Someone close to me is neurodivergent. You wouldn’t necessarily notice it if the two of you were sitting in a waiting room together, but it becomes clear in conversation. They are kind, a wonderful big sibling and hardworking — they hold a master’s degree in their field of expertise. They also struggled, for years, to find a job in their field because their interviews never went well. For years, they’ve worked in a retail position that was certainly not enjoyable for them, and definitely not using their skill set meaningfully. Dave Dinesen’s story of neurodiverse hiring in Fast Company stuck out to me. How differently could my loved one’s life be if they found a company with a neurodiverse hiring mandate earlier in their adult career? Luckily they did find someone: a female startup founder of color, who saw my loved one and knew their potential. It’s a part-time job now, but a tightknit, award-winning team. I can’t wait to watch them grow.