Today’s guest is Derek, an educator at heart whose life journey—rooted in autism, ADHD, and dyslexia—has been shaped by a lifelong quest to transform confusion into clarity. Diagnosed at age 50, he finally gained the language, belonging, and understanding that helped him make sense of decades of feeling “different.” That clarity became his calling.

Professionally, Derek’s path spans the trades, automotive manufacturing, entrepreneurship, process engineering, and ultimately talent development—where he became the architect behind Amazon’s highest-rated employee training program, earning an extraordinary 92 NPS and 4.92/5 rating.

Today, he is the visionary behind Human-First AI, including his book, Human First AI, which lays out a powerful and accessible blueprint for building AI systems that augment humanity rather than replace it. His company, Practical AI, builds tools like Pocket Mentor, offering voice-based, just-in-time support so no one ever feels stuck, judged, or alone again.

This episode explores what it really means to unlock neurodiverse brilliance—and how empathy and human-centered AI can change the way we learn, collaborate, and lead.

📚 Featured Resource Recommended by Derek

✨ Dr. Nancy Doyle’s “What Is Neurodiversity” framework, including the plus-10/minus-10 graph that helps explain ALL human skill variation.
🧭 Memorable Quotes

“My whole life was trying to turn confusion into clarity — and that became the foundation of everything I build.” – Derek
“Empathy unlocks neurodiverse brilliance.” – Derek
“Judge people for what they do well, not for what they don’t.” – Derek
“AI should make humans irreplaceable — not replace them.” – Derek
“Just-in-time knowledge reduces cognitive load and restores confidence.” – Derek
“We’re all different. The more we understand each other, the better we all become.” – Yo Canny

🌺 Key Takeaways

1. Neurodiversity is the human condition.
Dr. Nancy Doyle’s work reframes neurodiversity as a continuum of strengths and challenges that all humans share.

2. Diagnosis can bring healing—not limits.
For Derek, learning he was autistic at 50 unlocked understanding and belonging.

3. Empathy-based leadership allows brilliance to shine.
His Amazon success was made possible by a leader who supported his strengths and covered his gaps.

4. Human-First AI supports—not replaces—humans.
Just-in-time learning tools like Pocket Mentor can reduce anxiety, boost confidence, and preserve institutional knowledge.

✨ Connect with Derek

Support is rooted in celebrating strengths and releasing judgment.

📘 Hero Book – Human First AIRead the first chapter free: https://www.humanfirstai.net

🌐 Practical AI (organization & nonprofit community)
https://www.practicalai.app

👥 Community
https://www.practicalai.app/community

💼 LinkedInSearch “Derek” + “Human First AI”

💌 Connect with Yo & Girl, Take the Lead!

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Because leadership — and connection — begin when we dare to understand ourselves and each other more deeply. 💖