The Invisible Gift

Episode Description:This week on the podcast, Andrew meets CEO and author - Richard Jacobs. In their conversation, Andrew asks Richard what his work in behavioural therapy entails. They also discuss how conformity by its very nature will never bring out the best in us, and Richard explains why the low boredom threshold he gets from ADHD helps him inject more passion into everything he does.About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Richard Jacobs is the CEO of YES (www.yesindeed.com), a groundbreaking training and development company training up Change Leaders around the world. Richard has pioneered new forms of learning using interactive theatre and film, storytelling, Socratic questioning and behavioural science. He delivers training on Change, Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, Leadership and Purpose. He is also the author of the book 7 Questions to Find Your Purpose.Resources:http://yesindeed.com/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the podcast, Andrew meets actor, writer, and content creator - Dayna Halliwell. In their conversation, Dayna explains how she started her massive tiktok channel. They also discuss the the pitfalls and challenges of being on social media when you're neurodivergent. And Dayna shares the story of when she accidentally texted her date a message he really wasn't meant to see.About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Dayna Halliwell, otherwise known as Dyslexicdayna on social media, is a disabled actor, writer, theatre practitioner and content creator. In 2021, she started to upload comedy sketches to TikTok, to try and raise awareness for how poorly the dyslexic and dyspraxia community are treated in society - particularly in the education system. In less than a year she managed to grow her channel to 100,000 followers. In her videos Dayna talks about her story and experiences with dyslexia and dyspraxia, how she dealt with school life - bullies, classes and tests.Resources:https://www.tiktok.com/@dyslexicdayna?lang=enhttp://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the podcast, Andrew meets school proprietor and spokesperson - Julian Roberts.In their conversation, Julian details why he founded The View School and what they do differently for their kids. Julian also tells me about the time he was told to leave the class because he wasn't reading well enough, and what his invisible gift is!About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Julian has been involved with supporting young people with High Functioning Autism and Social Emotional and Mental Health difficulties for over 17 years. Holding a Honours Degree with an SEN specialism, a post graduate certificate in Autism; Julian has an extensive knowledge of Autism and how this impacts upon the individual and those around them.Julian has a background in brand development for the likes of Persil, Abbey National, Marks and Spencer and Tesco. Julian formed SENviews ltd in April 2018, a training and support service for schools, colleges and parents in meeting the needs of SEN, and particularly Autistic young people.Most recently Julian has been focused on setting up and opening The View School, a specialist SEMH & ASD secondary school in Edenbridge, Kent www.theviewschool.org. Opening in September 2019, The View School provides an opportunity for education and personal development to those young people who can not meet the demands of other educational settings.Resources:https://www.theviewschool.org/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the podcast, Andrew speaks to Katrina Cochrane - founder and owner of Positive Dyslexia - an organisation that focuses on diagnostic assessments for children and adults & provides training for companies.In their conversation, Katrina reveals how she learned she was neuro-divergent late in life. They also discuss why the way neurodiversity is viewed has changed over the years. And Andrew and Katrina discuss what the neurodivergent community needs to do if there is going to be real change.About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Katrina Cochrane is one of the world's leading experts on Dyslexia and learning difficulties. She started her career as a learning support teacher, and has worked her way up to become the founder and owner of Positive Dyslexia. Positive Dyslexia primarily focuses on diagnostic assessments for children and adults, however does also offer awareness training for companies, INSET training at schools and colleges and masterclasses from other experts who share their experiences with dyslexia and other Neurodiversity's. Katrina also volunteers for dyslexia charities, such as Adult Dyslexia Care and British Dyslexia Association.Resources:https://www.positivedyslexia.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the podcast, Andrew meets Managing Director of SEND group, the UK Dyslexia and SEND Consultant at Microsoft, and also director and founder of The Dyslexia Show - Arran Smith.In their conversation, Andrew learns about the teacher that changed everything for Arran. They also discuss sensory overload, and Arran explains why spotlighting hidden disabilities is the key to getting support.About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Arran Smith is the Managing Director of SEND group, as well as the UK Dyslexia and SEND Consultant at Microsoft. Arran also directs and founded The Dyslexia Show - an event for everyone with dyslexia, neurodiversity, as well as people, businesses, and organisations supporting and working with them. At the show there are seminars, workshops, various types of support, and the opportunity to discover the latest developments in the field of dyslexia.He is a Trustee at the British Dyslexia Association, Chairman of The Leicestershire Dyslexia Association, Consultant at The Levels School, and a Director at Read Successfully Tugs.Resources:https://dyslexiashow.