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Before becoming a coach for neurodiverse individuals with ADHD, Justine Capelle Collis had a successful advertising career. She worked in Australia and the UK, and also across the US and Canadian markets. Her clients have included Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. And she achieved all this without realizing that she has ADHD. That realization came when she became a mother. Both of her sons were diagnosed with ADHD, and she started asking questions. “How do I advocate and get the system to bend for them, rather than having them fit into the system and then break? she asked. She then went on a personal journey to retrain. Collis enrolled in post-graduate study, and went through a specialist coach training in neurodivergent coaching. But along the way, she received her own ADHD diagnosis. Being a mother of two sons with ADHD required “a different way of parenting,” she says. It also highlighted the feeling that something was off. “I couldn’t make sense of it,” Collis recalls. “I can have a successful career, I can achieve all of these incredible things. Why am I failing at this thing that I’m biologically wired to do: which is to have kids?” A conversation with a coach friend of hers, who was also practicing to be a neurodiversity coach, revealed some ‘penny-dropping’ moments. The reason she was able to succeed in her professional career, she explained, was that she had freedom and agency to design her working life in a way that aligned and worked for her. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case with other neurodiverse employees, who are often forced to survive in a world that is not designed or conducive to them doing their best. But some companies are turning to coaching in an attempt to address this. The growing awareness of neurodiversity Like Collis, Dr. George Sachs also built a career while having ADHD. Sachs cofounded an app called Inflow with Levi Epstein and Seb Isaacs after 20 years of working as a clinical psychologist. The app provides support with adults with ADHD through various tools, including coaching. And while their customers are primarily individuals, they do work with organizations and universities that offer Inflow to their employees. Sachs believes that social media has contributed to the rise of awareness in neurodiversity at work. Companies like EYand Microsoft for example, have a range of policies to support neurodiverse individuals. They do that through work arrangements, modified workspaces, and educational resources. Thanks to social media, says Sachs, people have become more aware of diagnostic criteria for various neurodiversity conditions. “At the same time, the concept of disorder is changing,” he says. Rather than seeing their conditions as a disorder, he explains, “you’re seeing this movement towards acceptance of difference.” The value of neurodiversity-specific coaching Neurodiversity exists on a spectrum, and even those with similar diagnoses often have unique struggles and challenges. And as a result, companies can’t rely on one-size-fits-all benefits, says Gijo Matthew, Chief Product Officer at Spring Health. The mental health platform launched a neurodiversity hub earlier this year. “We decided to invest in neurodiversity because traditional mental health benefits often fall short for this community, leaving many employees without the resources they need to be successful, Matthew says. It’s that particular specificity that can make coaching a valuable tool for neurodiverse individuals. Jill Johnson, a coach who works with executive leaders, women, parents, and individuals with ADHD, describes coaching as a ‘partnership.’ The coach might have a particular expertise, Johnson says, but “it’s also the lived experience of the client, who brings an equally important role to figuring out how to helpand taking ownership of how they can be successful in life, or in the workplace.” How coaching helps neurodiverse individuals Roman Peskin, CEO and co-founder of ed-tech startup ELVTR, also didn’t receive a diagnosis until later in his life. He describes trying a series of ‘normal’ jobs in his twenties that he was subsequently fired from, first as a travel agent, then later running a travel website. “Both times I got fired for the same reason,” he says: “not incompetence, but procrastination and inconsistency. Id do great work in bursts, then mentally disappear.” This is something that Collis is familiar with. “The single biggest thing for brains like ours,” she explains, “is they fire up on interests, not based on external urgency, or what someone else or some external source says it should be. Even though we might know we need to do this thing first, we’re wired that way. So we have to function in a way that harnesses that capability, rather than forcing it into a box.” For Peskin, that’s the value that coaching can potentially bring, though he stresses that the coach needs to understand what it’s like to have a “high-octane brain.” It won’t work if you have “neurotypical productivity guru pushing a GTD masterclass down your throat,” he says. “A good coach could start by naming whats going on so you stop thinking ‘Im broken.’ Then help install realistic framework: sprints instead of marathons, accountability, focus blocks, external structure,” Peskin continues. Because neurodiversity encompasses a wide range of conditions, a level of personalization is also necessary. A 2025 University of Reading study that looked at the inclusivity of a neurodiversity coaching program found that some neurodivergent individuals, for example, do better with text-based or audio-only coaching rather than via video conferences. Coaches also need to be flexible and responsive in how they communicate. The study cited that some autistic individuals, for example, may face difficulty with open-ended questions. This means that coaches need to be able to adjust their method in a way that works for the employee. The importance of organizational culture, support, and education Peskin stresses that companies cannot rely on coaching to be the be-all and end-all. “I think of coaching as software,” he says. ÜMost companies still need to fix the hardware.” “You can’t coach your way out of a toxic system,” says Collis. “So if the culture in a workplace is fundamentally broken, or not safe from a psychological perspective, then those issues need to be addressed first.” For neurodiverse individuals, that support starts with education. There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about neurodiverse individuals, says Sachs. For example, like the idea that those with ADHD might struggle to get their work done, or that everyone on the autism spectrum is blunt and introverted. A coach may be able to help a neurodiverse individual with time management or emotional regulation at work. However, the onus is also on the organization to provide a supportive and flexible environment so they can actually do those things. This starts from the top. As a 2022 study published in AIB Insights concluded, any neurodiverse-inclusive initiative needs to have buy-in from leadership go have any chance of success. It’s also about ensuring that the neurodiverse employee is employed in a role that actually allows them to use their strengths. “If your job is repetitive admin in an open-plan office with Slack on fire all day, no amount of coaching will turn that into a good fit for an ADHD brain,” says Peskin. Coaching is also not a substitute for competent management, Peskin says. “If you bolt coaching onto a culture of constant interruption, vague expectations, and busyness show-offs, it just becomes an expensive Band-Aid on a system thats causing the wound.” Many neurodiverse employees also struggle with sensory distractions, as a 2025 Ernst and Young study found. For a workplace to be truly inclusive, it needs to facilitate flexible working arrangements or a physical space where neurodiverse employees can work without interruptions. Ultimately, Peskin wants to see an attitude shift that sees neurodivergent talent as a strategic asset. As the 2022 study found, when organizations provide neurodiverse individuals the opportunity to play to their strengths, they’re more likely to make meaningful contributions to the company. In the abstract, the authors wrote, “the actions taken to accommodate neurodivergent employees often spill over to the benefit of all employees.” Peskin says, “Neurodivergent talent is a competitive advantage, not a DEI show off. We dont need fixing. We need the rules of the game adjusted so our strengths actually count.”
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E-Commerce
For a while now, weve been hearing warnings about AI eliminating jobs. First, it was only at the fringes. But now its starting to bite into roles once thought untouchable. It isnt just administrative work, copywriting, or design anymore; even advisory roles, data analytics, and coding are being reshaped by automation. But history teaches us that technological disruption doesnt eliminate work, it reshapes it. The industrial revolution, for example, didnt end human contribution, it simply redefined the places where humans bring the most value. AI is doing the same thing today. While it does, in fact, take (or reduce the need for) some jobs, it can, and will, pave new paths in the form of entrepreneurial opportunities. The rise of no-code tools, automated workflows, and AI-powered tools to support business creation means people can turn ideas into companies faster than ever before. The real challenge now lies in ensuring that the accessibility and utilization of these resources match the level of AI-induced displacement. While employment rates remain relatively stable, the numbers mask deeper shifts in how work gets done. Automation has been advancing for yearsaccelerated by AIwith many firms quietly cutting labor not through layoffs but by trimming hours, automating tasks, or relying on smaller teams to sustain productivity. This obscured drop in main hours, dubbed shadow layoffs, paints a far more complex picture of employment health than the headlines and numbers suggest. AI makes independence not just possible, but practical With roughly 80% of U.S. businesses already operating as nonemployer firms (meaning the owner is the only employee), self-driven enterprises have gained popularity since the 1990s. This massive trend is undervalued, and AIs unique ability to fuel entrepreneurial endeavors will signal a cultural and economic shift toward independence, flexibility, and self-determination. These characteristics are uniquely American, one of the reasons the country has long been the poster child for rags-to-riches capitalism. AI makes the traditional employment model even less reliable and familiar roles less secure, but the benefits of AI-driven entrepreneurship could reshape the workforce in the near future. For individuals, AI removes many of the barriers that once made the process of building a business challenging. AIs assistance negates, for example, costly and time-consuming marketing campaigns and the difficulties of providing customer support and training materials that drain budgets and slow down the path to business ownership. Launching a brand, opening an online clothing store, or offering a niche service can now happen in days, not months, with tools that streamline product development, go-to-market, and scaling from day one. For example, a laid-off marketing manager can launch a single-person consultancy powered by AI tools and handle everything from accounting and content creation to client management as a one-person show. This is something that in the past would have demanded at least three additional employees. While the technology is proven, individual grit alone isnt