In this episode, I chat to Kirsty Heywood-McDonald, the founder of Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services. Kirsty discusses her mission to break down barriers and create inclusive environments for neurodivergent and disabled entrepreneurs.

Kirsty shares her personal experiences with redundancy and discrimination, which fuelled her passion to establish a business that supports and empowers individuals with disabilities.

Key Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurs with neurodiversity and disabilities often face challenges such as stress, anxiety around finances, burnout, and difficulties with organisation, time management and processing complex financial information.

• Creating a supportive and inclusive environment is essential for entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute their best.

• Simple adjustments and a focus on open communication can make a significant difference in supporting individuals with disabilities, without necessarily incurring high costs.

• Kirsty emphasises the importance of having open conversations with clients and team members to understand their needs and challenges, and then co-creating supportive ways of working.

• Inclusive practices benefit everyone in the workplace by fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and respect.

Episode Highlights:

02:18 Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent and Disabled Entrepreneurs

03:56 Financial Management and Support Strategies

20:39 Creating an Inclusive Workplace

24:22 Access to Work and Grants

34:32 Mandatory Training and Systemic Changes

39:41 Practical Tips for Businesses

About the Guest:

Kirsty (she/her) is the founder of Heywood-MacDonald Accountancy Services Ltd, a multi-award winning practice specialising in supporting neurodivergent and disabled entrepreneurs. Her mission is clear: to dismantle barriers and foster inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

LinkedIn Website

Episode Links:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

• https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

• https://mhfaengland.org

End Credits:

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/).

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced byhttp://lucylucraft.co.uk.

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