PegSquared Weekly: One year, countless "aha" moments, and why I'm still here
Published 2 months ago • 5 min read
PegSquared Weekly
One year, countless "aha" moments, and why I'm still here
"Chaotic, Stressful & Fun" are the three words that sum up PegSquared's first year. Here's a favourite photo of the fun part!
Dear Reader,
Firstly, an apology ahead of a celebration. Those of you who are avidly reading my newsletter weekly might have noticed that last week your inbox was empty. Unfortunately, I had a family emergency that took me up North for a few days, and as such, the newsletter was not written. It is me sitting here, writing these every week!
But I am back - and this week with a slightly different format, as today PegSquared is a whole year old since I launched. So I am going to take the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on my first year as a business owner! I did this by letting Claude AI interview me. This has created a series of articles I will be sharing on LinkedIn over the next week. Below is a snapshot of some of these conversations. Let's dive in.
Celebration!!
Back in April 2024, when I walked out of EY's London offices, a colleague said to me, "You do know you can do this by yourself." I didn't think I could. Sometimes it takes someone to point out the obvious for you to be brave enough to take the leap. But I took a leap, and it took me a few months before I was brave enough to announce to the world what was next.
That leap has been equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. Today, as PegSquared celebrates its first anniversary, we've worked with major organisations, educated thousands of people, and created genuine change in how workplaces think about neurodivergent talent. I am unbelievably proud of the work PegSquared has done in the last twelve months.
The impact stories keep me going. Like the line manager at a chemicals manufacturing company who completely transformed their approach to a struggling team member still on probation. Who, after line manager training, changed their approach - now that employee is thriving, their contract's been extended, and they're bringing different thinking that's made processes more efficient.
During a recent research presentation where I shared my personal leadership journey as a neurodivergent woman, people came up to me afterwards - some in tears - saying "I felt so seen." That moment crystallised why I do this work: it's not just about business outcomes, it's about making people feel less alone.
If describing my first year in three words, I'd say: "Chaotic, fun, stressful." The chaos reflects the reality of managing ADHD while running a company. The stress acknowledges the genuine challenges of going it alone in a competitive market. But the fun? That comes from doing work that matters, with clients who are genuinely changing how they think about human difference.
Reflection: The ADHD Business Owner
Building a business with ADHD has taught me things no MBA programme could. At 7pm on a Wednesday evening, whilst most are winding down, I'm often just hitting my stride. My ADHD brain doesn't follow conventional schedules, and I've learned to work with my neurological wiring rather than against it.
"I used to feel guilty about not being at my desk from 9 to 5," I've come to realise. "But being a business owner means I can flex my time. I know Mondays are never good days for me, so I focus on admin and planning. I get loads done on Fridays when I'm up against the weekend deadline."
Hyperfocus has been my secret weapon. "Starting is difficult, but once I've got started on a task, I'm very good at disappearing down a rabbit hole and coming up hours later with something I feel really pleased with." This ability to dive deep has been crucial in building PegSquared's reputation for thoroughly researched, actionable content.
But traditional productivity advice falls flat for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. The most consistent thing about an ADHD brain is its ability to be inconsistent. I've needed systems that can be picked up and put down - you don't have to be consistent with them.
My solution? A combination of technology and self-awareness. I'll sit down with a Word document, hit the dictate button, and basically download what's going on in my brain. Then I take that download and put it into AI, asking it to help me identify my priorities. AI has become my essential business partner - I have no idea how people built businesses before these tools existed.
The emotional highs and lows have probably been the hardest piece, both personally and professionally. When you put your heart and soul into something, when it's your own business, you feel rejection more deeply. But I've also discovered unexpected resilience. I find myself with a choice: continue to doubt myself and run away, or pick myself up and keep going. I have surprised myself that it's always the latter.
However, perhaps my greatest entrepreneurial asset has been my willingness to be vulnerable about my neurodivergence. "Authenticity and vulnerability are core to who I am. I've hidden my true self for such a long time that now I run my own business, it's important that I can show up as me."
It's been a journey I am very much enjoying and am so grateful to the organisations that have trusted me to help them shape their neurodiversity agendas.
Read more on how to create a neuro-inclusive recruitment process in our Neurodiversity Recruitment Playbook
As we celebrate this milestone, I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved, but also aware of how much more there is to do. The work is life-changing for some people, and we shouldn't shy away from that fact. When you start to see a person as a person and provide that safe space where they can openly share challenges, and approach those challenges with co-created solutions, that's where the magic happens, and that's the reason I love this job.
But here's the thing about running a business with ADHD: you need to build in recovery time. So PegSquared Weekly is taking a summer break! I am off to spend some time with my teenagers, who are not entirely sure they want to spend it with me! We'll be back in September, recharged and ready to continue the conversation about creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.
During the break, all our resources remain available on the website. Whether you need the Recruitment Playbook (link above), want to explore our training options, or are ready for a comprehensive audit of your neurodiversity practices, everything's still there waiting for you.
And if you're planning any neurodiversity initiatives for the autumn, now's the perfect time to get in touch (ADHD Awareness Month, and Dyslexia and Dyspraxia weeks all fall in October!). I'm also working on some exciting projects - more to follow in September.
And finally, thank you for being part of PegSquared's first year. Whether you've attended my training, read my newsletter, or listened to me speak, I hope you have learnt a little to help create a more neuro-inclusive working world.
Happy summer, everyone. See you back here in September!
Tania
FIVE ways you can work with me:
Neuro-inclusive Recruitment Audit: Understand what practical steps you can take to ensure your recruitment process is inclusive for all.
Training: From line managers to leaders, global HR teams to recruitment, awareness sessions to champion training.
Consultancy: Policy writing, process redesign, reviewing neurodiversity materials, data, ERG launches - anything neurodiversity at work related!
Coaching: One-to-one coaching to help support an individual navigate the world of work as someone who is neurodivergent
Speaking: From a fireside chat to a keynote, podcast guest to panellist
Reply to this email to find out more!
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