How Do I Adapt My Culture to Support Neurodiverse Employees? w/ Shawn Johnston

How do I? with Matt Putra

Episode Overview

Shawn Johnston, founder and CEO of a 14-year-old agency, shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life and how it transformed his approach to building workplace culture. After discovering his own neurodivergence while supporting his son's diagnosis, Shawn rebuilt his entire company around neurodiversity-friendly practices. Now leading a team that's approximately one-third neurodiverse, he reveals the specific accommodations, communication strategies, and cultural shifts that not only support neurodivergent employees but create stronger, more productive teams for everyone.

Shawn Explains

• What neurodiversity actually is and the common misconceptions that harm inclusive hiring

• How masking behaviors exhaust neurodivergent employees and why authenticity drives performance

• The five key workplace accommodations that transform neurodivergent employee success

• Why documentation and clear communication systems benefit all team members

• How workplace trauma affects neurodivergent individuals and what leaders can do about it

• The business advantages of building sensory-safe environments and flexible work structures

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to neurodiversity in workplace culture

02:07 Shawn's personal journey with late diagnosis

04:25 What neurodiversity actually means and includes

06:45 How neurodivergent brains process information differently

09:06 Understanding masking behaviors in professional settings

11:15 Common workplace challenges for neurodivergent employees

13:36 The hidden trauma of workplace misunderstanding

16:03 Debunking autism spectrum misconceptions

18:29 The "spiky profile" of neurodivergent strengths

20:49 Why "high functioning" labels are harmful

23:05 Masking behaviors and their emotional toll

25:29 Sensory overwhelm in traditional office environments

27:48 The connection between neurodiversity and PTSD

30:04 Addressing the "superpower" narrative around ADHD

32:20 Essential workplace accommodations for success

34:41 Creating effective documentation systems

36:58 Building sensory-safe work environments

39:13 Communication strategies that work for everyone

44:03 Front-loading information to reduce anxiety

46:27 What neurodiverse employees really want

48:51 Common mistakes to avoid with neurodivergent staff

51:10 Building naturally inclusive company culture

53:31 Organic growth of neurodiverse teams

55:54 Final advice for creating inclusive workplaces

58:13 Shawn's current projects and contact information

Follow Shawn

Follow Shawn Johnston:

Website: refoundry.io

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shawn-johnston-w

Email: [email protected]

About Shawn's Company

Shawn runs a 14-year-old agency and is the founder of Refoundry, a low-code, seamless site builder for WordPress that helps agencies deliver digital projects faster and more efficiently. Refoundry is currently doing a pre-seed raise and showing strong early traction in the market.

• Specializes in systems and process optimization for agencies

• Built around neurodiversity-friendly practices from the ground up

• Approximately one-third of the team is neurodivergent

• Focus on clear documentation, flexible scheduling, and sensory accommodations

• Proven track record of creating inclusive cultures that drive business growth

For more information about Refoundry's SaaS platform, visit refoundry.io

About How Do I?

The How Do I? Podcast gives you 60 minutes with industry experts who teach their expertise to eCommerce founders and business operators. Each episode centers on a single "How do I...?" question, providing actionable tactics you can implement immediately.

Host: Matt Putra, Founder & CEO of Eightx

Our Sponsors

Eightx helps eCommerce, CPG, and SaaS companies scale profitably with expert CFO services and financial architecture. Founded by Matt Putra, Eightx specializes in cash flow optimization, financial planning, and strategic growth guidance for businesses between $5-80MM in annual revenue or venture-backed companies. Their team of experienced CFOs provides the knowledge and proven strategies that make scaling, growing, and lasting effortless.

Services include:

• Fractional CFO and financial leadership

• Cash flow management and optimization

• Strategic financial planning and forecasting

• Marketing ROI analysis and optimization

• Operational efficiency improvements

Website - eightx.co