Welcome to episode #54 - We’re thrilled to be joined by Shea Belsky today.
Shea Belsky is an autistic self-advocate. He is the Chief Technology Officer of Mentra, a hiring platform for neurodivergent job seekers. Shea brings several unique perspectives to supporting neurodivergent colleagues: He has been the manager of neurodivergent & neurotypical employees, has reported to neurodivergent & neurotypical managers, and has advocated for the needs and well-being of his peers. Shea is excited to share these experiences with others to create a more neuro-inclusive workplace for everyone.
Questions
- Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity? When did you realize that you weren’t neurotypical? What challenges did you face? What is it like now?
- Diagnosed at a young age (2 y.o.).
- Had a lot of support throughout school (physical therapists, speech therapists, individualized education plan, etc.).
- Did well at school and got into Cornell University where further development opportunities as a TA helped him grow his communication skills
- Lucky to be able to pay it forward now as part of my work with Mentra
- How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
- Sleeps well (apart from cats sometimes waking him up!)
- Mental exercise to shut off thoughts when he gets to bed so he can sleep quickly
- How do you fit exercise into your life?
- A big part of his life. He and his wife both enjoy hiking, running, cycling and skiing
- What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
- CTO of Mentra a careers site for ND people. Connects NDers with companies looking to hire ND talent.
- What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours? What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
- Walking meetings
- Blocking out time for deep work
- Careers coach to help deal with communication challenges
- COMMERCIAL BREAK
- What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
- Outdoor activities (see fitness)
- Dungeons and Dragons
- What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
- Feed cats, shower, and head to work
- Where can people connect with you or find your work?
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheabelsky/
- Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
- Check out Mentra if you’re looking for work or looking to hire someone
Episode 53