What does it take to build a successful career in engineering and automotive manufacturing while navigating ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, workplace bias, and the challenges of being a woman in STEM?
In this episode of the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, Dr Shae sits down with Diana, Senior Project Coordinator and Planner in Toyota's Product Planning Division. Diana shares her remarkable journey from Colombia to Australia and reflects on more than 20 years working across Ford, Holden, and Toyota.
Together, they explore the realities of studying engineering in male-dominated environments, overcoming workplace assumptions, receiving a late diagnosis of ADHD, dyslexia and dysgraphia, and finding practical ways to thrive at work without sacrificing wellbeing.
Diana also shares valuable insights into neurodiversity in the workplace, hybrid work, sensory overload, communication styles, and Toyota's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
Whether you're neurodivergent, a leader looking to build a more inclusive workplace, or someone interested in encouraging more girls into STEM, this episode offers practical insights and powerful lived experience.
- Women in STEM
- ADHD in the workplace
- Dyslexia and dysgraphia
- Hyperfocus and burnout
- Neurodiversity at work
- Inclusive workplace design
- Sensory overload strategies
- Hybrid work and productivity
- Communication and masking
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)
- Engineering careers
- Automotive industry insights
Chapters
00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:37 Meet Diana at Toyota
02:31 From Colombia to Cars
03:55 Math Brain vs Recipes
06:10 Women in Automotive
07:48 Engineering Uni Bias
10:14 Late ADHD Discovery
12:46 Hyperfocus Burnout Cycles
15:01 Learning Addiction and Degrees
18:14 ADHD Strengths at Work
20:08 Capture Lists and Structure
24:36 Habits Rewards and Hybrid
29:33 Sleep Pod Reset
30:19 Silence After COVID
31:56 Noise Overload Strategies
33:07 Why Filtering Fails
33:45 Women in STEM Pipeline
37:32 Seatbelts and Bias
40:13 DEIB at Toyota
41:51 Universal Design Wins
47:51 Onboarding for Everyone
50:34 Direct Communication Styles
55:23 Masking and Tone Policing
57:54 Wrap Up and Resources
About Dear Dyslexic Podcast
The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire. Learn more about re:think dyslexia: https://rethinkdyslexia.com.au/
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Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise. To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform. Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jx91no...
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