Episode 111: Yush Sztalkoper

Welcome to episode #111! We’re thrilled to be joined by Yush Sztalkoper. Yush Sztalkoper is a neurodivergent entrepreneur, coach and founder of Neuros Spark Plus. She works with parents of twice-exceptional children and with organizations to build neuro-inclusive cultures. Yush uses a positive intelligence approach to reshape self-sabotaging habits, reduce burnout and create support systems that fit neurodivergent brains.Q&A JN: How did your journey into neurodiversity start? – Began with concerns for her son at age four and a half, which led to investigation and support. – Her son is twice-exceptional - bright with learning differences. – Her child’s profile sparked reflection and ultimately her own ADHD diagnosis about a year ago. – Diagnosis brought clarity and permission to seek different supports.JN: What changed after your diagnosis? – Greater self-awareness and reduced guilt about needing supports. – Shift from deficit thinking to strength-based perspective. – Left corporate role two months after diagnosis to pursue more fitting work.JN: How did culture and immigrant background shape your masking? – Asian immigrant upbringing encouraged fitting in and masking differences. – Masking led to long-term adaptation and people-pleasing strategies. – Parenting revealed those patterns and forced new choices.JN: What is Positive Intelligence and how does it help? – A mindset method that identifies saboteurs and activates “sage” responses. – Uses Activate and Empathy sages to ask “What is needed now?” and to give self-compassion. – Helps shift victim thinking to opportunity-focused thinking for parenting and work.JN: How do ADHD traits show up for you and your son? – Time blindness, hyperfocus, intense interests, and masking differences. – Rejection sensitivity and people-pleasing were major personal drivers. – Hyperfocus can be an asset when channeled correctly.JN: Why move from corporate to entrepreneur? – Corporate expectations blocked expression of core strengths. – Needed autonomy, flexibility and roles that let creativity and novelty thrive. – Now builds services and community that scale human-centered support.JC: How are you scaling your work? – Local monthly in-person sessions for parents - created a nonprofit community hub. – Neuros Spark Plus grew to offer coaching, small cohort programs and organizational consulting. – Partnership model - Collab X - to amplify experts and scale impact beyond local reach.JN: What does neuro-inclusive work look like in organizations? – Help leaders co-create supports and build environments where masking is unnecessary. – Teach self-advocacy skills so workers can express needs and leaders can listen. – Focus on holistic supports across life stages, not siloed programs.JC: How do you approach productivity for neurodivergent clients? – Start with mindset - use Positive Intelligence to ask “What is needed now?” – Laser focus on one actionable task rather than a long, stress-inducing to-do list. – Build breaks, self-empathy and flexibility into routines to avoid burnout.JN: Final ask or message? – Lean into strengths and build systems that fit your brain. – Early support prevents prolonged struggle - advocate for neuro-inclusion and shared community resources.Connect with Yush:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yushsztalkoper/Website: https://www.neurosparkplus.com/Connect with Jeremy:LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremyEmail: [email protected] with Joey:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/More from Focus Bear:Website: https://focusbear.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearappTwitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.ioTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear