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Brain Friendly Systems
Brain Friendly Systems episodes
- Inclusive Hiring: Why AI Is Making Bias Faster, Not Smaller w/ Cara Norkett Ep 29
In this episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik sits down with Cara Norkett, Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion Lead at Charles Taylor, to explore what inclusive hiring really looks like in today’s AI-influenced recruitment landscape.
Cara brings a grounded, practitioner perspective from inside medium-sized global organisations navigating talent shortages, generational shifts and rising expectations around flexibility and inclusion. Together, they unpack where bias still hides in recruitment processes, why “culture fit” may be holding teams back, and how small, practical adjustments can create hiring experiences that are more brain-friendly and more human.
From adapting interview formats to rethinking how we assess energy, enthusiasm and “fit,” this episode challenges traditional recruitment norms and asks a bigger question: if we say we value diversity, does our hiring process reflect it?
Discover:
- How structured, skills-based assessment reduces bias without losing the human element
- Why candidates care more about lived experience than polished employer branding
- Practical, cost-free interview adjustments that support neurodivergent and disabled candidates
- How inclusive hiring connects directly to creativity, innovation and business performance
- Why recruitment teams must be diversity advocates
Whether you're a hiring manager, HR leader, founder or building your first team, this episode offers practical, real-world insight into designing recruitment processes that are fair, sustainable and aligned with the inclusive culture you claim to represent.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Cara Norkett - Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Charles Taylor: sg.linkedin.com/in/cara-norkett-talent-specialist
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
48 min - Returning to Work After Baby: The Cognitive Cost No One Talks About w/ Pei Ying Chua Ep 28
In this episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik is joined by Pei Ying Chua - Head Economist @ LinkedIn APAC to explore what really happens cognitively, emotionally, and logistically when mothers return to work.
Together, they unpack what is often left unnamed in professional settings: brain fog during breastfeeding, dopamine suppression, shifting identity, cognitive overload, and the invisible emotional labour of balancing caregiving with performance.
This conversation goes beyond productivity. It looks at the neurobiology of postpartum changes, the cognitive cost of constant micro-decisions, and what brain-friendly organisations can do to support sustainable performance for working parents.
Topics include:
- The neurological impact of breastfeeding on dopamine and focus
- Why "mum brain" is physiological, not incompetence
- Cognitive load, decision fatigue, and emotional labour
- Flexibility beyond location: workload pacing and quarterly structuring
- Why empathy is a core management skill
- Using AI to reduce mental logistics and cognitive strain
- Protecting focus time and reducing unnecessary micro-decisions
- The identity shift of returning as a "new version" of yourself
This episode is especially relevant for mothers returning to work after maternity leave, managers supporting new parents, HR leaders designing flexible policies, organisations focused on retaining female talent, and anyone interested in brain-friendly workplaces and sustainable performance.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Pei Ying Chua - Head Economist @ LinkedIn APAC
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form: Submit questions for future episodes
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
29 min - Understanding 2e and gifted brains w/ Jennifer Costigan
In this bonus episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik sits down with Jennifer Costigan, founder of The Parent Consultancy, to explore one of the most misunderstood profiles in education, parenting and the workplace: twice exceptionality.
Twice exceptional, also known as 2E describes individuals who are gifted and at the same time navigating challenges like ADHD, autism, dyslexia or other learning differences. It's an uneven profile that schooling systems were never designed for, that workplaces rarely recognise, and that the people living it often spend decades trying to explain or hide.Jennifer has spent years working with 2E children and their families, helping them understand complex profiles that show up differently at school, at home and inside the child themselves. Together, she and Aga connect the dots between what this looks like in early life and what it becomes in high-performing adults. They cover masking, burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the quiet exhaustion of always holding it together just long enough to collapse somewhere private.This conversation goes beyond awareness. It asks what changes when we finally stop trying to fix the person and start designing environments that actually fit the brain.Topics include:
- What twice exceptionality actually looks like and why it gets missed so often
- The cost of masking: how high-functioning people gaslight themselves into burnout
- Why the 2E profile falls through the gap between academic acceleration and learning support
- Emotional intensity, perfectionism and the social impact of an uneven profile
- What parents can do and what the system is getting wrong
- Co-regulation, body scans, repair and the tools that actually work for sensitive, intense brains
- How the same patterns show up in adults, leaders and high-performing teams
- Why strength-based approaches work better than pressure for children and organisations alike
This episode is especially relevant for:
- Parents of gifted or neurodivergent children navigating school, behaviour and big emotions
- Adults who were the "smart one" growing up and are only now connecting the dots
- Leaders and managers working with high-performing, high-intensity team members
- Anyone who has ever been told they're so capable and felt completely alone in how hard everything actually was
Links mentioned in this episode
- The Parent Consultancy
- Jennifer Costigan on LinkedIn and Instagram- Learn more about your brain from an applied neuroscientist W/ Naomi glover- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodesFollow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
49 min - AuDHD in Women: Why High-Performing Doesn't Mean Fine w/ Samantha Hiew Ep 26
In this episode, Aga Gajownik is joined by Dr Samantha Hiew, scientist, storyteller, and founder of ADHD Girls, to explore ADHD and Autism in women through the lenses of neuroscience, hormones, trauma, and workplace systems.
