290. Neurodiversity as a Leadership Advantage - Sandra Crespo

290. Neurodiversity as a Leadership Advantage - Sandra Crespo

From IDEAS+LEADERS by Dr Elena Paweta

March 23, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

Sandra Crespo discusses how neurodiversity can be leveraged as a leadership advantage in organizations.

In episode 290 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Sandra Crespo, executive coach, speaker, and mental health professional specializing in neurodiversity and leadership. Sandra works with organizations to build environments where “neurospicy” talent can thrive, combining insights from mental health, systems thinking, and leadership development. She is the creator of the S.P.I.C.Y. Framework, a strengths-based approach that helps organizations turn neurodiversity into a real advantage rather than a checkbox. We explore why traditional workplace systems often fail neurodivergent professionals, how ADHD shows up in high-performing environments, and what leaders need to understand to build teams that are both effective and sustainable. Sandra shares a refreshing perspective on leadership that moves beyond performance and productivity toward clarity, access, and human-centered design. In this episode, we discuss: Why traditional leadership models overlook neurodiversity How ADHD can be a strength in creative and high-pressure environments What workplace systems unintentionally create friction for different brains How leaders can design teams and communication for clarity and…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Elena Paweta

Guest: Sandra Crespo

Topics covered

  • neurodiversity
  • leadership
  • mental health
  • workplace systems
  • team design
  • ADHD

Keywords

  • neurodiversity
  • leadership advantage
  • ADHD
  • workplace systems
  • S.P.I.C.Y. Framework
  • human-centered design
  • team effectiveness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IDEAS+LEADERS

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