From the TEDx Stage: Neurodiversity, Innovation, and the Power of Thinking Differently

Standing on the TEDx stage was something I never imagined would happen.

For a long time, I was the person who was told I talked too much, got distracted too easily, and needed to try harder to fit into systems that were never designed for the way my mind works. Being invited to speak at TEDxJoinville felt surreal, but preparing for that stage was also one of the biggest challenges I've faced.

As a neurodivergent person, organizing thoughts, managing pressure, and delivering a message in such a high-stakes environment isn't always straightforward. It required structure, strategy, and a lot of emotional courage. But it also reminded me that challenges don't define our limits. Sometimes they reveal what we're capable of building when we stop trying to force ourselves into the wrong mold.

In my talk, "Neurodiversity and Startups: Innovating with Brains Beyond the Curve," I shared part of my own journey and explored how different ways of thinking interact with innovation, entrepreneurship, and the systems we create around work.

Why this matters to My Social Spark

At My Social Spark, we believe that real innovation comes from diverse perspectives, not just geographically, but cognitively. Neurodivergence is often misunderstood as a limitation that needs to be corrected. But when environments are designed with clarity, flexibility, and intention, different cognitive styles can unlock powerful solutions to complex challenges.

This belief shapes how we work with clients entering new markets, we don't apply one-size-fits-all strategies, we listen, adapt, and build pathways that honor different ways of thinking, doing business, and connecting across cultures.

Innovation doesn't come from everyone thinking the same way. It emerges when different perspectives are allowed to exist, collaborate, and build together, whether across borders or within teams.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring science, lived experience, and entrepreneurship to the TEDx stage, and to contribute to a conversation that aligns deeply with the values My Social Spark was built on: trust, authenticity, and the courage to think beyond the curve. Watch the video here