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the show, Andrew meets freelance creative and communication strategist, Mark Francis Long. In their conversation, Mark tells Andrew about his TedX Talk: I AM LEX. Mark also opens up being homeschool, and the boys debate whether the new D&I initiatives around neurodiversity are really having an impact.About the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Mark Francis Long is a freelance creative and communication strategist, specialising in advance ad tactics optimising Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, as well as Influencer Marketing, Growth Marketing, and Trend Integration. Since 2007 he has been developing digital and social media content strategies for global brands and local start-ups all over Europe, USA, and Asia.Mark is also co-founder of I AM LEX, which aims to educate the public, breaking stereotypes, and shift paradigms. In his Tedx Talk he explores the challenges with dyslexia - as well as a new way to describe and identify with dyslexia in the modern age.Resources:https://www.iam-lex.com/abouthttp://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the show, Andrew meets dyslexic author and illustrator Tom McLaughlin. In the episode, Tom tells Andrew why he believes dyslexia makes you quick witted. Tom also explains how dyslexia, in his own words, got him ‘fired from his own book' and the discuss the problem with telling kids about famous neuro-divergents in history.Top Quotes:“Dyslexia allowed to me get quite good at lying, joking and faking. You can't stand in front of a teacher and read a book so instead you start making it up. Both in class and with friends, I realised I could be the funny person. I think that's why dyslexic people become quick witted.” - Tom McLaughlin“Self-awareness, I believe, is the key to happiness” - Andrew KitleyAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Tom is an author and illustrator from Devon. He worked for 10 years as a political cartoonist for The Western Morning News. In 2006 he left the paper to freelance as an animation designer for a number of TV shows, as well as an occasional columnist for The Guardian online.He won a bursary to direct his short animated film "The Girl With The Pink Shoes", as part of the Animated Exeter festival.He started in the world of children's publishing by illustrating other people's books before turning his hand to writing. He has written and illustrated for Bloomsbury, Puffin, Scholastic, OUP, and Walker. His books have been nominated for countless awards and have been translated into over 10 different languages.Resources:https://tommclaughlin.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:This week on the show, Andrew meets founder, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Tullis Matson.Tullis Matson is Managing Director of the award winning Stallion AI Services which is one of the most successful stallion collection centres in Europe. In 2020, Tullis established a charity, called Nature's SAFE, which is Europe's only living Biobank and is aimed at assisting in the conservation of the worlds' most rare and endangered species through regenerative cryo-preservation.In their chat, Tullis opens up about his difficult experience in education growing up. Tullis also explains why he sees his dyslexia as the reason behind his excellent communication skills and Andrew asks him what cryopreservation really entails.Top Quotes:“Never be ashamed to be dyslexic. Nowadays companies are actually looking for that different dynamic. That out of the box thinking.” - Tullis MatsonAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Tullis Matson is Managing Director of award winning Stallion AI Services - Stallion AI Services.Stallion AI Services Ltd is one of the most successful stallion collection centres in Europe, offering semen collection services, fertility assessment and worldwide semen export. Tullis has practiced Artificial Insemination (AI) in stallions and freezing semen for over 30 years. Tullis works with organisations such as Chester Zoo to help cryopreserve semen from endangered species. In 2011 he received the Marsh Christian Award for Conservation in Genetic Bio-Diversity. In 2020 he established a charity, Nature's SAFE, Europe's only living Biobank, aimed at assisting in the conservation of the worlds' most rare and endangered species through regenerative cryopreservation. In April 2022 he was honoured with a Queen's Award for Enterprise, for his excellence in Innovation.Resources:www.natures-safe.comhttp://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew is joined by Amy from Amy's Bakehouse - a luxury bakery. In the show, Amy reveals how lockdown led to her creating her 100k tiktok account, Amy explains why she thinks ADD helped her started her career in baking, and Andrew and Amy share their most embarrassing stories.Top Quote:“With dyslexia you have 1. the ability to see the big picture, and 2. because you go through school not able to do so much you don't worry about your inadequacies.” - Andrew KitleyAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Amy's Bakehouse is a luxury baking company based in London. Amy started baking during lockdown and has since grown her tiktok account to over 100k followers, started a business and has amassed a legion of adoring fans for her creations!Resources:https://www.amysbakehouse.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:In today's show, Andrew meets communications consultant, writer, and founder of neurodiversity awareness group - ADHD Girls, Samantha Hiew. In the podcast, Samantha explains the origins of ADHD Girls, and why we need to redefine our male centric definitions of neurodiversity. Andrew & Samantha also discuss ‘masking' and why embracing difference is the most effective pathway to change.Top Quotes:“The fact is - everyone is different. Different races, cultures, agendas. But recently it feels like everyone is trying to say that we're all the same and that doesn't seem helpful. In fact, we should embrace difference.” - Andrew Kitley“I think we need to start seeing ourselves out of this medical diagnoses, outside of this label society has put on us. A part of understanding neurodiversity is acknowledging that we're all different. At its core, neurodiversity is a movement to help us understand difference.” - Samantha HiewAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Samantha Hiew is a Communications Consultant and founder, of neurodiversity awareness group ADHD Girls. Samantha is a PhD in Cancer Virology and Childhood Leukaemia from the University of London and has written extensively for medical journals like Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre. In the mid 2010s, Samantha was a columnist, feature and travel writer for the Huffington Post. After Samantha's diagnoses for ADHD at age 40, she decided to start ADHD Girls: An organisation that aims to empower girls and women with ADHD to thrive in society; and improve Neurodiversity understanding via an intersectional lens. Her work was recognised with double nominations at the 2022 Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards: Stereotype Buster & Community Choice.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://samanthahiew.com/

