Supporting Neurodivergence and the HSP Nervous System at Work with Sira Laurel

In this conversation, I’m joined by organizational development strategist and executive coach Sira Laurel to explore what it really means to support the highly sensitive nervous system at work. We talk about how neurodivergence shows up in professional environments, why so many HSPs struggle in traditional workplaces, and how to begin creating more aligned, supportive ways of supporting your staff.Sira shares:Her experience of being labeled with sensory processing disorder and how that shaped her identity.How she managed the shift from a calm environment to the intensity of a big city.How meditation became a powerful tool for regulating her nervous system.Her transition from quantitative corporate work into human-centered, systems-based work.What it means to be a systems strategist and how her work supports individuals and organizations.The importance of understanding your own nervous system and recognizing your personal signals of overwhelm.Topics covered:Nervous system regulation for HSPs.Neurodivergence in the workplace.Neuropsychological safety and why it matters.How work environments affect HSP well-being and performance.Meditation as a tool for grounding and awareness.Systems thinking and human-centered workplaces.The future of work and why HSP traits are becoming more valuable.Creativity, empathy, and intuition in the age of AI.About Sira Laurel:Sira Laurel is an organizational development strategist, executive coach, and certified Highly Sensitive Person coach who helps thoughtful professionals design work lives that actually fit how their brains and nervous systems function. With more than 15 years of leadership and HR experience, she specializes in helping highly sensitive and cognitively intense people understand their sensitivity as a strength rather than a limitation. Through her work in organizational development and neuro-affirming coaching, Sira helps people reduce hidden cognitive load, navigate leadership and career transitions, and build work environments where they can contribute their best thinking without burning out.Follow along on Sira’s journey:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/siralaurelWebsite: leadnorthofnormal.comLet’s Connect:🤍 Share your biggest takeaway or follow us on Instagram @happyhsppodcast — we’d love to hear from you! 🎧 Subscribe and leave a review to help more HSPs find this space: thehappyhsppodcast.buzzsprout.com📩 Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Kimberly at: [email protected]📖 Learn about Kimberly’s work: happyhspcoaching.comAbout Kimberly:Kimberly Marshall is an ICF-certified Energy and Intuition coach for highly sensitive people (HSPs) and host of The Happy HSP Podcast. After 20 years in the publishing industry working for companies like Time Inc., Monster.com, and W. W. Norton, she left her corporate career to pursue work that better suited her HSP needs. She now help HSPs reconnect with their intuition, energy, and purpose so they can live gentle, soul-aligned lives. Through her work, Kimberly hopes to shed more light on the reality of living with high sensitivity and inspire more HSPs to embrace their empathetic, loving, and gentle natures. Hosted/produced by Kimberly MarshallEdited by Fonzie Try MediaArtwork by Tara Corola