Why Neurodiversity Matters at Work (with Khushboo Chabria)

Picture a teenager waking up at 3 a.m. to study for AP Biology, reading the same paragraph over and over, and it just will not go in. That was Khushboo Chabria in high school, years before anyone said the word ADHD to her. She carried that "something is wrong with me" feeling all the way into her thirties, into a career as a clinician who was, ironically, already serving neurodivergent kids every day. Neurodiversity in the workplace is not an abstract diversity-statement topic for her; it is her own life, cracked open at 31 when a late ADHD diagnosis finally explained a lifetime of unanswered questions. Khushboo works with Neurodiversity Pathways at Goodwill of Silicon Valley as a career coach and mental health advocate, helping neurodivergent professionals enter and thrive in their careers. We talk about what happened when she brought her new diagnosis back to her own workplace (it did not go the way she hoped), the mindset shift she now teaches organizations, trading judgment for "compassionate curiosity," and why neurodiversity, like biodiversity or cultural diversity, is simply normal, not a problem to fix. If you have ever felt underestimated, misunderstood, or like you were somehow doing life "wrong," this conversation is for you. We get into how to self-advocate when you do not have the words for what you need yet, common workplace misconceptions about neurodivergent behavior, and how to find your people when your current workplace is not one of them. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-l678RVMlo In this episode Why a late ADHD diagnosis is not "too late": it can answer a lifetime of unanswered questions about why you felt misunderstood The mindset shift from judgment to "compassionate curiosity" that changes how teams treat neurodivergent coworkers Why "when you meet one neurodivergent person, you've only met one," and what that means for how you support others How to advocate for your own accommodations before anyone else names them for you Common workplace misconceptions about neurodivergent behavior, and why "office humor" is not a universal language Where to find community if you suspect you are neurodivergent and feel like you are the only one Timestamps (00:01) Welcome and guest intro: meet Khushboo Chabria, neurodiversity specialist and career coach (01:41) Diagnosed with ADHD at 31, as a "burnt out clinician" (04:45) The 3 a.m. study sessions, and a lifetime of "if only you would..." (06:38) Taking her diagnosis back to work, and slowly feeling managed out (10:36) What neurodivergence actually means, and why it's normal (14:38) The manager who said, "I don't want you to keep trying to prove you can do all the things" (16:27) Common misconceptions about neurodivergent behavior at work (17:25) From lenses of judgment to lenses of "compassionate curiosity" (23:52) How to advocate for yourself in a workplace that isn't working for you, and the book "Neurodiversity for Dummies" (29:41) Finding community, and advocacy groups like ASAN (32:38) Where to find Neurodiversity Pathways at Goodwill of Silicon Valley About Khushboo Chabria Khushboo Chabria is a neurodiversity specialist, career coach, and mental health advocate with Neurodiversity Pathways at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, where she coaches neurodivergent professionals entering or navigating their careers. Diagnosed with ADHD at 31 after years of working as a clinician serving neurodivergent children, she is a co-author of the book "Neurodiversity for Dummies," published this year. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Favorite quotes "When you meet one neurodivergent person, you've only met one." —Khushboo Chabria "It's not really about the label, it's about the individual." —Khushboo Chabria "Instead of jumping to a conclusion, get curious, ask why." —Khushboo Chabria Resources mentioned Khushboo Chabria on LinkedIn "Neurodiversity for Dummies," the book co-authored by Khushboo's team, discussed as a resource for neurodivergent individuals, parents, educators, and managers Neurodiversity Pathways at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, Khushboo's organization, including their Career Readiness Training program for neurodivergent job seekers ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network), mentioned as a Bay Area advocacy resource Related episodes Anxiety at Work: another look at what it takes to feel safe and supported inside the modern workplace. How to Reclaim Your Energy When You're Burned Out: pairs with Khushboo's own burnout story before her diagnosis. Adapt or Drown: Finding Your Life Raft in the Modern Workplace: more on what today's workplace demands of every kind of brain. Subscribe & connect If this episode gave you something to sit with, follow Phoenix and Flame so you never miss an episode: all apps in one place, or jump straight to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube. And if it moved you, leave a review; it's the easiest way to help another listener find the show. Learn more about Phoenix and Flame, connect with Dana, and listen to more episodes here. Curious where your own boundaries stand? Take my free Work Boundaries Quiz: danaskaggs.com/quiz