Only 56% of neurodivergent individuals are in full-time work – and that’s not because of a lack of ability. That statistic sits with me every day, because I know first-hand what it feels like to be capable, driven, and consistently performing well, yet still feel like something is quietly getting in the way.
My Story
I’m Laura, a specialist in neurodiversity coaching and training. My background is in corporate Learning and Development, where I qualified as a coach and spent years delivering training. On the surface, everything looked fine. My performance feedback was consistently good. I was doing well.
But there was always something I couldn’t quite put into words – something that stopped me from getting to the next level, no matter how hard I tried. I didn’t fully understand it until 2020, when the world shifted to homeworking and I began a journey that led to an ADHD diagnosis. Suddenly, everything made sense.
The roadblocks in my career development. Why I struggled socially as a young person. Why I felt more emotional than my colleagues. Why I cared so deeply about everything. The hypervigilance. The exhaustion of it all.
That diagnosis wasn’t the end of the story; it was the beginning of a completely different one.
What I Do Now
My work in neurodiversity coaching grew from workplace skills and career development into a specialist focus on supporting neurodivergent professionals, and I haven’t looked back. I now work with individuals across the public, private and charity sectors: business owners, lawyers, teachers, civil servants, engineers, academics, marketing managers, customer service professionals and more.
No matter the role, there are common themes. Managing productivity. Getting started. Staying motivated. Communicating effectively. Building confidence. Managing energy and sensory differences. These are the things that can quietly hold brilliant people back—and they are exactly the things we work on together.
Through neurodiversity coaching, I support individuals to develop ways of working that align with how their minds operate, rather than constantly trying to fit into systems that don’t. This often leads to improved confidence, clearer focus, and more sustainable ways of working.
Why Neurodiversity Coaching Matters
Neurodivergent minds bring extraordinary strengths to the workplace: creativity, hyperfocus, pattern recognition, lateral thinking, and deep empathy. But when workplace structures are designed primarily for the neurotypical majority, those strengths can get buried under the daily effort of just keeping up.
This is why neurodiversity coaching matters.
When someone understands how their mind works and learns to work with it rather than against it, the shift can be transformative. I know because I’ve lived it. And I’ve had the privilege of seeing that same shift happen in the people I work with.
Supporting Organisations
I also work with organisations, providing neurodiversity training for managers and teams.
Many organisations genuinely want to support neurodivergent employees, but managers often feel unsure how to do this in practice. That uncertainty can lead to stress, misunderstandings, and talented people leaving.
My work focuses on helping organisations move beyond awareness into practical, day-to-day inclusive leadership. This includes improving communication, building confidence in managers, and creating workplace adjustments that actually work.
Work With Me
If you’re a neurodivergent professional looking for tailored support, or an organisation wanting to build more inclusive and effective ways of working, I’d be very happy to have an informal conversation.
https://calendly.com/hello-laurahowes/30min
About the author
Laura is a specialist neurodiversity coach and trainer, supporting individuals and organisations to create more effective, inclusive ways of working.