This Academic Crystallographer Challenged Science Education: The Neurodivergent Entrepreneurship Journey of Dr. Lorien Parker who reinvented her STEM career and launched her education start-up

🎙️ Crystallographer Turned Neurodivergent Educator: How Dr. Lorien Parker Built SciencePlay Kids from Scratch

After leaving academia and navigating life as an autistic ADHDer, Dr. Lorien Parker created SciencePlay Kids—an inclusive science education business making classrooms more accessible and joyful for all brains

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How academia can be your launchpad and leaving it is not quiting or failing.
• How to start with one business model and tweak it until it works
• Why you dont need business experience to start a business and how to start with a small step
• How to structure your growth and directions in aligment with your family value
• How can neurodivergent professionals can create roles that suits their brain and how to create systems and leverage people to amplify your strength and bridge your weaknesses

🧠 About the Guest:

Dr. Lorien Parker, known to thousands of kids and educators as "Dr. Loz", is a crystallographer, science communicator, mother, and founder of SciencePlay Kids. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult, Lorien combined her scientific expertise and lived experience to revolutionize how science is taught in Australian schools—especially for neurodivergent learners. She’s also one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence and a fierce advocate for inclusive education and feminist leadership in STEM.

📌 Episode Highlights:

00:00 Meet Dr. Loz: From science lab to kids’ lab

04:15 What is SciencePlay Kids and how it all began

06:45 From academic underdog to PhD crystallographer

11:00 Leaving academia post-babies—and why it’s harder for women

16:00 First pilot, first customers, and messy beginnings

20:00 Embracing ADHD and autism in business (and parenting)

26:00 The power of multisensory science education

30:00 Why franchising wasn’t the path—and what came instead

35:00 Pivoting to corporate-backed STEM programs for schools

42:00 Building a team, dealing with doubt, and redefining success

49:00 From “that first flop” to national education recognition

55:00 Visibility, social media, and being loud in a world that isn’t built for you

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

SciencePlay Kids – Official Website

Dr. Lorien Parker on LinkedIn

SciencePlay Kids on Facebook

🤔 Reflection Time:

• Do you feel like school—or your workplace—wasn’t designed for how your brain works?
• What role does self-knowledge play in shaping the career you want?
• What would it look like to stop fixing your “weaknesses” and instead build a team that amplifies your strengths?

Want to craft a career story that opens doors?

I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you.

📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn 

 

⭐️ Help More People Reinvent Their Careers

If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• ✅ Leave a quick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🙏
• ♻️ Share it with a f