Together, they unpack what is often misunderstood or left unnamed: the cost of long-term masking, performance variability, nervous system overload, and why so many high-performing neurodivergent women burn out despite appearing "fine" on the surface.
This conversation goes beyond awareness. It looks at what is actually happening cognitively, neurologically, and psychologically in neurodivergent women, and what leaders can do to design genuinely brain-friendly organisations that support sustainable performance.
Topics include:
- Why masking and self-regulation are so energetically expensive
- Executive functioning, performance variability, and hormonal cycles
- Trauma, nervous system responses, and their impact on work and relationships
- Psychological safety, micromanagement, and cognitive load
- Energy-based productivity and regenerative leadership
- Practical, low-cost changes leaders can implement immediately
This episode is especially relevant for AuDHD and neurodivergent women navigating work and leadership, managers and HR leaders who want inclusion to actually work, and anyone interested in brain-friendly organisations and sustainable performance.
Note: This episode includes reflective discussion of abusive relationships and trauma, explored in a professional and educational context.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Dr Samantha Hiew - Scientist, Storyteller, Founder of ADHD Girls
- ADHD Girls - social impact organisation supporting neurodivergent women
- Tip of the Iceberg (Amazon)
- Autism and ADHD in Women: DSM-5 Criteria via Scientific and Intersectional Lens
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
49 min - ADHD at Work: What Leaders Keep Getting Wrong (and How to Fix It) w/Moonlake Lee Ep 25
ADHD at work is still one of the most misunderstood neurodivergent experiences especially in Singapore. We don’t talk about it enough.
So this week on Innotainment, Aga Gajownik is joined by Moonlake Lee, founder of Unlocking ADHD, to unpack what ADHD really looks like in the workplace beyond stereotypes, labels, and “special treatment” myths.
In this episode, they explore:
- Why ADHD is often invisible, undiagnosed, and undisclosed at work
- How executive function challenges around time, overwhelm and emotional regulation show up in real teams
- Neurodivergent burnout, masking, and the hidden cost to organisations
- Why "ADHD-friendly" workplaces are actually just better-designed workplaces
- What leaders can start, stop, and redesign today, without lowering standards or overloading managers
- How to support ADHD employees without singling them out or creating reverse exclusion
This conversation moves beyond awareness into practical, brain-friendly design. From communication and check-ins to psychological safety, body doubling, and strength-based work, this episode offers actionable insights for leaders, managers, and neurodivergent professionals alike.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Moonlake Lee - Founder, Unlocking ADHD
- Unlocking ADHD
- Moonlake's LinkedIn Newsletter - ADHD Life & Musings
- VIA Character Strengths Survey
- Ep 19 - Workplace Disengagement with Naomi Glover
- Ep 21 - Trust and Teamwork with Brian Slattery
- Ep 22 - Corporate Benefits with Andrea Toh
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
43 min - Five Conversations, One Pattern: What Brain-Friendly Leadership Actually Looks Like Ep. 24
In this solo episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik reflects on the first half of Season 2 and brings together the most important lessons from conversations with neuroscientists, HR leaders and organisational practitioners while sharing what’s ahead for 2026.
What started as a short experiment turned into a deeper exploration of what it really takes to build brain-friendly organisations. Drawing on insights from guests including Naomi Glover, Larissa Murmann, Andrea Toh, Brian Slattery and Feng Ling Li, Aga unpacks the recurring patterns that kept surfacing across very different industries and leadership roles.Discover:
- Why burnout is more often caused by friction, unclear expectations and emotional labour than workload
- How communication builds trust when it focuses on connection, not meetings
- Why psychological safety enables learning, innovation and honest feedback
- How micro-learning and small habits outperform long, high-stress training programs
- What leaders miss when they manage outputs but ignore cognitive load and nervous systems
- Why brain-friendly leadership is ultimately human-friendly leadership
Aga also shares personal reflections on leadership, self-regulation and the invisible emotional labour many managers carry, and outlines what's coming next as Season 2 moves into a deeper dive on neurodiversity at work.
Whether you're a founder, senior leader, people manager or simply trying to work better with your own brain, this episode offers a grounded, human perspective on how to lead without burning yourself, or your team, out.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Episodes referenced in this episode:
- Ep 19 - Workplace Disengagement with Naomi Glover
- Ep 20 - AI and Hybrid Work with Larissa Murmann
- Ep 21 - Trust and Teamwork with Brian Slattery
- Ep 22 - Corporate Benefits with Andrea Toh
- Ep 23 - Learning Cultures with Feng Ling Li
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
22 min - Learning at Work: Why Annual Training Fails and What to Do Instead w/ Feng Ling Li Ep 23
In this episode of Innotainment, Aga sits down with Feng Ling Li, a seasoned HR leader helping organisations across Singapore and the region develop true learning cultures that drive performance, resilience and innovation.