enough. Without proper support systems to close the gap between displaced workers and AI-enabled bootstrapping, an accessible path to entrepreneurship will remain out of reach for most. For future classes of AI entrepreneurs to thrive, theyll need an ecosystem designed to absorb and launch them forward. Turning disruption into design: Why public-private collaboration matters The ultimate goal for turning AI displacement into entrepreneurial opportunities should be a healthy society and a resilient economy. The key to maximizing these circumstances lies in empowering those who combine a unique vision with AI fluency. Investing in regional AI boot camps, small-business accelerators, or micro-grant programs for displaced workers will provide resources to help them reinvent themselves. Timely support is key: Upskilling workshops, business literacy, and AI fluency need to be accessible before layoffs happen, not after. If laid-off workers can pivot faster, the economic and social repercussions will be minimal. The most effective recipe for success in this regard is when the private and public sectors work in a complementary manner. Public-private entrepreneurial hubs could close this gap. Governments can ensure equitable access, while private companies focus on relevance and innovation. Through upskilling and educational initiatives and incentivized collaborations, the two can turn layoffs into small-business launchpads. In New York, the Department of Labor enacted an initiative to provide free access to Coursera and professional certifications from leading tech companies, including Google. While primarily for reskilling, these certifications and courses specifically support self-employment in the digital economy. If replicated nationwide, this could actually start moving the needle on digital self-employment. The key to kick-starting like-minded programs is through building awareness. They should focus on steering economic and social stability by providing laid-off workers with the necessary tools. If key private-sector leaders and government officials can align around shared goals, AI could redefine the American dream instead of disrupting it. While AI destabilized the traditional employer-employee model, it also opened new doors for the next wave of entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs wont necessarily have an Ivy League degree or access to VCs, but they will be those who embrace AIs powerful capabilities and monetize those skills in original ways. AI will continue to change the paradigm on how and where people earn a living, but the outcome depends on how society responds. With the right infrastructure in place, this wave of automation could become one of the largest drivers of entrepreneurship since the internets onset. Without it, expect to see deeper inequality and economic stagnation. Disruption is unavoidable, but reinvention is a workers choice. Those who pair their expertise with AIs capabilities wont just survive this transition; theyll be the ones who embrace entrepreneurship, turning passion projects into real businesses faster than ever. The barrier to entry is no longer a team or a budget. Its a mindset and a small monthly subscription. In this shift, the winners wont be the ones who fear AI; theyll be the ones who take one good idea and build.
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E-Commerce
Its the end of the year and the pressure is on, demands are high, and youre probably close to the end of your rope as you try to wrap up your remaining projects before the holidays start. If thats you, youre not alone. Holiday stress is very common: In a survey by LifeStance Health, 57% of respondents said they experience stress over the season. But its possible to maintain your energy and momentum and not only get things done but stay engaged and finish strong. Fortunately, there are a few pragmatic strategies to maintain your energy and momentum through the end of the year. 1. Maintain control Youre likely to start feeling out of control. This is because of all the work you must accomplish before the end of the year, all the events you must attend, and all the responsibilities to families and friends for the holidays. Feeling like your work-life balance is out of control can sap your energy and create a barrier to getting things done. This can turn into a vicious circle. Youre out of control, cant get things done, and then feel even more out of control, and the cycle continues. On the other hand, when you feel greater levels of choice and control, youre better able to stay clearheaded, get more accomplished, and feel more satisfied as a result. So how can you feel more in control? First, decide what you must do this year and put off the things that dont need your attention until after the holidays. Be intentional to get things done that will relieve your mind and keep responsibilities from hanging over your head. At the same time, plan for what can be done later on. Additional tactics to take control are deceptively simple. Make lists of what you need to accomplish. Keep a calendar handy so you know whats coming up. When you accomplish things, check them off your list so you feel a sense of completion and progress, or mark the calendar counting the days youve tackled. With all of these, take the approach that works best for you. For some people, its an analog and always-visible to-do list. For others its an app or the use of your systems calendar or planning software. Dont spend a lot of time deciding which to use, just leverage what youre accustomed to and dig in to take control and maintain your momentum for the year. 2. Prioritize With so much coming at you, it can be tough to find the time and energy for everything. The project is due at work, you have to buy a secret Santa gift, and you must figure out what to give your childs teacher for the holidays. Surprisingly, when you remind yourself that