WorkFair '24: Recruiting and supporting neurodiverse talent

As part of myGwork’s virtual event WorkFair 2024, a thought-provoking webinar titled 'Recruiting and Supporting Neurodiverse Talent' took place, featuring a range of experts who shared their insights and strategies for enhancing workplace inclusivity for neurodiverse people. In partnership with Capgemini, the discussion highlighted the importance of understanding and supporting neurodiverse identity, particularly within organizations.

Andy Goff, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing Manager at Capgemini, emphasized the necessity of personalized conversations. “It is really important that we're having these different conversations rather than just going ‘if somebody has ADHD or autism or dyspraxia, this is what we need to do.’ Have the conversation; the person that knows what they need is that individual.”

Tricia Lucas-Clarke, Early Talent Recruitment Diversity Equity & Inclusion Manager at GSK, addressed the challenges of shifting organizational mindsets: “I’d say the challenge is not changing everyone's mindset at once because there will be people that think, ‘why are we doing this, what are we doing this for?’ Start with the people that want to change and then use them as the change makers.”

Steven Mason, Senior People Business Partner at Criteo, spoke about the significance of genuine representation: “(Representation) is not about tokenism. It's not trotting out your diverse folks as a roadshow. It's about helping others like them. When you create that culture, it’s valuable and beneficial for the organization and others who may face the same challenges as you.”

Mark Watson, Talent Acquisition Manager at RS Group, raised an important point about the difference between equality and equity: “A bit controversially, I don't necessarily believe in ‘equality’. I think equality is a bit of a problem at times because we fight for equality. What we should be fighting for is equity. It should be fair, and it should be right. You shouldn't have equality of process; you should have equity of process.”

Mohin Mohammed, Talent Attraction for the APAC Region at Finastra, highlighted the innovative potential of neurodiverse talent: “When it comes to innovation, the trend is usually to think out of the box. Now we have people who can naturally do it! And when this kind of talent is available, why not hire them?”

This enriching webinar showcased that a diverse workforce can not only encourage innovation and creates a more inclusive and equitable work environment, but also progress organizations in incredible ways.

Watch the full webinar here: