PEOPLE & PLANET | DIVERSITY
some companies intentionally form ‘ pods ’ comprising neurotypical and neurodivergent professionals to bring the best out of the combination in service of business goals .
Neurodiversity as competitive advantage Certainly , in viewing the world differently , neurodiverse talent can offer different perspectives , which can help solve complex challenges and advance innovation .
As CEO of Empauwer , the world ’ s first AI-powered inclusive onboarding and engagement platform designed to help employers hire , engage , and harness neurodiverse talent , Singapore-based Farida Charania is seeing first-hand the shift taking place .
“ There has been a stigma around neurodiversity in Asia , as is the case in many parts of the world . However , the landscape is slowly shifting … and more organisations are realising the unique potential and skills that neurodiverse individuals bring to the table .”
While every neurodiverse individual is unique , there are common characteristics that make them great hires , says Farida . As well as fostering innovation and bringing a wide range of perspectives to the table , those with neurodivergent conditions offer unique problem-solving abilities , creativity , and attention to detail , she says .
Rajesekharan Pazhaniappan , co-founder of v-shesh Learning Services concurs . “ There are many neurodivergent individuals who are highly creative and have natural out-of-the-box thinking and complex problem-solving skills – the same aptitude that corporates want for their roles in IT , analytics , data science and AI .”
At the same time , he points out that many have deep interest in related fields , so not only are they an untapped talent pool but an exceptional one , “ the combination of aptitude and interest creates an intense work focus ”.
Globally , EY and JPMorgan were among organisations quick to spot the talent pool . In comparing the work generated by neurodiverse and neurotypical professionals , EY found that while quality , efficiency and productivity were similar , neurodiverse employees excelled at innovation . And after implementing its ‘ autism at work ’ initiative , JPMorgan found neurodiverse teams made fewer errors and were 90 % to 140 % more productive .
Realising the competitive advantage , these and other organisations including Wells Fargo , Deloitte , Accenture , Petronas and IHG Hotels are rolling out hiring and retention programmes across the region .
By harnessing the pow differently , neurodive innovation and creati while also developing are more inclusive an
Farehana Hanapiah SVP , Group HR Management , Petronas , 126 December 2023