Genius Within August Newsletter 2024

As the sun goes down...

With August, and Autumn rolling in, it's a great time to reflect on the year that is going by, and reset for the coming colder months, that lots of us find a little more difficult.?

At Genius Within, we have been working away to get the Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards organised, and we couldn't be more excited that it is less than one month away!?

We have launched the updated Genius Finder platforms, so now is the perfect time to start your Genius Finder journey and discover your hidden strengths.?

September is sure to bring lots of new and interesting endeavours for our team, and we look forward to highlighting some of our Neurodiversity Champions. And though we will miss the sun, longer days and summer festivities, we welcome the changes that Autumn will bring!?

Thank you to Paul Stevenson, Genius Within Ambassador, for his photo of the month contribution!?

Here is ?a photo I took during my holiday this year on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. The image is an aerial shot of Glen Nevis. The River Nevis winds its way through Glen Nevis, flowing from the heavy rains that drench Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains on its brief journey to the sea. The river is a prominent feature of the glen, with several breath taking waterfalls. One of the highlights is a dramatic gorge that offers an easy yet rewarding walk leading to Steall Falls. Here, you can witness the power of erosion as the rushing water carves its way through deep rock pools.

Glen Nevis is often regarded as one of the finest examples of a glaciated valley in Scotland. Further downstream, the Lower Falls is a fantastic spot to view a waterfall, especially when it's raining—watch as millions of gallons (or litres) of fresh water cascade over the rocks on their way to the sea. Glen Nevis also served as a filming location for the movie Braveheart. A great way to explore the glen is to park your car at the Braveheart car park and set off on foot. You can either follow the forestry paths, which offer various walking routes, or take the main road into the glen. It is well worth a visit.

Employee Spotlight

Our success would not be possible without the passion and dedication of our exceptional team. Their hard work and enthusiasm continue to drive us forward, and we are incredibly grateful for their unwavering commitment.?We hope to shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of our employees by featuring a different member of the Genius Within team in each edition, asking them a couple of simple questions so you can get to know the faces behind the brand a little better!

What is your role at Genius Within?

Partnerships Consultant?

What is your favourite?thing about working for Genius Within?

My favourite thing about working for Genius Within is the incredible opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives. Every day, I get to contribute to a mission that supports and empowers neurodiverse individuals to reach their full potential. The collaborative and supportive environment here allows me to continuously learn and grow, which is deeply fulfilling.

What motivates you at work?

I'm motivated by the knowledge that my work can have a lasting impact on both individuals and organisations. The challenge of creating and nurturing partnerships that align with our mission excites me. Seeing the tangible results of our efforts, whether it's through successful partnerships or positive feedback from clients, keeps me driven to achieve more.?

What is your favourite way to unwind after a day of work?

After a busy day, I enjoy unwinding by going for walks. It helps me clear my mind and recharge. I also love spending time with family and friends.?

Check out this segment in our monthly newsletter. In September, we will feature Naomi Johnson, Ambassador for Disability and Inclusion.?

?? Join us for the 2024 Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards! ??

Held during inclusion week on Sept 25th at 5pm

We can’t wait to share with you, all the wonderful stories we have heard this year. The neurodivergent community spend so much of our lives being measured by the standards of others, the awards are a night to celebrate our differences and redefine those standards for ourselves.

This year we have celebrity host Michelle Gayle, and music from J Grange We are also now celebrating five winners in each category because two just wasn’t enough!

There will be live captioning sponsored by MyClearText as well as a BSL interpreter The Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards are for the ND community, by the ND community (and they make a great viewing party for your ERG!).

Thanks to live event sponsor Adobe and media partner News UK????

Sign up for the event here!

This month, Dr Nancy Doyle has been busy writing multiple Forbes articles for all of you lovely people to read. They each explore different subjects and are relevant to recent events.?

1) No, 50% Of Children Will Not Be Autistic By 2050?

2) UK Managers: Your People Are Not Okay

Be sure to check them out! We will be uploading articles regularly so make sure you keep up to date with them.

CoolArt2021, aka Marcus, is back!

Earlier this year we were lucky enough to feature some of Marcus' amazing art work in our newsletter. This month, we are happy to share the same!

Marcus has recently released his illustrated book, which he has worked very hard on. It is titled 'The Horse and The Dragon, Trials of Friendship', which can be purchased on Amazon here.?

We are excited to be doing some more work with Marcus later this year, so keep your eyes peeled!?

Keep being brilliant Marcus!

Neurodiversity Coaching: Seven Tips For Success

In here recent Forbes article, Nancy discusses seven tips for success as a neurodiversity coach. So, we thought we would share these with you!

1. Look For “Neuro-Affirming” Style Coaching

2. Combination Of Lived Experience And Professional Training

3. Reporting Results And Quality Control

4. Functional Performance Focus

5. Expertise In One Neurotype Is Limited

6. Rapport Predicts Success

7. Dose Effect: 8 Hrs Minimum, 16 hrs Maximum

To find out more about each of the seven tips...?

Click here??

What is a Non-Executive Director?

A NED is a member of a companies board of directors, who is not a member of the companies executive team.?

Neil is a member of the Genius Within Board (Non Exec) and former co-chair. ?He supports the Senior Leadership Team with advice and governance and lends his experience outside of Genius Within to help the organisation to grow and thrive.

Introducing Neil...

Neil has 24 years of experience working in the field of Accessibility, Neurodiversity and Assistive Technology and loves working with Genius Within as the organisation really lives to its values. ?He joined the board as he could see the great impact that Genius Within was having on the life and career prospects of Neurodivergent people. Neil is excited by the huge potential of tools like Genius Finder to really help individuals and employers excel.

Outside of his board role, Neil is the Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion for the multinational technology services company, Atos. ?He is Dyslexic and ADHD and, as a long term user of assistive technology, he has been shouting at computers for over two decades, it’s only recently that they have started answering him back! ?Neil is looking forward to seeing the growth in technologies that can support ND people and the uptick in interest & recognition of neurodiversity as a business topic.

What 3 words would Neil use to describe Genius Within? Unlocking people's potential.

What is Neil's favourite way to relax and unwind after a day’s work? When Neil is not playing with technology or podcasting, he enjoys gardening.

What is Neil's Inner Genius? Connecting people and concepts to enable systems change.

Thank you so much for joining us for the August edition of the Genius Within newsletter.

We as the seasons change, you take time to slow down and rest after the busy summer that has just passed.?

See you next month...

Steph and the marketing team?