She Left Accenture, PwC, and EY to Build What Nobody Offered Her — w/ Rita Ramakrishnan

What if behaviors like hyperfocus, pacing, and going blank weren't signs that something is wrong, but clear data about how you work best?Rita Ramakrishnan is a neurodivergent executive coach, former Chief People Officer, and founder of Iksana Consulting. Diagnosed with ADHD in university and autism at 35, she spent nearly two decades navigating corporate environments at Accenture, PwC, and EY before building a coaching practice explicitly designed for neurodivergent executives. In this episode, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with Rita for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to stop apologizing for how your brain works and start building around it.In this candid, insight-dense episode, Rita, Stephen, and Aaron go deep on the hidden costs of masking, the mechanics of real coaching presence, and the systemic changes companies can make right now.✨ Highlights ✨✔️ How Rita’s diagnosis journey required a “backwards pass” through her entire life narrative✔️ What masking and mirroring actually look like in practice✔️ Coaching as a "container" — not just holding space, but metabolizing what clients bring✔️ The difference between resilience and "bouncing forward"✔️ Tools for individuals and leadership to build shared language around cognitive profiles✔️ How companies can better structurally serve neurodivergent and neurotypical employees✔️ Why the "ADHD as a superpower" framing can feel activating rather than affirming✔️ Why neurodivergent founders make up an estimated 30–50% of the startup ecosystem"Your brain is a wild and beautiful thing. It was designed that way for a reason." —Rita Ramakrishnan💬 Where in your life have you experienced your own version of the "permission exhale" — a moment when you finally stopped performing and got to just exist?𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:Hosts: Stephen Tonti & Aaron SmithProducer: David GrabowskiEditor: Ian LopezSound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗻:Website: www.iksana.comLinkedIn: Search Rita RamakrishnanSend us Fan MailWe are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent