Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship

By Diana Zaremba
OnlineMBA | Updated December 9, 2022

Many famous entrepreneurs are neurodivergent. Explore the connection between entrepreneurship and neurodiversity, including advantages and misconceptions. Get advice from two neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, and Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul and “Shark Tank” investor, have some things in common: They are famous entrepreneurs — and neurodivergent. Branson has ADHD and dyslexia, while Corcoran is dyslexic.

Other successful neurodivergent entrepreneurs include Lee Chambers, founder of British company, Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, and Dr. Angel Durr, CEO and founder of DataReady DFW.

About 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent, according to a 2020 British Medical Bulletin study. It’s estimated that around 10% of people have dyslexia, 5% have ADHD, and 1-2% have autism.

Find out what neurodiversity means and the difference between being neurodivergent vs. neurotypical. Learn about strengths and misconceptions from two neurodivergent entrepreneurs and tips for those interested in entrepreneurship.

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the view that people’s brains naturally work differently and there’s no correct way of thinking, processing, and learning.

It’s not a new term — Judy Singer, a sociologist who is autistic, first coined the word in the late 1990s to highlight that neurological diversity exists.

Researchers note that there is no “normal” in how the human brain works, but that differences are due to natural variations, reports a 2018 Neuroscience News article. Therefore, society should accept and embrace neurological and developmental differences.

What is the difference between Neurodivergent vs. Neurotypical?

Neurodivergent describes people with different abilities and challenges because their brains developed differently. The opposite of neurodivergent is neurotypical, which refers to a person with typical brain development, processing, or behaviors.

Neurodivergent is not a medical term and does not describe specific conditions. But those with neurological and developmental conditions like autism and ADHD may describe themselves as neurodivergent. You don’t need a specific diagnosis to identify as neurodivergent.

Neurodivergent Strengths

While no two brains are alike, neurodivergent people may share strengths and talents that translate well into entrepreneurship. Some of these traits include creativity, innovation, visual thinking, and attention to detail.

A former manager at Dell, Peter Mann founded Oransi, which manufactures and sells air purification systems. He was diagnosed with autism earlier this year.

According to Mann, one of his strengths is the ability to hyperfocus…[MORE]

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To read the entire article by Diana Zaremba at the OnlineMBA website , visit: Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship