Working to Work

Zareen Ali, CEO of Cogs AI, is the guest on this ninth episode of @workingtowork. Zareen founded Cogs to create a non-pathologising mindfulness app specifically designed to support neurodivergent people. Chapters are listed below.

In our conversation, we spoke about the experiences that led Zareen to create the app and how she balances some of the expectations of leading a company with some of the common challenges experienced by neurodivergent people. We also discussed how Zareen has approached creating an inclusive work culture at Cogs and what advice she would offer others who are looking to create their own business.

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00:00 coming up in this episode

00:39 sam’s episode intro

04:04 what is cogs ai and what is it’s mission?

04:55 who is cogs for and how it is marketed?

06:20 how does cogs differ from other mindfulness apps? 

08:23 stim feature offers users to create bespoke tools 

09:26 what is the ai element of cogs about?

10:55 zareen’s cogs ai origin story

14:59 benefits of person-centred approach 

19:45 zareen’s working journey  

23:37 taking skills from previous work / life into new

26:54 searching for gratifying work

28:00 ’year hear’ helped zareen pivot

29:30 employers should be brave in hiring

32:52 how zareen thinks about inclusive culture

35:45 balancing need vs external expectations 

40:19 being an atypical entrepreneur

42:40 zareen on balancing will with dislikes 

44:31 testing ideas to improve them

47:00 using the skills you have to get started

54:23 improving accessibility to all types of work

56:18 how is cogs ai available?

57:29 what is cogs’ metric of success?

For episode 8 of Working to Work I spoke with Dani Noreen (aka the Punk Rock Autistic) about their journey towards creating a work life that works for them, including the development of their business ‘Neurodiversity Unbound’. Time codes below.

Dani spoke about what wasn’t working for them in previous work, and prioritising openness about needs and preferences benefits them and those they work with.

We also spoke about working through self doubt, and the varying challenges of taking less conventional, and more bespoke approaches to employment.

For more on Dani’s work see: https://neurodiversityunbound.com/

Please do follow the show to be notified when new episodes are released, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for video versions of each episode, and the opportunity to engage via the comments section.

For more see the Working to Work home page, and follow on Twitter and Instagram @workingtoworkuk

00:00 coming up in this episode

00:41 sam’s episode intro

06:50 evolution from punk rock autistic to neurodiversity unbound 

09:54 the different elements of ‘neurodiversity unbound’

12:37 how dani manages the different tasks

16:53 benefits of being open with others about preferences and needs 

18:31 dani’s clients experience of employment

22:09 what makes dani good at what they do?

27:01 dani’s approach to starting and running their business 

29:57 how has dani worked through feelings of self doubt

45:00 how dani found what they were passionate about

54:31 what would dani suggest employers do to make work inclusive?

I recently had the opportunity to join the brilliant broadcaster Dotun Adebayo on his late-night BBC Radio 5 Live programme 'Up All Night' for a special phone-in dedicated to all things neurodiversity.

This programme was an opportunity for listeners to share their experiences of neurodiversity, be it their own experiences or related to those close to them. For this episode of Working to Work, I collected excerpts from that programme that pertain to employment but also a range of other experiences of neurological difference - its manifestation and its reception in past, present, and potentially future societies.

It was also an opportunity to speak with Dotun about my own experiences and perspectives that I hope were of interest to listeners of the programme and will be to listeners of this episode.

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A substantive convo with Stephanie Ozuo, a Careers Advisor and founder 'Cover My CV', who uses her lived experience of ADHD to support fellow neurodivergent individuals obtain and maintain gratifying employment. 

In this episode, amongst other topics, we spoke about:

• 06:08 Stephanie's skills and how she made them her work
• 09:33 Effective CV and Cover Letter writing
• 14:10 Using transferable skills as a substitute for hard examples 
• 17:10 Seeking work aligned with ones greater goals
• 20:22 Pivoting to new mission-based challenges and missions
• 22:22 The need to affirming employees and build confidence in one's strengths  
• 29:06 Why Stephanie focuses on neurodivergent individuals  
• 41:36 How some neurodivergent traits are perceived when the intersect with  other identities
• 45:46 The 'Pet to Threat phenomenon

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In this insightful conversation, I spoke with Robin Blamires, a talented and passionate autistic audio producer, about his journey from student radio to the challenges faced in finding fulfilling work, as documented in his new piece 'The Audio Rainbow'.

We explore some of the intricacies of the audio industry, discuss the barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals, sensory challenges, and the quest for inclusive spaces.

Listen to hear Robin's unique perspective, the support he's found, and the aspirations driving him to create both compelling audio, and a more accessible audio world.

Listen to the 'The Audio Rainbow' at https://soundcloud.com/robinblamires

If you're so inclined do follow the show to be notified when new episodes are released, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for video versions of each episode, and the oppertunity to engage via the comments section.

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Sir Robert Buckland, MP - Chair of the UK Government's Review into Autistic Employment, speaks to how the review came about: what it hopes to achieve; how it works; who it hopes to benefit; and how its success will be measured. 

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The tables are turned in this episode as I'm interviewed by my friend, author, and coach, Alex Genadinik. We discuss the benefits of learning about Neurodiversity for my mental health and self-acceptance, my experiences in employment as a neurodivergent worker, and what advice I would offer to managers and colleagues to create an accessible, inclusive, and fair dynamic with neurodivergent employees, like myself.

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For more see the Working to Work home page, and follow on Twitter and Instagram @workingtoworkuk

Autistic CEO, James Cusack explains the purpose of their Neurodiveristy Employers Index (NDEI), and how it will work.

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I spoke with James Cusack, Chief Executive of the UK's leading Autism research and campaigning charity, Autistica. Topics covered include the ambitious (and necessary) goals to double the Autistic employment rate by 2030, and specifically how Autistica's 'Neurodiversity Employers Index' (NDEI) can help achieve this. We also discussed the impact of early life on employment experiences, creating a culture of meeting needs, and my reflections on my own employment path.

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How does a Job Coach support autistic people to obtain and maintain employment? In this episode Sam speaks with Leo Capella, a job coach at the National Autistic Society to find out what the job involves, and how it is helping to bridge the gap between those seeking neurodivergent talent and those looking for gratifying work.

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Four contributors speaking to some of the challenges they experience  with accessing employment, and feeling understood and supported in the work place.

Thanks to those that contributed their thoughts. Produced by Samuel Robinson. Music by Daniel Wilson and Sam. 

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I spoke with Sir Robert Buckland, the MP leading the UK Government's 2023 review into Autism Employment to learn what the review hopes to achieve, how it will go about it, and why it's important.

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For more see the Working to Work home page, and follow on Twitter and Instagram @workingtoworkuk

Allow me to introduce to you Working to Work: a podcast, radio show, and YouTube exploring the challenges of obtaining and maintaining employment experienced by many neurodivergent individuals, and crucially, what could be done to mitigate them.

In this trailer I speak to what prompted me to create the series, what we'll cover, and what I hope to achieve with it.

Please do follow the show to be notified when new episodes are released, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for video versions of each episode, and the oppertunity to engage via the comments section.

For more see the Working to Work home page, and follow on Twitter and Instagram @workingtoworkuk