Supporting Neurodivergent Employees: A Guide for Engineering Leaders

“People don’t always take it well, unfortunately. But managers, a lot of the time, don’t do it out of malice.”Neurodivergent employees face unique challenges in tech—struggling with information overload, unspoken workplace norms, and the pressure to mask their differences. Yet, many organizations fail to provide the support they need to thrive.In this episode, Lena sits down with Adya, an experienced professional in tech, to explore the lived realities of being neurodivergent at work. From navigating ableism in performance reviews to advocating for accommodations, Adya shares deeply personal stories and actionable insights for leaders who want to build truly inclusive teams.They discuss:How neurodivergency impacts communication, collaboration, and career progressionThe subtle but pervasive ways ableism shows up in techWhy many neurodivergent employees hesitate to ask for accommodations—and how leaders can change thatPractical strategies for making workplaces genuinely supportiveWhat managers and peers need to unlearn about “normal” work behaviorsThis conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants to better understand neurodivergency, create more inclusive teams, and move beyond performative allyship to real change.⁠⁠⁠Full episode transcript link⁠⁠⁠.Resources:LinkedIn post about communication feedback for autistic peopleManual of Me: Personal user guides for better working relationshipsBook recommendation on AmazonGoblin Tools: Productivity tools for neurodivergent peopleFlown: Focused work environmentsNeurodiversity Employment Survey: Adjustments Interim ReportLaw Society: Reasonable Adjustments in Organizations - Best Practice for Disability InclusionHR Magazine: Neurodiversity and PIPs - Dropping the MaskHarvard Business Review: Stop Asking Neurodivergent People to Change the Way They CommunicateWhy this podcast existsI make this podcast as a space for honest conversations about the hard parts of leadership that most leaders only dare to talk about behind closed doors—after all, we're supposed to be “in charge” and “on top of things" at all times. But from my close work with dozens of leaders every week, I know that more leaders than you may think are struggling with topics like self-confidence, imposter syndrome, unclear expectations, or difficult bosses. This podcast is where we talk about it.About your hostI’m Lena Reinhard (she/they), a fractional VP Engineering, leadership coach, mentor, and facilitator. Having served as an engineering executive with companies like CircleCI and Travis CI, and as a SaaS startup co-founder & CEO, I have dedicated my career to helping fast-paced organizations across the globe succeed in times of high change and challenging markets. You can regularly find me speaking at tech conferences and ⁠read my practical guides for leaders in the technology space ⁠⁠on my website⁠⁠⁠.