Together, they unpack why learning is no longer “a yearly training budget exercise” but a daily practice that requires psychological safety, experimentation, and leadership empathy. From micro-learning and reverse mentoring to AI-supported development, this conversation shines a light on what it really takes to help people grow in a rapidly changing world.Discover:
- Why learning must feel as natural as breathing, not a KPI checkbox
- How micro-learning and hybrid formats support real retention
- Why psychological safety, empathy and respect matter more than ever
- How AI supports learning, and where human judgment is still essential
- Practical ways leaders can personalise development without burning out HR
- How to measure learning outcomes beyond "completed course hours"
Whether you're an HR leader, founder or people manager, this episode shows you how to build a workplace where learning feels safe, continuous and human-centred, and where your teams can adapt at the speed of change.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Feng Ling Li - Head of HR, Lifelong Learning Singapore
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
28 min - Corporate Benefits: Why Perks Don't Work and What Actually Makes People Stay w/ Andrea Toh Ep.22
In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with veteran benefits leader and founder Andrea Toh to explore what modern employee benefits really mean in today’s workplace.
Beyond insurance plans and surface level perks, Andrea reveals how meaningful benefits are built through culture, communication, and human connection, not just budgets. With 20 years of experience shaping benefits systems across Singapore, she unpacks how organisations can create workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to stay.
Together, they dive into:
- Why "traditional benefits" no longer meet the needs of Gen Z and millennial workers
- How culture, purpose and team communication directly shape employee experience
- The hidden cost of poorly trained managers, and why they make or break retention
- How small companies can create big impact through simple, human benefits
- Why job design, team alignment and meaningful conversations matter more than perks
- The role of family, flexibility and community in building workplaces people love
Whether you're a founder, people manager, or HR professional, this episode reveals how benefits can become a daily experience, not a PDF policy, and how leaders can design teams that thrive without burning people out.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Andrea Toh - Founder, Benefit Solutions
- VIA Character Strengths Survey
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
38 min - Trust Before Earned: How to Build High-Performing Teams Around Different Brains w/ Brian Slattery Ep.21
In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with Brian Slattery, founder of Teamwork Unlocked and former Head of Culture Club at Google, to explore what really happens inside teamwork when different brains, strengths and cognitive styles collide.
From late ADHD diagnosis and leadership quirks to building escape-room-powered leadership programmes, Brian shares a refreshingly honest look at how trust, psychological safety and better conversations can transform the way teams collaborate.
You'll hear:
- How ADHD shows up in leadership and why late diagnosis often brings both clarity and chaos
- Why trust should be given, not earned, and the speech Brian teaches leaders to transform culture
- The nine team profiles he sees in action inside escape rooms, and why Mavericks and Challengers are disappearing
- Why innovation stalls in risk-averse cultures and how permafrost forms in middle management
- Practical, tiny habits that help leaders support cognitive diversity without adding workload
- The art of celebrating failure and why "birthday culture" does absolutely nothing for motivation
Whether you're a senior leader, HR professional or a manager trying to build more brain-friendly teams, this conversation is a masterclass in understanding people, creating trust and designing systems that let every brain contribute.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Brian Slattery - Founder, Teamwork Unlocked
- Teamwork Unlocked
- VIA Character Strengths Survey
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
41 min - AI and Hybrid Work: What Leaders Are Getting Wrong About Both W/ Larissa Murmann Ep. 20
In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with Larissa Murmann, Digital Chief HR Officer at Unilever International, to unpack how leaders can navigate change, support their teams and adapt new technologies without burning people out. Larissa offers a candid, insider perspective on what's actually changing inside global organisations, from AI adoption and hybrid team design to fractional roles and wellbeing at scale.
Together, they explore the mindset shift leaders must make, why emotional and subconscious intelligence matter more than ever, and how to build high-performing teams when humans and AI increasingly work side by side. You'll hear practical strategies for navigating uncertainty, preventing burnout, and creating workplaces where people feel trusted, empowered and supported, no matter their neurotype, generation or working style.
Discover:
- Why AI transformation is 10 to 20 percent technology and the rest is human behaviour
- The three skills AI cannot replace: emotional intelligence, subconscious self-knowledge, and cultural judgment
- Why remote work doesn't break trust but lack of relationship will, and what trusted leaders actually do differently
- How fractional work is becoming a genuine strategy, not a compromise
Whether you're a founder, HR leader or emerging manager, this conversation will show you how to design more brain-friendly teams and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving world.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Larissa Murmann - Digital Chief HR Officer, Unilever International
- Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
- Innotainment podcast – Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram @innotainment_podcast, @myquirkyadhdbrain
53 min
About Brain Friendly Systems
From the publisher's feed
Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik is a weekly podcast for late-diagnosed neurodivergent professionals and leaders who are done with advice that doesn't fit how their brain works. Hosted by…
Aga Gajownik, AuDHD practitioner, systems strategist, and founder of Innovation and Integration. Each episode covers the neuroscience, operational systems, and identity work that actually moves things forward. Published on Tuesdays. Based in Singapore. Working with professionals internationally.