Episode Description:In today's show, Andrew meets dyslexic fashion designer Jake Posner. In their conversation, Jake explains how his brand was born out of his neurodiversity, the boys discuss why fast fashion is bad for the planet and consumers, and Jake shares the story of when he arrived unannounced at Selfridges asking for a meeting!Top Quotes:“In life, you have to be constantly evolving. Evolve or go extinct.” - Jake Posner“My dyslexia allows me to tell stories, to be imaginative. It allows me a different way of seeing the world.” - Jake PosnerAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Jake Posner is a fashion designer and founder of his own brand NO ONE TRUE ANYTHING. NO ONE TRUE ANYTHING was founded in 2021 and has been directly inspired by Jake's experiences with dyslexia. Jake is also an ambassador for the British Dyslexia Association and his work has been featured in a number of global publications such as Forbes Magazine and The Guardian.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://noonetrueanything.com/

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew meets the custodian of Belvoir Castle - Emma, the Duchess of Rutland. For 30 years, Emma has revolutionised and grown the commercial side of one of Britain's most historic Castles into a bustling and thriving business. Emma also has her own podcast, Duchess, and recently spoken about her experiences growing up with dyslexia.In this episode, the Duchess takes us back to her childhood growing up on a farm, and why those formative years steeled her for a life of custodianship. Andrew and the Duchess also discuss why dyslexia strengthens you against failure and how neurodiversity can make you a visionary.Top Quotes:“Two little words that matter are ‘hard work'. That's the DNA in my veins and I really believe it came from dyslexia, an inability to do something, and a desire not to fail.” - Duchess of Rutland“From dyslexia, failures used to come thick and fast but now as an adult I think when I fail I'm more used to it than other people. I just see failures as good because you're learning.” - Andrew KitleyAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Emma Rutland, The Duchess of Rutland, did not always stride the halls of stately homes. Born Emma Watkins, the Duchess grew up the daughter of a Quaker farmer, in the Welsh marsh countryside. She trained as an opera singer in the Guildhall School of Music, and worked as a successful interior designer before meeting her future husband David Manners, the 11th Duke of Rutland, at a dinner party. Their marriage in 1992 would transform Emma Watkins into the 11th Duchess of Rutland and the custodian of Belvoir Castle. The Duchess has authored a number of books and, in 2020, started a no.1 show on the Apple Podcast chart - DuchessResources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://www.belvoircastle.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/duchess/id1551120994