you cant do it all, youll actually enhance your well-being. Its a mindset that we can do it all that often leads to burnout and emotional upheaval. By giving yourself permission to choose, rather than having to do everything, you liberate yourself to focus on whats most important. In order to choose well, clarify your values and focus on whats most important to you. For example, completing the project at work is aligned with your value of excellence or standout performance. Contributing to your childs party at school is important to your role as an involved and committed parent. But you might choose to forgo the committee meeting this month or miss the neighborhood cookie exchange because these arent as important to your identity or your priorities. In fact, the LifeStance Health data found that 64% of people would like to skip at least a few of their holiday gatherings. So while many of the meetings or events still matter, some may not rank as highly when you consider that you cant do it all. Do what you can and preserve your energy for the activities that are most important to you. 3. Spend meaningful time with others When things get busy, you may feel like everyone is pulling you in different directions, but our community and relationships are among the most important drivers of well-being. Youll want to maintain connections to maintain your energy. Research shows that strong community and relationships have significant impact on mental, physical, and cognitive well-being. And yet the holidays can be a lonely time. According to LifeStance Health, 51% of people surveyed said they experience loneliness during the holiday season. Reframe the demands you face as opportunities to share meaningful time with others. If youre under pressure to finish the project before the holiday break, appreciate the bonding opportunity with colleagues as you push forward together. If youre holiday shopping with your sister-in-law, appreciate the moments to deepen your relationship. Strive to be fully present with others, no matter what youre doing together. You can also reduce the responsibilities that come with getting together with others. Instead of reading your usual book with your book group this month, get together for conversation without actually reading a book. Or if your singles group normally meets at someones house, get together at a restaurant this month so no one has to host. The bottom line: Adjust your patterns during this time so its less about the demands and more about the connections. 4. Manage your habits Another way to maintain your energy is to manage the small habits that make a big difference in your physical and emotional energy. Get enough sleep. Stay hydrated. Eat healthfully. Move as much as you can. All of these are proven ways to ensure youll be at your best. Also spend as much time as possible in nature, even if the weather is colder. Significant research demonstrates that by spending more time outside, youre able to maintain perspective and rejuvenate for all the responsibilities you face. In fact, nature is a source of micro joy. Part of the reason that nature is so powerfully positive is that it engages your diffuse attention. Youre generally aware of the light, the breeze, or the brisk air. This is in contrast to the focused attention that work or personal commitments require. Research published in Environment and Behavior found that a shift to a more diffuse focus contributes to well-being and renews you for tasks that require more concentration or intensity. At the same time, avoid habits that detract from your well-being. For example, steer clear of doomscrolling or spending too much time online. These activities can have an especially negative impact because of the overwhelm caused from too much bad news; the urgency of most news sources, which creates a sense of worry; and the comparisons we naturally make to others. Instead, put your device aside or set a timer on your system to limit your time on social media platforms or news outlets. This will free you to spend more time with people or in nature. 5. Focus on gratitude Finally, focus on gatitude. When youre consciously grateful, you contribute to your well-being and ensure you can keep going through it all. You have a lot of responsibilities at work, which is a signal that others value your contributions and rely on you. You have gifts to wrap, which is a reflection of all the loved ones youre able to provide for. You have gatherings to attend, which is an indication of how youre connected to your community. Its also powerful to remind yourself that youre not alone. When youre under a lot of pressure, it can be natural to lose a broader perspective or feel like a victim of too much, too fast, all-at-once circumstances. But research experiments have shown that when people remind themselves that others are also going through hard times or similar challenges, they feel greater levels of happiness and well-being and less isolation, according to a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies. To embrace gratitude, think of two experiences youre grateful for before you go to bed or consider one relationship youre thankful for as you approach each new day. Also remind yourself that youre not alone, and that while you face a ton of demands, others have similar experiences. Focusing here will help you maintain your energy. You can do it Remember: Just do what you can. You dont have to be perfect, and youll certainly miss things or drop the ball sometimes. Be flexible and optimistic with yourself and others, leaving room for things to go well enough, even if they dont meet your ideal. Reduce the pressure on yourself and youll not only get through such a busy time with your energy stores intact, youll also maintain greater joy in the process.
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E-Commerce
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