Systems Thinking & Strategic Listening: How this Marketing Genius Harnessing Her ADHD Traits for Business Success

How ADHD Fuels Entrepreneurial Success

Iris identifies herself as a strategic listener, somebody who listens not just to respond but to genuinely understand and build strategies based on what she's learned.

I've come to appreciate the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs, especially those who are neurodivergent.  The journey of a female entrepreneur with ADHD is anything but linear. It's a path filled with discovering the nuances of one's abilities and transforming them into strengths. 

I recently sat down with my friend Iris Goldfeder to talk about how she leverages her ADHD traits as superpowers within the entrepreneurial world. Her anecdotal evidence, stemming from her own experiences, underscores the idea that ADHD allows her to hyper-focus on various aspects simultaneously, setting her apart as a successful entrepreneur.

For Iris, the heart of her success lies in her ability to be intentional about who she surrounds herself with, both in terms of her team and her clients. She discusses the importance of systems thinking, an integral aspect of her hiring process. This approach ensures that everyone on her team understands the interconnections within the business, much like a well-oiled machine. This principle is vital for any business’s success, especially for someone who identifies as neurodivergent, where the potential for overlooking such details might be higher.

Her insights into marketing reveal a profound understanding of how to leverage her ADHD traits. Iris identifies herself as a strategic listener, somebody who listens not just to respond but to genuinely understand and build strategies based on what she's learned. This attribute, she believes, is one of her critical strengths. It's this active listening that enables female entrepreneurs like Iris to piece together the intricacies of their client's needs, developing a complete picture, much like assembling a puzzle. This skill is something I've observed time and again among successful neurodivergent leaders in business.

One of the most compelling aspects of Iris’ perspective is her stance on authenticity and courage in marketing. As female entrepreneurs, embracing our true selves, including all the quirks and uniqueness our neurodivergence brings, is essential. I've noticed that those who allow themselves to be seen authentically can connect more deeply with their clients and audiences. Iris illustrates this by sharing how important it is to attract clients who genuinely appreciate and understand her unfiltered personality, including her penchant for colorful language.

Iris also tackles the sensitive topic of working with clients who align with her values. In the podcast, she recounts an experience where she boldly chose not to work with a potential client due to a misalignment in values. This decision speaks volumes about the importance of staying true to oneself and highlights the power of integrity in business. As female entrepreneurs, we often face pressure to compromise our values for success, but Iris’s story is a vivid reminder that maintaining our integrity can lead to more fulfilling and fruitful partnerships in the long run.

I have also discovered the value of empathy and emotional intelligence as business assets. In a world that often values hard numbers over human connection, these "soft skills" are the superpowers that can differentiate us in the marketplace. For those of us navigating the business world with ADHD, leveraging these inherent abilities can turn what might be perceived as disadvantages into strengths.

Reflecting on this conversation with Iris,  I am reminded of the power of embracing our neurodivergence within the entrepreneurial space. It’s about reshaping our understanding of what it means to be a successful female entrepreneur with ADHD. It’s about courage, integrity, and using our unique strengths to create a business landscape that’s as diverse and dynamic as we are. This episode of ADHD-ish sheds light on this journey and offers invaluable insights that any female entrepreneur, neurodivergent or not, can learn from.

 If you'd like to hear the full episode on the ADHD-ish Podcast, you can do that here.