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew is joined by motivational speaker and entrepreneur Lee Chambers. Lee is an accredited psychologist and the founder of multiple businesses. He's also autistic and, after bout of bad health in his 20s, now advocates for better physical health and greater equality and accessibility to all.In today's show, Lee opens up about the illness that left him bedridden for a year, the boys discuss the mental health struggles around being a founder and Lee also identifies the problems you can encounter if you go into a self-development spiral.Top Quotes:“Getting diverse thinking within our business helps us to become more innovative and creative. more problems” - Lee Chambers“Being a business owner can be hard. Even when a business is doing making sure you have enough money to pay your team is hard because clients may not pay you on time. Every time you take on a new member of staff, you become responsible for their family. All that stress can weight on you.” - AndrewAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Lee Chambers was born in Bolton, and is a British psychologist, entrepreneur and radio host. He is the founder of PhenomGames and Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing. Lee is autistic. This is something he learned after his own son received the diagnoses. He has worked as a performance coach for sports clubs, including Manchester City F.C. and Everton F.C. Chambers life story was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 programme presented by Matthew Syed broadcast in 2021, named: Is This What Success Looks Like? Lee has degrees in Environmental Psychology, Health Innovation, and International Business Psychology.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://leechambers.org/

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew sits down with entrepreneur and founder of FullSpektrum - André Skepple. FullSpektrum is a company that aims to modernise and personalise education, care, and health, using technology.In today's show, Andre details what FullSpektrum is and what they want to achieve, the boys also discuss the massive problem with education today, and why the government needs to step up and scrap the old ways of doing things.Top Quotes:“The process of dealing with local government, let alone national government, is like hitting your head repeatedly against a wall with the hope of making a crack.” - Andre Skepple“The people that go into government are the people that thrived in schools environments. That means everyone in government thinks the same way. That's why we need people from different backgrounds, races, genders. A full spectrum, because only when we have that will a different conversation happen.” - Andrew KitleyAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Andre Skepple is the founder of FullSpektrum Ltd an organisation which aims to consolidate and personalise education, health & social care. He is also a specialist in applied biosciences, ICT systems management and clinical diagnostics, with a Master of Science (MSc) degree by Research in Applied Medical Microbiology. Andre is is dyslexic, dyspraxic and has some elements of ADHD. Andre is Director & Member Board Of Trustees for the Institute Of Neurodiversity. Andre has held a voluntary teaching career of over 8-years at a supplementary school for Afro-Caribbean pupils.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://fullspektrum.co.uk/

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew is joined by one of Australia's most highly regarded workplace designers, Domino Risch, to discuss ‘The Neurodivergent Workspace'.In this episode, Andrew and Domino discuss what exactly this kind of workspace is, Domino opens up about how she became interested in neurodiversity, and Andrew asks Domino about the future of working and why the past two years have accelerated it.Top Quotes:“I worked so many late nights in my old jobs and for no gain whatsoever. I never want my team to experience that because you end up resenting your job.” - Andrew Kitley“The day is coming very soon where we will see a deskless office. There will be no working stations. And the only thing that will be in an office are things that will facilitate collaborative engagement.” - Domino RischAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Domino Risch is one of the Australia's most highly regarded workplace designers, working with leading organisations like Deloitte on its Sydney office and Goldman Sachs on both its Melbourne and Sydney offices Recently she has begun developing a concept for the ‘neuro-inclusive' workplace and has a number of theories in how to promote this. Domino doesn't have a neurodiversity but became interested in the subject when her daughter was diagnosed with ASD. Domino has a degree from the University of Canberra in Environmental Design and Interior Design. Currently, Domino is Hassell's global sector leader for Commercial & Workplace.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://www.hassellstudio.com/people/domino-risch

Episode Description:On today's podcast, Andrew is joined by homeschooling expert Jenny Sandler. Jenny is the founder of her business homeschool UK where she offers specialised tutoring to neurodivergent children.In the show, Jenny identifies why undiagnosed ADHD is a public health issue, Andrew and Jenny discuss why teachers in Britain lack the education needed to support neurodiversity, and Jenny reveals just how much the UK government actually spends on a child's educationTop Quote:“The widespread mismanaged and undiagnosed ADHD is a public health issue.” - Jenny SandlerAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Jenny Sandler is a teacher and founder of Homeschooling UK. She has a BA in Psychology and Education, a Masters in Literacy Learning and Literacy Difficulties and another Masters in Education - with a specialism around autism. Jenny is originally from California but has been living and working in the UK as a teacher and tutor for almost two decades. She started her business Homeschool UK - in 2019. In 2020, Jenny learned she had ADHD.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/https://www.homeschooluk.com/

