Neurodiversity At The Forefront

Potentia’s Dave Thompson had the honor of delivering the opening keynote at the Capital Region Chamber 's annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Summit in Albany. This year’s summit attracted over 350 attendees, representing more than 2,600 member organizations committed to fostering a more inclusive community and workplace.

The Capital Region Chamber's mission is to serve as a unifying force for progress, providing opportunities for businesses to succeed while promoting the prosperity of individuals and communities. The DEI Summit 2024 served as a vital platform for learning new approaches and best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.

During his keynote, Dave shared insights from his decade-long experience in neurodiversity employment, focusing on how to create more inclusive workplaces for all kinds of thinkers. His presentation not only informed the audience but also inspired them to take meaningful action within their own organizations.

"Attending the DEI Summit was a truly inspirational, informational, eye-opening event.? The opening keynote, by Dave Thompson, 'Untapped: Neurodiversity at Work' provided insights on the value of neurodiverse talent, offering a fresh perspective on how inclusion drives innovation and leaving us with actionable steps. I left feeling empowered to create more inclusive workplaces and unlock the potential of every individual!"? - Jason Benitez, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Capital Region Chamber

As organizations strive to promote a greater sense of belonging, Potentia Workforce stands ready to support these efforts. Get in touch today to explore how we can help your organization in Thinking Differently.

Potentia is making waves in Germany as we engage with top companies across Europe on the “what, why, and how” of neurodiversity (ND) employment through our partnership with NEON by NEOSITY . NEON convenes over 60 leading organizations committed to empowering neurodiversity in the workplace, fostering a collaborative environment where leaders can learn from each other and leverage the expertise of the Potentia team.

"As someone with ADHD, I know firsthand the unique perspectives and strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring to the table. My goal with NEON is to create a platform across Europe that empowers neurodivergent talent to shine in environments that truly value and support them. Through NEON, we’re building a network where organizations can learn, share, and collaborate to drive meaningful change. It's about showing that neurodivergent minds are not just an asset—they are the future of innovation and creativity in the workplace."- Nina Leibel, Founder of Neosity

The session, led first by Dave Thompson, was structured to first establish a common understanding of neurodiversity and its relevance in the workplace, before diving into actionable strategies: best practices in leadership, allyship, and communication, as well as an introduction to Success Enablers. CEO and Founder, Jeff Miller,? then led a session offering practical advice on how organizations can begin this journey.

Nina continued, "The NEON kickoff was absolutely electrifying! We had such a dynamic group of leaders and advocates, and the discussions were filled with passion and commitment. One of the key takeaways was the overwhelming need for companies to not only focus on hiring neurodivergent talent but to also create ongoing support systems that help them thrive. It became clear that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are essential in breaking down the misconceptions around neurodiversity. We’ve already started to build that momentum, and the energy in the room made it clear: this is only the beginning!"

As Potentia continues to lead the charge in neurodiversity employment, we are excited to share our knowledge and foster meaningful change across borders. Stay tuned for more insights and developments from our European journey!

The Potentia team was requested to provide coaching for an ND employee and their manager in Ohio this month.? We dispatched Melissa Salazar from our team to assess the situation and make recommendations.? We are seeing more such requests recently and have a methodology and experienced team members to apply it.?

Melissa was able to assess the situation and provide coaching to both manager and employee with great results.? The worker had the skills to do the job and wanted to be there.? The manager also wanted to see the worker succeed.? The primary issue was around communication, and Melissa was able to provide tools and strategies to help them align and move forward productively.??

If you are experiencing or witnessing a similar scenario, please reach out .? We’re happy to help if we can.

Want More From Potentia, Straight To Your Inbox?

Sign up for our monthly email newsletter for content you won’t get anywhere else.

Are you Thinking Differently?

Is your company looking to solve today’s talent challenges with the solutions of tomorrow? Tap into an all-too-often overlooked talent pool and create a more inclusive workplace with Potentia Workforce.

Potentia seeks to help organizations of all sizes create positive change and unlock the full potential of their teams.

Ready to learn more? Visit our website or contact us today to see which program is right for you. www.PotentiaWorkforce.com