Ed Thompson

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Every Brain is Different: Ramos Law Podcast

Every Brain is Different: Ramos Law Podcast

Watch the full episode here  "Welcome to a thought-provoking episode of the Ramos Law Difference Makers Podcast, where we journey into the fascinating realm of neurodiversity with Ed Thompson, founder and CEO of Uptimize, a global leader in neuroinclusion. In this...

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How Embracing Neurodiversity Transforms Your Workforce

How Embracing Neurodiversity Transforms Your Workforce

They say today HR priorities have become CEO priorities, and I saw this first hand as my boss at the time, the CEO of a tech company in London in the early 2010s, tasked me with creative ways of addressing the company’s talent challenges and building what he called a...

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Respecting Individual Neurodivergent Identities

Respecting Individual Neurodivergent Identities

Everybody is different, and everybody has their own sense of identity. Here, neurodiversity advocate Sarah Duggan shares her own journey - and the importance of respecting individual preferences! “Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” – Toni Morrison I...

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5 Major Risks of Ignoring Neurodiversity at Work

5 Major Risks of Ignoring Neurodiversity at Work

Neurodiversity literally refers to the diversity of human brains and minds. There’s no such thing as any one “normal” brain, and in reality everybody thinks differently. Hence, every team, and every organization, is by definition neurodiverse. However, this...

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Supporting Neurodivergent Parents at Work

Supporting Neurodivergent Parents at Work

We tend to think in terms of supporting neurodivergent folks at work, and parents of neurodivergent folks too, but not - neurodivergent parents! If you want to be neuroinclusive, this is important. Here, Uptimize SME (and mom to a 2 year old!) Laura Wallis shares some...

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Neurodiversity & Innovation with Remi Uzzan and Shawn Fry

Neurodiversity & Innovation with Remi Uzzan and Shawn Fry

  Most CEOs and senior leaders talk about the urgent need to innovate. Innovation can be on a big scale - a new technology or product - but it can also be on a micro scale, with small process improvements leading to big wins. In this webinar we will focus on how...

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Recruiting Future Podcast with Matt Alder: Neuroinclusion

Recruiting Future Podcast with Matt Alder: Neuroinclusion

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE According to recent estimates, between 15 and 20 percent of the world’s population is neurodivergent. Although our understanding of the brain has taken some massive leaps forward, a large proportion of neurodivergent people do not have...

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Virtual Fireside Chat with Tom D’Eri of Rising Tide

Virtual Fireside Chat with Tom D’Eri of Rising Tide

We welcomed one of the preeminent speakers and figures in the neurodiversity at work space for a special virtual fireside chat. Tom D'Eri is a social entrepreneur and founder of Rising Tide Car Wash, an organization that employs over 90 autistic people in a successful...

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MyLadyADHD Podcast with Trina Haynes

MyLadyADHD Podcast with Trina Haynes

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE What is Neurodiversity? What does it look like in the workplace and what are the challenges for ADHDers at work? Neurodiversity is a bit of a buzz word right now - and I wanted to break it down and take a deeper look at the...

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5 Things I Learned When Writing “A Hidden Force”

5 Things I Learned When Writing “A Hidden Force”

I was so thrilled in April to bring my book, A Hidden Force, to the world. The book – 3 years in the making – was the result of substantial research (both by Uptimize and by me personally) and reflects my and Uptimize’s experiences working with organizations to...

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Building an Inclusive Culture Together – IBM & Uptimize

Building an Inclusive Culture Together – IBM & Uptimize

To celebrate Autism Awareness Month 2023, we are proud to release a special collaborative video made with our partners at IBM. IBM has an extraordinary history of disability inclusion, and we are proud to partner with the company to continue to build on that legacy....

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Why I Wrote “A Hidden Force”

Why I Wrote “A Hidden Force”

Around three years ago, it was the beginning of the COVID epidemic, and – for many – the beginning of the first lockdown. It was on a walk with my wife in Denver during that strange time when I said to her that perhaps, with the world apparently on pause, this might...

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Does (Neuro)diversity Need a Business Case?

Does (Neuro)diversity Need a Business Case?

What is known as the “diversity business case” was solidified stridently and impactfully in a number of research reports in the 2010s. Consulting giant McKinsey, for example, reported in 2015 that companies with more ethnically diverse leadership were 35% more likely...

