This discrimination is compounded by a very narrow understanding of what an “autistic entrepreneur” looks and acts like: typically white, male, lacking empathy, dominant, but a genius savant who will do anything to succeed.
For example, if you were asked to imagine an “autistic entrepreneur,” you would probably think of someone like technology billionaire Elon Musk. Musk’s autistic traits — lateral thinking, a keen interest in problem solving, systems thinking, and obsessive attention to detail — may have helped him become one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. However, Musk became the target of ableism after he made his autism diagnosis public. For example, in 2022, a video of an elderly person being diagnosed with autism went viral on the Internet. Twitter executives in the spotlightcalled Musk a “weird person,” “mentally disabled” and “someone with special needs” because he is autistic.
You don’t have to agree with Musk’s views, the way he runs his business, or the vitriolic attacks he’s received on Twitter and X to be concerned about the ableism he is being targeted with. Conflating Musk’s autistic identity with or excusing problematic behavior causes further harm to the neurodiverse community.
To move away from this harmful mindset, we need to acknowledge the dual nature of autism – that autistic traits can manifest in both positive and negative ways. This requires us to create intentional, supportive environments that nurture the strengths of autistic people and the resources they need to succeed, without overlooking the very real struggles they face. We also need to recognize that neurodiversity manifests in different ways for different people. It affects women, non-binary people, people of color, people from different socio-economic backgrounds and educations, and people with other disabilities.
As an autistic woman entrepreneur, I have struggled with the dual nature of my autistic traits, how they shape my entrepreneurial experience, and how they differ from those of people with other backgrounds and identities. As I have learned more about myself and how my neurodiversity manifests, I have implemented supportive strategies that recognize both the “good” and “bad” aspects of my autistic traits. This practical, down-to-earth approach helps me capitalize on my strengths and manage the challenges I face in launching a technology startup. COGS AI And in my personal life too.
These are what worked for me personally and may provide useful guidelines as a starting point for other autistic entrepreneurs, but because neurodiversity impacts everyone differently, I encourage readers to experiment and find what works for them.
Special Interests
People with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders often become passionate about certain topics or hobbies, and spending time on these interests and hobbies can bring them joy and have a calming effect.
My particular interest in solving healthcare problems for neurodiverse people is not just a job, it is a passion that consumes me. Constantly reading, thinking, and immersing myself in this mission is fulfilling and joyful, and feels like a part of my essence. However, this lack of focus can also lead me to neglect other aspects of life that I value, such as time with friends and family. Furthermore, my tendency to prioritize work over rest can lead to burnout, set a bad example as a leader, and have a negative impact on the company culture. To counter this, I have learned to be disciplined in taking days off and vacations, not sacrifice social events for non-urgent work, and intentionally make time for self-care.
Alexithymia
This is something that many people with neurodevelopmental disorders experience: they have difficulty cognitively interpreting the emotional (and sometimes physical) signals their body sends them.
For me, alexithymia occurs mainly in relation to “negative” emotions and states. One example of this is that I rarely feel anxious or scared (even though my body is releasing stress hormones). This allows me to face challenges or situations that most people would avoid without fear. On the other hand, it also means that I don’t notice warning signs or when my body is in a negative or unhealthy state, which can lead to uncontrollable stress and burnout. Although I haven’t found a perfect solution, I rely on regular exercise as a preventative measure to manage my stress hormones and keep my emotions in balance.
Attention to detail
Known in academic terms as “weak central coherence” (a term I avoid because it is so deficit-based), this describes a perceptual-cognitive style that autistic people often have, one that focuses strongly on individual details within a scene, data set, or collection of information.
Attention to detail helps produce high-quality work in my startup and gives us a competitive edge, even in a small team. But it can also be tempting to micromanage other people’s work or do things yourself instead of delegating them. This is unsustainable and inhibits collaboration. I’ve learned to trust my colleagues to do quality work, even if their approach is different from mine.
Pattern Recognition
This ability is often absent in people with autism. Differences in brain structureThey quickly recognize patterns both visually and across concepts and sources of information.
For me, pattern recognition manifests most strongly as “systems thinking”, the ability to see a concept as part of the larger pattern (or system) it belongs to. My systems thinking approach, combined with my attention to detail, allows me to consider problems from multiple levels, leading to a deeper understanding of the problem and better solutions. So far, I haven’t experienced any drawbacks associated with this trait 💯.
Lateral thinking
Non-linear ways of solving problems and connecting ideas and concepts that are associated with neurodiverse ways of processing information.
Neurodiverse people Over-represented in the creative industriesThis is often because the ability to think “outside the box” is considered an asset in these industries. Lateral thinking is also a great advantage in entrepreneurship, helping me break down and solve problems in novel, creative ways that aren’t bound by traditional constraints. However, it can be difficult to communicate my cognitive journey to others, making it hard for them to understand how and why I arrived at a solution. To address this, I discuss ideas with a neurotypical person (usually a co-founder) who knows me well and understands the way I think. That person helps me shape my thoughts and provides feedback on clarity before I present the idea to the whole team and external stakeholders.
Embracing the duality of my neurodiversity has helped me develop strategies to support my work and personal life. But for things to change, changes need to happen on both an individual and societal level. On an individual level, neurodiverse people need to be more kind to themselves, know when to ask for help, and be intentional about creating environments that not only help themselves but also help those around them understand their needs.
But this responsibility does not fall solely on neurodiverse people. A more inclusive approach must be adopted at a societal level, in policies and practices ingrained in workplace culture and more. From advocating for accommodations to building solutions tailored to the experiences of neurodiverse people, society as a whole must recognize and embrace the unique perspectives and contributions of neurodiverse people. Only through a collective effort can we create an environment in which everyone can thrive.
Zareen Ali is COGS AI.
