Meet the NDIM Co-Founder : JAZ POKE
Jasmine (Jaz), diagnosed with ADHD, Global Commerce Director at agency, and one of the leading drivers of NDIM
I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021, with little to no prior knowledge of neurodiversity. Having spent my formative years seen as a 'gifted kid' that ended up as a university dropout, and regularly burning out in my early career, receiving a diagnosis was only really the beginning for me to understand how this condition had impacted my entire life without me knowing for so long.
I've regularly written about my experiences as a late diagnosed woman, neurodivergent mother and how I approached opening up about neurodiversity at work based on my own challenges of getting workplace accommodations.
I fell into the media industry as Commerce & Retail continues to crowbar its way in. I’m in awe of the creative, strategic and technical thinking that this industry is based on - in theory this is an amazing place for ND individuals to thrive!
But the reality of the modern workplace, with back to back meetings, being digitally connected and available constantly, high pressue client demands, deadlines and processes that are not built with people’s needs in mind - I’ve seen a lot of overwhelm and burnout. The last 5 years has seen the pace of workplaces change drastically, and it’s no surprise to me that more people - and especially more women- are getting diagnosed. The negative impact of long NHS waiting lists and medication shortages is also having a profound impact on not just mental wellbeing, but also physical.
I feel a really strong pull towards Safety in our 4S Manifesto. Psychological safety for people to be themselves without fear of bias, as well as hearing and seeing senior voices who have achieved amazing things in their career, embracing their neurodivergence. That's not to downplay the challenges we face day to day, as we know it's not all sunshine and rainbows(!), but my hope is that the Safety of community and sharing lived experiences will help more people to understand it's OK to be yourself!
More than ever, it’s important to share compassion for your fellow humans, build community and support each other - diagnosed, undiagnosed, a carer, whatever your position. I’ve learned whilst we’ve been preparing to launch NDIM that it’s also not just about companies creating neuroinclusive policies, but also about giving voice and platforms for individuals to advocate for their own needs.
I'm so excited Simon asked me to be his Co-Founder. So much love and passion has gone into bringing this to life. I look forward to listening intently to the response and feedback we get about how to bring our 4S Manifesto to life for the media industry.
Jaz