We talk about performance, productivity, and potential. But what if we’re misunderstanding how some of our best people actually work?

In this episode of People First!, Morag sits down with Sandra Crespo to explore how ADHD and neurodiversity show up in the workplace—and why many systems unintentionally create friction instead of support.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• Why ADHD is often missed—even by high performers 
• The hidden cost of “fixing” vs understanding 
• How leaders misinterpret neurodivergent behaviours 
• Simple workplace changes that unlock performance 
• Why “reasonable accommodations” might be the wrong model 
• How to design environments where people can actually thrive 

💡 Key Takeaways

• Neurodiversity is often misunderstood as a deficit 
• Success can mask underlying struggle 
• Small environmental changes can have a big impact 
• Leaders don’t need all the answers—but they need awareness 
• Designing for difference benefits everyone 

🔗 Connect with Sandra Crespo

• Website: theneurospicysw.com 
• LinkedIn: Sandra N. Crespo 

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:43) - Sandra’s origin story
• (03:35) - Late ADHD diagnosis and lived experience
• (06:01) - The moment everything changed
• (10:28) - Why high performers miss the signs
• (12:09) - Why this conversation is happening now
• (14:48) - What leaders get wrong about ADHD
• (16:01) - A real example of unlocking potential
• (19:45) - Workplace systems that create friction
• (23:12) - Rethinking “reasonable accommodations”
• (26:32) - The SPICY leadership framework