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Virtual Fireside Chat with Trina Haynes of My Lady ADHD

Virtual Fireside Chat with Trina Haynes of My Lady ADHD

We were proud to welcome one of the premier global voices of the neurodivergent community, Trina Haynes, for a special virtual fireside chat with Ed Thompson, CEO and founder of Uptimize. Trina is the Founder of My Lady ADHD, a community for women with ADHD with over...

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Secrets to Building & Leading Neurodiversity ERGs

Secrets to Building & Leading Neurodiversity ERGs

Neurodiversity enterprise resource groups (ERGs) have been a vital driver for neuroinclusive change both within organizations and beyond. Several of the most successful ERG builders on the planet, Salesforce's Kurt Iobst and Ubisoft's Pierre Escaich and Aris Bricker,...

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Neurodiversity: Driving Innovation

Neurodiversity: Driving Innovation

Early in our journey at Uptimize, we ran a series of interviews with folks in Corporate America, including managers. We asked these managers if they knew what the word “neurodiversity” meant.  Over 60% did not (this was 2018), with one commenting “I had never even...

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Most Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

Most Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

We were thrilled to be joined by special guest - Lead DEIA Specialist and International Neurodiversity Educator Marcie Ciampi - and Uptimize CEO Ed Thompson for a discussion of key misconceptions around the topics of neurodiversity at work, common mistakes people can...

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Building a Neurodiversity ERG at your organization

Building a Neurodiversity ERG at your organization

Hear ERG leaders from Salesforce and Ubisoft on how to provide a pathway to being an active neuroinclusion champion in your workplace. Topics covered include:– Why neuroinclusion is important in the workplace– How self-advocates and allies at companies like Salesforce...

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7 Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

7 Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

“What’s a question I should have asked you, but didn’t?” That’s something a mentor of mine consistently asks folks at the end of every conversation. Here I want to talk about a question nobody typically asks us at Uptimize when it comes to neuroinclusion – but it’s...

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Age Inclusion in the Workplace

Age Inclusion in the Workplace

For the first time in history we have five generations of workers in the workplace. That’s right, five generations. And each of these generations, from “Traditionalists” to “Gen Z”, have a variety of values and relationships towards organizations, authority, and work...

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“Appreciating and Supporting Spiky Profiles” Webinar

“Appreciating and Supporting Spiky Profiles” Webinar

Neurodivergent professionals often have what is considered a "spikier" skills profile; when plotted on a graph, skills and strengths can play out in a pattern of high peaks and low troughs, resulting in a spiky appearance. Others - so called "generalists" - can have a...

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8 Tips on How to Be an Inclusive Coworker

8 Tips on How to Be an Inclusive Coworker

Everyone has a part to play in fostering diversity and inclusion. Modern businesses can’t function optimally without the unique perspectives and experiences that diversity and inclusion can provide. Diversity and inclusion is a hot topic in today’s world, especially...

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Tips for Supporting Your Hybrid Workers

Tips for Supporting Your Hybrid Workers

In 2020, everything the American workforce knew to be “normal” was completely turned on its head. The majority of the U.S. workforce was sent home to work remotely (for positions that were remote-capable), in-person meetings were replaced with Zoom calls, and teams...

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How Neurodiversity is Gaining Mainstream Traction

How Neurodiversity is Gaining Mainstream Traction

Even a decade ago, people knew very little about neurodiversity. Many felt, and still feel, apprehensive to disclose neuroidentities such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. While the neurodistinct community still faces bias and misconception, the rise of “neuroinclusion”...

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A Deeper Look into Intersectionality and Neurodiversity

A Deeper Look into Intersectionality and Neurodiversity

People experience and perceive the world in a variety of ways. Neurodiversity is the natural variation of human information processing - there is no single correct way of thinking, learning, or acting and these distinctions are not and should not be regarded as...

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5 Things to Know about ADHD at Work in 2022

5 Things to Know about ADHD at Work in 2022

There’s a lot to admire about ADHD: the creativity, the empathy, the persistence, and the unique abilities it offers many individuals. For those reasons, people with ADHD can be an asset to any company. Creating a functional workspace with diverse talents and needs...

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“Women with ADHD in the Workplace” Webinar

“Women with ADHD in the Workplace” Webinar

Awareness about ADHDer women is increasing. Having a neuroinclusive workplace is becoming an expectation in some industries, and creating a functional workspace with diverse talents and needs can help companies in achieving their business objectives. In this webinar,...

