.

Resources:

• LinkedIn post about communication feedback for autistic people

• Manual of Me: Personal user guides for better working relationships

• Book recommendation on Amazon

• Goblin Tools: Productivity tools for neurodivergent people

• Flown: Focused work environments

• Neurodiversity Employment Survey: Adjustments Interim Report

• Law Society: Reasonable Adjustments in Organizations - Best Practice for Disability Inclusion

• HR Magazine: Neurodiversity and PIPs - Dropping the Mask

• Harvard Business Review: Stop Asking Neurodivergent People to Change the Way They Communicate

Why this podcast exists
I make this podcast as a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most leaders only dare to talk about behind closed doors—after all, we're supposed to be “in charge” and “on top of things" at all times. But from my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that more leaders than you may think are struggling with topics like self-confidence, imposter syndrome, unclear expectations, or difficult bosses. This podcast is w