September 22, 2026
Episode 205: Neurodivergence at Work: Learning to Speak Each Other’s Language with Felicia Davis
On this episode of The Future of Teamwork, Dane Groeneveld interviews Felicia Davis, founder of Eunoia Thinking and author of Autism, Not Attitude: Embracing Neurodivergence at Work and in Relationships, about neurodivergence and the way we work together.
Felicia shares her personal experience of receiving autism and ADHD diagnoses as an adult, and how this new understanding of herself helped her thrive professionally. Felicia and Dane explore why certain behaviors from neurodivergent people can seem frustrating or confusing to neurotypical people – and why they’re actually a sign of cognitive overwhelm, not poor attitude.
The conversation digs into the importance of “level setting” on teams, especially when one person can see connections or solutions that aren’t immediately obvious to everyone else. Felicia shares practical strategies for making those connections visible, including visual mapping, repeatedly asking “why,” adding context and qualifiers, and finding ways to communicate ideas before bringing them to a larger group.
Dane and Felicia also discuss the idea of “masking as translating” and how neurodivergent people may constantly translate their literal understanding of language and social cues into the way others expect them to communicate.
Finally, Felicia and Dane dive into the importance of creating psychological safety on a team with neurodivergence, what the hidden costs are of ignoring the needs of neurodivergent employees, and how to have better 1:1 meetings and performance reviews with your team members.
Every organization has neurodivergence. Are you embracing that diversity, or working against it? Tune in to learn how to leverage it on your team.
🔗 Connect with Felicia Davis on her website
🔗 Learn more about Eunoia Thinking
🔗 Order Autism, Not Attitude
Neurodivergence at Work: Learning to Speak Each Other’s Language with Felicia Davis
Guest Bio
A charismatic leader with over 15 years of experience from small non-profits to leading numerous teams around the world at a fortune 500 financial firm, Felicia has a reputation as a business expert in diverse team dynamics and social equity. She has a master’s in organizational management and a bachelor’s in economics. Diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult, she quickly learned to turn her “disability” into a superpower within the business world leading to her rapid success professionally and personally.
A female ENTP-A with autism, Felicia is a statistical rarity largely due to under or misdiagnosed individuals. She enjoys sharing her story, struggles, and victories both on stage and in coaching to bring hope to others. Being the voice to the voiceless who are on the spectrum from nonverbal to those who just want to be understood. Felicia bridges the communication gap between neurodivergent individuals and the world with practical tools. Offering relatable examples, she provides perspective into the world of autism painting vivid pictures of sensory overload, social struggles, and deep emotions.
She’s always trying new things from trapeze to skydiving. When not working she can be found chasing her two young boys, at the gym doing calisthenics, or in the kitchen cooking.
Key Takeaways
00:00 Welcome to the Future of Teamwork Podcast
00:45 Neurodiversity Basics
01:34 Felicia’s Late Diagnosis
03:16 Workplace Masking Costs
03:46 Autism Not Attitude
05:57 Spectrum Misconceptions
06:46 Sensory Overload Explained
10:10 Neurodivergent Leadership
13:22 Level Setting Techniques
17:07 Culture and Translation
20:14 Invites and Hidden Meaning
22:09 Say It Clearly
22:38 I Statements Framework
23:52 Calling Out Bad Meetings
26:47 Reframing The Squeaky Wheel
31:08 Return To Office Sensory Tax
33:54 Better One On Ones
38:29 Motivation And Recognition
40:15 Innovation From The Fringe
42:37 Key Takeaways And Impact
45:21 Where To Find Felicia
46:34 Closing Disclaimer
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