Culture by Neurodesign

What if the traits you thought made you ‘weird’… are actually what make you a brilliant leader?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge speaks with Lee September, Software Engineering Manager at Bol.com.

Lee shares how discovering his neurodivergence, and embracing traits like sensitivity, empathy and deep perception, have shaped the way he leads. These traits have become key assets in both his leadership of a t...

What does a school play for neurodivergent children have to teach us about leadership and team performance?

In this personal episode, I share a moment that reminded me exactly why I started this work:

I believe that everyone can do something extraordinary—when you enable them to succeed.

- Why our expectations shape outcomes more than we think.

- How small sensory anchors created safety and enabled brilliance.

- What music, visual ...

What do autistic pattern recognition, Temple Grandin’s visual thinking, and Israel’s elite intelligence unit have in common?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores why neurodivergent thinking styles - such as autistic and dyslexic neurotypes - are a natural match for high-performance roles in cybersecurity and intelligence.

From Unit 9900 in the Israeli Defence Forces to the US Federal Workforce pilot,...

Autism hiring programs, like those of SAP and Microsoft, proved that neurodivergent talent can supercharge innovation, retention, and team performance. But what if you’re a team lead, founder, or manager without a big organizational program behind you?

In this episode, D. Lisa Colledge explores why these initiatives, while groundbreaking in their time, aren’t enouigh for today’s teams. Often don’t scale: they rely on formal diagnos...

We like to think of ourselves as rational—but science tells a different story. Our brains are wired to take shortcuts so we can take rapid, instinct-based decisions, and while that helped our ancestors survive, today it can leads to sub-optimal outcomes.

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge discusses how the information processing style of autistic thinkers is more resistant to these “heuristics” and emotion-...

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores what happens when culture meets people where they are—not where we think they should be.

Using Steve Silberman’s now-classic Wired article The Geek Syndrome as a starting point, Lisa describes how Silicon Valley became a pioneer in neuro-inclusion—by attracting talented people, with traits that made them well suited to technology and that also happen to be associa...

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge speaks directly to leaders who aim to take advantage of a growth opportunity, but sense that something is not quite right in their team—even when everything on the surface looks fine.

These early signals—low energy, stalled projects, reduced initiative—are culture alarms. They are subtle, and easy to ignore, but they are real. And most leaders, pressed for time or doubting...

What if the team member you rely on most—the one who always delivers—is quietly limiting your team’s growth?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores the risks of over-relyiance on high performers, and what it really takes to build a high performing, innovative team.

Through personal stories, research, and actionable insights, Lisa unpacks why rewarding only individual brilliance alienates others, leads ...

In this episode, Dr Colledge explores Step 4 of her signature program, 12 Steps to a Future-Proof Workplace Culture. It’s the step where cultural change moves beyond the leader and begins to involve the team—intentionally, respectfully, and practically.

With candid personal stories and a proven tool—the Neurostyle Navigator—Lisa explains how to build motivation and shared accountability to make the cultural change you’re driving t...

What does it really take to survive disruption—and thrive in the face of it? In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores two iconic companies that faced massive change in the early '90s: IBM and Polaroid. Both had brilliant people. Both valued culture. But only one turned its culture into a capability—and survived.

Lisa unpacks how IBM’s turnaround under Louis Gerstner Junior hinged not on new technology, o...

Work get-togethers are meant to be fun and engaging, right? But the fact is that they’re only fun for a vocal minority of your organization—and an exhausting ordeal for others.

In this episode, I explore how team social events usually default to an extrovert-friendly mold, leaving introverts, neurodivergent team members, and those facing personal challenges feeling drained, overlooked, and pressured to conform.

I break down the sel...

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa College is joined by neurodivergent business psychologist Robert Annis for a candid and insightful conversation on neurodivergence, leadership, and the future of work.

They discuss the strengths and struggles that come with neurodivergent experiences, the generational shifts in talent entering the workforce, and what leaders must do to build inclusive, resilient organizations. Robe...

In Episode 26 of Culture by Neurodesign, we take the next step in my signature program, Neuro-Inspired: 12 Steps to a Future-Proof Workplace Culture. After defining your vision in Step 2, it’s time to start taking action—starting with you.

As a leader, your team mirrors your behaviors. This episode focuses on two small but transformative leadership behaviors:

• Microinclusions: small acts of inclusion that boost engagement and w...

How do you create meaningful change in your team when leadership isn’t fully on board?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Jaime Gennaro and I explore The Middle Way—a practical, under-the-radar approach to empowering your team, building influence, and driving change without fighting for top-down approval.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting to make things better but facing leadership roadblocks, this episode is fo...

In this special Podcasthon episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa College sits down with Tjerk Feitsma, Director of The Neurodiversity Foundation, to discuss the transformative power of neurodiversity.

Tjerk shares his journey from late diagnosis to becoming a leading advocate, The Foundation’s global impact, and the significance of Neurodiversity Pride Day. We explore why inclusion matters, the misconceptions about neurodiverg...

Why do some leaders resist growth—even when it’s clearly beneficial for their teams and organizations?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, I sit down with my partner and leadership coach Jaime Gennaro of Practica Consulting. We explore why some leaders struggle to embrace change, how ego and outdated management styles play a role, and why gender dynamics often influence leadership engagement.

If you've ever wondered why ...

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, we continue exploring my signature program, Neuro-Inspired: 12 Steps to a Future-Proof Workplace Culture. Today, we focus on step 2: defining your vision for a future-proof team.

Rushing to solutions without a clear vision will only slow your progress and limit your impact. That’s why we take this time to clarify where your team is going, and what success looks like, and how we’ll measure ...

The world is more unpredictable than ever, yet 90% of organizations admit they lack the core capabilities needed for resilience. Leaders recognize the risks—technological disruption, regulatory shifts, economic instability—but most still focus on short-term damage control rather than long-term adaptability.

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores why most resilience strategies fall short and how organiz...

How can teams tap into the quiet potential of introverts, and create environments where they thrive?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa College sits down with Richard Etienne, founder of The Introvert Space, to discuss the power of the often hidden strengths of introverts, and how teams and orgaizations can shape their culture to maximize the contributions from introverted talent. They explore the workplace challe...