Exploring Neurodiversity, Intersectionality and Identity with Corinne Coriad

Dive into this meaningful conversation where our host Kim Mamhende features a special guest Corinne Cariad, who brings her unique insight on neurodiversity, both within the world of work and beyond! Drawing from her lived experience as a woman navigating ADHD and autism, Corinne delves into the often unseen barriers that neurodiverse individuals face, emphasising the need for self-care and compassion to prevent burnout. Her multifaceted role as a Neurodivergent Coach, Food Enthusiast, and Third Sector Consultant allows her to mentor others like her, guiding them toward understanding themselves and achieving their aspirations. About our guest: Corinne: Food Enthusiast, Neurodivergent Coach and Third Sector Consultant Running a three-fold business, Corinne specialises in coaching to neurodiverse adults, cookery classes as well as consultancy work for organisations. Her coaching involves helping neurodiverse adults to get a better understanding of themselves in order to empower them to achieve their dreams, such as setting up their business. Meanwhile, ‘my epicurious life’ offers cookery courses, 1-1 coaching as well as free recipes. Corrine’s Website: corinnecariad.co.uk Corrine’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-cariad/ ‘My Epicurious Life’: myepicuriouslife.co.uk Instagram: @myepicuriouslife Episode Overview: Having grown up being neurodivergent before having had a diagnosis, Corinne has personal experiences of the challenges that present a lot of neurodiverse people. These include struggling to fit in, and the negative impacts that masking have on mental health. Moreover, she is aware of the importance of breaking down societal barriers for neurodivergent people, as well as the importance of self-care. At the beginning, Corinne talks about her personal journey to self employment. Here, she discusses why she chose to quit her 9-5 job as well as about the ways that being an entrepreneur suited her. Following on, she discusses the importance of self-care, as well as the challenges that many neurodivergent people face, such as feeling the need to ‘mask’ and the impacts of burnout. And finally, she discusses how society and employers can become more inclusive, also bringing in the importance of recognising intersectionality in her discussions, which is particularly pertinent during this October’s ADHD Awareness and Black History Month. References and useful links: ADHD Babes: ‘A support group for Black Women and Black Non-binary folk of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-babes/ Access to Work: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work The Squarepeg Podcast: https://squarepeg.community/podcast/ Article on neurodiversity and entrepreneurship: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/entrepreneurship-neurodiversity-sme-partnership-2021-kirby/ Timestamps: 2:40: Introduction 13:36: Corrine’s background 22:44: Importance of considering neurodiversity and intersectionality with entrepreneurship 32:44: How Corrine achieved self actualisation 41:44: How to avoid setbacks 49:59: Societal perceptions of neurodiversity, stigma and intersectionality 1:00:14 How employers can be more inclusive 1:17:05: Understanding and coming to terms with being neurodiverse 1:25:35: What is Corinne’s Welsh Dream?