Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace

We often hear about the importance of diversity in terms of race, gender, age, and ethnicity. However, there is another type of diversity that is just as crucial to cultivate in today’s workplaces – neurodiversity. In honor of April being Neurodiversity Awareness Month, I wanted to share more about this topic and how we’re exploring it at Commvault.

I’m a proud member of our CapAbilities Employee Resource Group (ERG), which is focused on raising awareness and breaking down the bias of workplace issues that affect people with disabilities and/or caregivers of those with a disability.

Neurodiversity refers to the variation in how people think and process information. It covers conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological or cognitive differences. People who are considered “neurodivergent” have neurocognitive functioning that diverges from what is considered neurotypical or “normal.” At Commvault, we celebrate this diversity of minds and recognize that neurodivergent individuals bring unique skills, talents, and perspectives to the table, all of which are incredibly valuable in a workplace.  

The CapAbilities ERG recently hosted an inspiring event to talk more about neurodiversity in the workplace and how companies, like Commvault, can best support their employees to create a true sense of belonging. Our event took place in our UK office and was open to Vaulters across the world to join virtually. We were thrilled to welcome guest speaker Holly Foxcroft, Head of Neurodiversity in Cyber Research and Consulting at Stott and May Consulting.

Holly shared her career journey and why she became so passionate about advocating for neurodiversity in the workplace. She discussed how she started her cyber career in technical recruitment and delivering cyber security training in schools and colleges. When her son was diagnosed with autism in 2014, she became an advocate for neurodiversity in the field whilst also realizing she too was neurodivergent.

Since then, Holly has devoted her time to researching the topic, going to school as a single mother, and pushing for reform. In her position at Stott and May, Holly focuses on the creation of policies and mentorship regarding neurodiversity in employment and research in cyber, as well as best practices, advice, training, and consulting. She also works to improve the support provided to neurodivergent cyber professionals, not just during the hiring process but also by enacting cultural change and combating biases at work.

It was incredibly inspiring to hear Holly’s perspective and advice as we honored Neurodiversity Awareness Month together as a global Vaulter community. A key takeaway I learned from the event was that while initial changes may take some effort, the long-term payoff of leveraged neurodiversity is significant. Companies that embrace neurodiversity can yield improved problem-solving, enhanced innovation, increased productivity, a happier workforce, and a competitive marketplace advantage.

I’m proud to be part of a company like Commvault that celebrates our differences and gives us opportunities to have honest and open discussions about important topics like this.

To learn more about what it’s like to work at Commvault, click here.