Take A Leap & Transform: A Neurodiversity Journey

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In this episode, I’m joined by Natalie Lewis, owner and operator of the award-winning HR firm, HR Dynamics. Natalie shares her own inspiring Neurodivergent journey and offers insights into the common pitfalls small businesses face as they scale. We then dive into actionable strategies to ensure businesses create truly inclusive environments for Neurodivergent talent. It’s an insightful conversation packed with personal experiences and professional wisdom on how to embrace diversity, support growth, and build workplaces where everyone can thrive. Don't miss this valuable discussion on building a future-focused and inclusive business! 

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How to Natalie Lewis

website:  http://www.dynamichrservices.co.uk/
"The No Bullshit Leadership Journal:  www.andrewmcdonald.biz/book 
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In today's episode, we tackle a sensitive and critical topic that affects many neurodivergent individuals: trauma, which can lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts. We are joined by Andrew McDonald, who bravely shares his personal journey, the devastating decisions he faced, and how his transition into entrepreneurship became the right fit for him.

Andrew discusses his struggles with mental health and trauma and how he ultimately found solace and purpose through entrepreneurship. We also explore how he now guides neurodivergent entrepreneurs to build and scale their businesses, helping them reach their full potential.

Please note, this episode covers deeply sensitive content. If you are experiencing similar trauma, we urge you to seek help. 

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How to Reach Andrew

website:  www.andrewmcdonald.biz 
Freegive away:  www.andrewmcdonald.biz/book 


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With the wealth of knowledge that Dragan brings to the table, we are thrilled to delve into the crucial topic of accommodating mentorship and coaching for neurodivergent talent. In this enlightening session, we will not only explore the significance of mentorship for neurodivergent individuals but also dissect effective practices that businesses can readily implement. Dragan's expertise will guide us through a comprehensive discussion, shedding light on how tailored mentorship and coaching approaches can not only support neurodivergent talent but also contribute to a more inclusive and thriving workplace.


🌟 Who is Dragan Donkov

Experienced coach specialising in helping people build awareness, gain clarity and confidence, focus on what’s most important and act!
Dragan worked with leaders, managers, and employees from both the corporate world and the non-profit sector. He is passionate about supporting them in their growth and development and seeing them succeed.
After managing the largest Employee Assistance Programme on the island for 11 years, Dragan founded Carob Consult, which offers coaching and training services to individuals and organisations across different geographical locations.





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The three of us engage in a comprehensive conversation, delving into actionable insights on best practices that businesses can implement to foster a more inclusive environment for neurodivergent talent. From refining recruitment processes to creating accommodating workplace policies, we'll share practical strategies that not only enhance inclusivity but also contribute to a positive and supportive atmosphere for all employees. Join us as we explore tangible steps towards building a workplace where neurodivergent individuals can thrive, bringing diverse perspectives and unique strengths to the forefront.


🌟 Who is Daphné De Troch & Dietrich Moerman

Daphne and Dietrich, are both neurodivergent and co-founders of Bjièn in Belgium, specialising in neurodiversity consulting. Their focus is on training and consulting for neurodiversity at work, emphasizing resilient, productive, and neuro-inclusive teams through innovative approaches and strategies. See less

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This Dr. Erika Galea and I wiill delve into the interconnected topics of emotional regulation, executive function, and their implications in education and the workplace. The discussion highlights the definitions of emotional regulation and executive function, emphasizing their critical roles in cognitive processing and psychological development. Additionally, it explores the differences in emotional regulation between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, and the importance of understanding neuroscience for business leaders and educators. Lastly, it showcases the efforts of Dr. Erika Galea, director of the Educational Neuroscience Hub, in bridging the gap between neuroscience research and practical application in education and business, emphasizing the importance of expertise in the field to prevent the spread of misinformation.

🌟 Who is Dr. Erika Galea


Dr. Erika Galea is founder and director of the Educational Neuroscience Hub Europe (Malta). Her goal for the Hub is to raise awareness and improve understanding of brain development, within the context of teaching and learning both in the school and workplace environments.
After over two decades in education initially working as a teacher, followed by a period in the Senior Leadership Team in a private school, Dr. Galea has held various roles as a trainer and consultant, collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders in the education sector.
Dr. Galea holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and Human Development from University College London and an MSc. in Educational Leadership, focusing on Distributed Leadership, from the University of Leicester. She implements her expertise in these areas by acting as an education consultant in quality assurance, as well as coaching and mentoring in Educational Neuroscience delivering bespoke workshops tailored to a variety of educational institutions and corporate organisations. Her area of expertise is emotional intelligence, particularly focusing on the application of strategies for regulating emotions by teachers in the classroom. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning, while also cultivating a supportive and nurturing classroom environment that fosters self-regulation, resilience and positive mental well-being.
Dr. Galea has recently been conferred the title of Honorary Research Fellow within the Department of Psychology and Human Development at UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, Institute of Education, University College London.


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🔍 What the live-stream will cover:

In an exclusive session guided by Edana and Natalie, we embark on an in-depth exploration of HR best practices dedicated to supporting neurodivergent talent in the workplace.

Some of the points well cover:

1️⃣ Communication Strategies: Learn about tailored communication strategies that bridge gaps and promote a supportive dialogue between neurodivergent employees and their peers.

