Unlocking Hidden Brilliance: How Neurodivergent Talent Is Transforming the Tech Workplace with CEO Tara May
What if the key to innovation in your workplace isn't finding people who fit your culture, but transforming your culture to unlock brilliance that's been overlooked? Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, has spent her career proving that when organizations create truly neuro-inclusive workplaces, everybody wins. In this conversation, Tara opens up about her personal journey, including raising an autistic son and her own OCD diagnosis in her 40s, and shares the practical frameworks any organization can use to go beyond diversity buzzwords and create real, measurable change.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why 80% of autistic adults face unemployment, and what employers are missing
The 'spiky cognitive profile' advantage and why neurodivergent talent can be 150% more productive
What the 'ROI of Kindness' really means for your bottom line
Three concrete steps to become a neuro-inclusive organization starting this week
The canary in the coal mine: how accommodations for neurodivergent employees benefit everyone
Why psychological safety isn't a soft skill — it's the engine of innovation
About Tara May:
Tara May is the CEO of Aspiritech, a tech services organization built on the belief that neurodivergent talent is a competitive advantage. With 25 years leading digital transformation at major media companies, Tara brings both executive credibility and lived experience to the movement for neuro-inclusive workplaces.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Intro — What if inclusion is the real innovation strategy?
[01:24] Tara's origin story: An autistic son, a C-suite career, and a new mission
[05:05] Neurodiversity belongs to all of us — the 86 billion neuron truth
[06:56] Tara's own OCD diagnosis: 'It's okay to have needs'
[10:03] Accommodations demystified: the water bottle story
[13:20] The spiky cognitive profile and the strengths employers overlook
[17:03] The index card meeting: introverted leadership in action
[20:44] Universal design and the canary in the coal mine
[25:27] 3 steps to becoming a neuro-inclusive organization
[30:00] Psychological safety as the engine of digital transformation
[35:11] How Aspiritech measures success — employees ARE the mission
[38:54] One action you can take this week: ask 'what do I need?'
[41:08] Where to find Tara and connect with Aspiritech
Find Tara May at: www.aspiritech.org | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-may
Subscribe, leave a review at https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/reviews/new/, and share this episode. Visit our website for more resources. Mentioned in this episode: The Human Score — https://thehumanscore.org Find out how human-centric your organization really is with our 40-question survey and live dashboard. Get clear insights and practical steps to strengthen culture, trust, and performance. Host Lori Adams-Brown is one of the consultants in the Human Score Consultant Collective.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Follow the podcast at:
- https://www.youtube.com/@aworldofdifference
- https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/aworldofdifference/
- https://www.instagram.com/aworldof.difference/
Join our Difference Maker membership community for a ton of exclusive content for as little as $5/month. (The price of your a latte at your local coffee shop to enjoy a whole month of content.) Lori's Travel Tips are included as well as exclusive minisodes with our guests not available anywhere else. Join for deeper conversations and a little fun today at https://www.patreon.com/aworldofdifference
Keep making a difference wherever you are!
Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer
A World of Difference Podcast