Did you know that 53% of Gen Z, the rising workforce, identifies as neurodivergent? If that’s the future of work, what does it mean for how we lead, collaborate, and connect? It means if we don't learn how to lead for the needs of neurodiverse employees, we could be facing a huge hiring and unemployment gap.

Julia Armet, people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader, is on a mission to humanize work.

Julia shares her own powerful personal journey navigating her own neurodivergence, and we discuss why relationship-building is the heartbeat of modern work. She debunks myths around autism and empathy, and introduces the concept of the “double-empathy problem” - reframing how we see inclusion and communication across differences. 

You’ll also hear why listening to neurodivergent voices elevates everyone, why the outlier is often the source of innovation, not friction, and how empathy can activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.

Listen in for…

• Different ways people exhibit and experience empathy. 
• Approaches to unmasking neurodiversity and empowering neuroinclusion.
• What you may be missing/misunderstanding about your autistic coworker’s social differences.
•  The importance of planting new seeds and redefining modern leadership through empathy.
• How to integrate your team’s outliers to unlock greater levels of empathy. 

"Solving for empathy for the most marginalized populations is what's going to actually benefit all populations." —  Julia Armet

Episode References: 

The Empathy Edge podcast: 

• Molly McGrath: Fix My Employee! No, Fix My Boss!
• Parissa Behnia: How Badass Leaders Convert Raw Power into Real Influence

About Julia Armet, Founder of Higher Playbook

Julia Armet, PCC, ELI-MP, is a people and culture strategist, workplace facilitator, and proud neurodivergent leader on a mission to humanize work. As Founder of Higher Playbook, she partners with visionary leaders and progressive organizations to design workplace cultures where all people — and all minds — can thrive.

With a career spanning media, technology, and professional services, Julia brings deep expertise at the intersection of relationship-building, leadership development, and culture transformation. From scaling a mission-driven tech company to leading global leadership programs, she empowers organizations to foster psychological safety, unlock talent potential, and drive culture change.

Through experiential keynotes, leadership retreats, and high-impact workshops, Julia equips leaders with socially innovative approaches and relational strategies to cultivate inclusion and conscious leadership. Her signature programs — Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion — harness the power of empathy to activate systemic shifts in the workplace and beyond.

Connect with Julia:

Higher Playbook: higherplaybook.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliaarmet 

Facebook: facebook.com/julia.armet 

Instagram: @higherplaybook

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/higherplaybook 

Check out her signature neurodiversity programming: Unmasking Neurodiversity and Empowering Neuroinclusion: higherplaybook.com/leadership-programs 

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/books

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader 

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

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