2️⃣ Training and Development: Discover effective approaches for providing training and development opportunities that cater to diverse learning styles and strengths.

3️⃣ Workplace Accommodations: Gain insights into creating an inclusive workplace through accommodations that foster a positive and empowering environment for everyone.


🌟 Who is Edana Maria Vella & Natalie Lewis

Meet Edana Maria Vella, with over 13 years of dynamic Human Resources experience in Malta. Passionate about driving growth and engagement, Maria is an HR Specialist at UP - Insights, Coaching, Training. She specializes in helping businesses establish and enhance their HR functions and strategies, aligning them with their vision and values.

Bio
Meet award-winning HR consultant Natalie Lewis, with a Master's in HR Management, founded Dynamic HR Services Ltd in 2013. Leading conversations on hybrid working, leadership, and culture in tech and digital creative SMEs, Natalie envisions happy, high-performing employees in all small and medium businesses. Her 'Foundations of Success' framework helps businesses establish a great company culture and modern leadership, enabling growth without the risk of toxic culture. Known as the 'unconventional HR person,' Natalie combines HR, compassion, and commerciality with a strong dose of common sense.
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Website: https://www.josephkmuscat.com
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Simon Preston, the Director of Neurodiversity in Education CIC, brings to light his wealth of experience and profound insights into advocating for inclusivity and spearheading transformative initiatives. With a focus on Neurodivergent educators, he emphasizes the importance of embracing their lived experiences to foster a more supportive and understanding educational environment.


🌟 Who is Simon Preston

For nearly two decades, Simon has been deeply involved in the field of education, dedicating his expertise and passion to teaching. Over the years, Simon has also assumed various leadership and management roles, honing his skills in guiding and inspiring others. As someone who is autistic and dyslexic, Simon brings a unique perspective to the table, advocating for the recognition of neurodiversity in educational settings, including the education workforce.

Simon’s academic journey includes the successful completion of an MBA in educational leadership and management with distinction, a testament to his commitment to excellence in the field. Currently, Simon is delving into a rigorous research pursuit aimed at unraveling the complex dynamics between educational leadership and the lived experiences of neurodivergent educators. This journey towards a Doctor of Education degree reflects his unwavering dedication to shedding light on the challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent teachers in today's educational landscape.

Through his work and research, Simon aim’s to drive positive change and founded Neurodiversity in Education CIC to support and empower neurodivergent individuals within the educational sphere.
See less


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Dive into insights with Marc as he unveils the strategies for successful recruitment of neurodivergent talent!

Marc, a champion of neurodiversity, brings extensive expertise in inclusive hiring. Positioned at the forefront, he advocates for diverse and vibrant workplaces.

🌟 Who is Marc Crawley

“Our mission is to unlock the potential of neurodivergent talent through tailored recruitment, training and awareness“

At its core , Diversita is a recruitment agency that assists neurodiverse job seekers and works with organisations to hire ND applicants.

We also provide extensive training for companies to help make the application and interview process neurodivergent-friendly.

​Marc and Giulia Guida-Crawley started Diversita with the aim of combining personal passion with professional experience to contribute positively to the neurodiverse community.

Their youngest son Tomas is Autistic, and we are eager to change prohibitive recruitment practices so that all neurodiverse job seekers can fulfil their potential.

Diversita began in April 2022 and now works with over 1000 neurodivergent candidates and over 20 organisations.

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Noel and I are excited to delve deep into the intricacies of guiding businesses towards a nuanced understanding of their Neurodivergent employees and candidates by recognizing and aligning with their unique thinking styles. This exploration extends beyond mere acknowledgement, as we seek to provide practical strategies for securing board-level buy-in, and fostering a corporate culture that prioritizes and embraces neurodivergent inclusion. Join us on this enlightening journey as we unravel the keys to unlocking the full potential of diverse thinking in the workplace


🌟 Who is Noel Debono:

Mr. Noel Debono is an FHRD board member and a Human Capital Consulting Manager within a global professional service provider. He brings to the table over 16 years of Human Resources experience across multiple industries. His areas of expertise include management and leadership, human resource operations, learning and development and workforce planning.
As a Manager within the Human Capital consulting arm, Noel shares his accumulated knowledge and experience with clients who are keen to develop a future-proof and people centric HR strategy. His actions are guided by a deep understanding of HR’s adaptability across different sectors, a belief in continuous development and the importance of building relationships based on mutual trust and ethical behaviour.
Noel holds a degree in Computing from Greenwich University, a Masters in Business Administration and is a certified Business Coach.

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Join me and my four panelists as we dive into bBrave's "Research study on #Workplace #Bullying and #Ostracism at the #Workplace." 🌐 Together, we'll explore various topics, including their correlation with #Neurodivergent #employees.

🗣️ Engage in a thought-provoking discussion with # panellists:

Joseph K Muscat (Host)
Aaron Zammit Apap of bBrave
Jessica Borg of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD)
Gertrude BUTTIGIEG of Commissioner of Mental Health
Jackie Attard Montalto of Atlas Insurance

#malta #bullying #workplaceharassment #workplace #trauma #mentalhealth #employers #employees #neurodiversity #neurodivergent
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bBrave

bBrave STUDY ON BULLYING AND OSTRACISM AT THE WORKPLACE IN MALTA

Neurodiversity Week Malta

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