Rewiring Leadership: Unlocking the Potential of Neurodiversity in the Nonprofit Sector

Date: Sept 8, 1-2 PM ET
Cost: Free (Zoom Webinar)

*Please note, all registrants will be provided with a link to the recording and presentation slides following the sessions. The recording will be available for 60 days.

One in six people are neurodivergent. And, your nonprofit was almost certainly not built for that reality.

The research is clear about the problem. It’s not the neurodivergent person. It is the mismatch between how that person works and a system designed around neurotypical norms.

Neurodivergent leaders carry an invisible workload of masking, sensory overload, and executive function strain. Neurodivergent staff face vague instructions, performance reviews that measure style rather than results, and the real risks that comes with disclosure.

This session looks at both perspectives: leading as a neurodivergent person, and leading neurodivergent staff. You will leave with practical strategies you can use immediately, most of which will also improve conditions for your neurotypical staff.

This webinar is for leaders, managers, and staff in the nonprofit sector, whether or not they identify as neurodivergent.Participants will receive access to the recording and a resource booklet.

Learning outcomesBy the end of this session, participants will understand:

1. What neurodiversity is, and how to talk about it accurately and without pathologizing difference.
2. The most common challenges facing neurodivergent leaders, including masking, executive function overload, and burnout.
3. The strengths neurodivergent leaders bring to nonprofit organizations, and the conditions that let those strengths show up.
4. The most common barriers facing neurodivergent staff, including unclear communication, inflexible systems, and the risks of disclosure.
5. Practical strategies to build a more flexible leadership practice, including communication, meeting design, workflow, and accommodation culture.

About the Presenter

Mikhael Bornstein is a speaker, facilitator, and instructor specializing in nonprofit leadership and management. Mikhael is an AFP Master Trainer and a frequent speaker at conferences across North America. He teaches at George Brown College, Fleming College Toronto, and Toronto Metropolitan University. Mikhael has a Master in Arts in Leadership Studies from Royal Roads University. Mikhael was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 52, and brings that experience to this session alongside the research.