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A Look Into Neurodiversity Trends in 2022

A Look Into Neurodiversity Trends in 2022

Uptimize is the leading corporate training company uniquely focused on neurodiversity at work. We have always had a unique perspective on this emergent field, through working with organizations around the world on their own neuroinclusion journeys, as well as through...

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Are your office holiday parties inclusive?

Are your office holiday parties inclusive?

With the holiday season quickly approaching, employers across the country are beginning to prepare for their annual end-of-year soiree. Traditionally, these events have failed to recognize all beliefs, leaving certain workers feeling excluded and unhappy. HR...

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3 Real Employee Stories: Neuroinclusion in the Workplace

3 Real Employee Stories: Neuroinclusion in the Workplace

Despite increased awareness surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace, success stories of thriving neurodistinct professionals are rarely highlighted. These individuals are not only valuable assets to their operational teams, but are often driving forces towards the...

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Why Your Company Needs Diversity Training

Why Your Company Needs Diversity Training

The topic of diversity and inclusion has remained a popular topic of discussion over the past few years. In recent months, employees have been empowered to voice their opinions on the lack of diversity at many companies across the country. Firms implementing...

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The Value of Neurodiversity Training

The Value of Neurodiversity Training

There isn’t anything new about neurodiversity - neurodiversity simply means that it is a scientific fact that there is a natural diversity of the human brain. However, societal familiarity with neurodiversity has historically been low. Over the past few years, the...

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Neurodiversity in Tech

Neurodiversity in Tech

Many companies in the STEM sector (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) struggle to find qualified candidates because they are overlooking people who think differently. However, some companies have realized this and are taking steps to solve this problem. When...

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From Neurodiversity to Neuroinclusion

From Neurodiversity to Neuroinclusion

Neurodiversity, of course, refers to the human reality of the infinite variation of human brains. There is no one “normal” brain, and as such humans (and consequently, any organization or team) are naturally neurodiverse. Yet the term has also become shorthand, over...

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What is Neurodiversity at Work?

What is Neurodiversity at Work?

Recently, terms like diversity and gender equality have been buzzwords within corporate America, and many employers have gone through great lengths to ensure that they have more racially, culturally, and gender diverse workforces, as well as policies that are more...

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How Neuroinclusion Improves Employee Engagement

How Neuroinclusion Improves Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is about your employee's sense of purpose and how effectively they fit-in at work. At first glance, this may sound like a minor detail to focus on, but taking it seriously is good for business. According to Harvard Business Review Analytic...

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Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month - “The transition of adulthood” April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the theme in 2022 is “the transition of adulthood”. It may surprise organizations that you likely already have autistic talent in your company, so it is important to...

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Salesforce & Uptimize Case Study

Salesforce & Uptimize Case Study

Salesforce & Uptimize Case Study Salesforce started a neurodiversity hiring program in the summer of 2019 and they implement their core value of equality by providing everyone the same opportunities while, at the same time, finding a rich source of untapped talent...

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The Importance of Talent Management

The Importance of Talent Management

The Importance of Talent Management Talent management is a continuous process that involves the following five steps: Talent Planning Talent Attraction Talent Development Talent Retention Talent Transition Connected talent management is a systematic way of handling...

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IBM & Uptimize Success Story

IBM & Uptimize Success Story

IBM & Uptimize Success Story IBM has been an innovator in recognizing and leveraging neurodivergent (ND) talent, crediting that their diversity and inclusion policies have been essential to the success of their business. IBM claims that these values result in...

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Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work

Common Misconceptions about Neurodiversity at Work The neurodistinct community is large; estimates vary anywhere from 1 in 20 people to as many as 1 in 5. With those figures in mind, you most likely already work with neurodivergent talent in your company. What we...

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4 Competitive Advantages From Having a Truly Diverse Workplace

4 Competitive Advantages From Having a Truly Diverse Workplace

Diversity of talent allows for a broader set of perspectives to come together in any creative work, leading to more effective problem solving and decision-making. Even being exposed to diversity can change the way an individual person thinks. It’s not surprising to see more diverse teams consistently outperform less diverse teams in terms of innovation and financial performance in recent studies such as these by HBR and the Credit Suisse Research Institute. 

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