Episode Description:On today's very special episode, we're bringing back one of our favourite guests from season one - educational specialist Paloma Forde to talk about the invisible gift workshops they've been launching to schools. In the episode, Andrew and Paloma explain in more detail what the workshops are, Andrew opens up about his ultimate goal for them in the future, and Paloma reveals the shocking statistic that shows the mental health crisis young people face today. Top Quotes:“My goal with these workshops is that someone, ten years from now, sits on a couch and talks about the workshop they did in school - called the invisible gift - and how it changed their life.” - Andrew Kitley“We want to get to the stage with these workshops that parents are no longer like ‘oh no - my child got diagnosed with dyslexia'. We want them to be able to see neurodiversity as an invisible gift. We want them to say, when their child gets diagnosed, ‘okay, my child has dyslexia. What do I need to do now?” - Paloma FordeAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Paloma Forde is a teaching specialist and founder of the award winning business Screening4Dyslexia. Paloma has worked for over twenty years in teaching. She initially specialised in autism but became aware of the lack of research and understanding in dyslexia, and began researching the topic herself. Paloma has since developed teaching strategies that are designed to aid dyslexic children in their learning and education.Paloma now advocates for the early screening and intervention of children with dyslexia, arguing children must be given the tools to adapt and thrive with dyslexia. In 2017, Paloma founded Screening4Dyslexia: A business dedicated to providing affordable and accurate testing for younger children. In 2017, her work was recognised nationally by The Sunday Business newspaper - Winning the ‘Small Business Award', presented by Theo Paphitis.Resources:https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://screening4dyslexia.com/https://www.onefineplay.com/http://theinvisiblegift.com/

Episode Description:On today's episode of the show, Andrew meets award winning journalist - Katie Glass. In the episode, Katie describes what it was like growing up with dyslexia and how she realised her dream of becoming a journalist despite her personal obstacles, and they also discuss the problem with labels.Top Quotes:“If you give yourself a label you allow other people to label you. Therefore, if you don't label yourself, you don't limit yourself.” - Andrew“I think I do have an invisible gift from dyslexia to take complex subjects and make them accessible.” - Katie GlassAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Katie Glass is an award winning journalist whose work regularly appears in UK publications including The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Evening Standard, The Sun, Condé Nast Traveller, The Spectator, Grazia and Elle Magazine. An established feature writer, Katie specialises in long-form features and interviews. Often exploring issues affecting young people she has investigated County Lines, children who commit violent crimes, and online sexual extortion. In a 2022 Telegraph article, Katie stated she was a ‘secret dyslexic'.Resources:http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://katie-glass.co.uk/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:On today's episode of the podcast, I'm joined by choreographer, dancer and filmmaker Charlotte Edmonds. In the episode, Charlotte and Andrew talk about why we were all born to move and dance. They discuss some of our biggest pet peeves around dyslexia, and the perils of writing emails for dyslexic.Top Quotes:“I feel like dyslexia has made me empathetic to other people. That's my invisible gift.” - Charlotte Edmonds"When you look at other cultures, dance and movement is far more important. In western societies we seem to suppress it but for me - we were all born to dance." - Andrew KitleyAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Charlotte Edmonds is a choreographer, dancer and filmmaker. She studied at The Royal Ballet Lower School and Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and from 2016-2018 she was The Royal Ballet's Inaugural Young Choreographer.Charlotte is also a freelance artist working on movement in film, fashion, theatre and dance companies across the world. In 2018, Charlotte was selected by Wayne McGregor as a choreographer for the BBC film Winged Bull In The Elephant Case performed by Alessandra Ferri and James Pett. In recent years, she created Move Beyond Words, which explores the relationship between dance and dyslexia.Resources:https://charlotteedmonds.com/https://www.movebeyondwords.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:On today's episode of the podcast, Andrew is joined by by filmmaker and musical theatre actress Elizabeth Arifien. In the episode, Elizabeth explains how her dyslexia and challenges in school led to her career in dance. Elizabeth also describes the genesis behind the initiative she co-founded with Charlotte Edmonds, Move Beyond Words, and their plans for it are going forward.Top Quotes:“Due to my dyslexia, I was drawn to dance. I wasn't able to express myself through words but being physical became like a language to me. I'm so grateful I have that. That's why spreading it through the world and communities I work is so important to me.” - Elizabeth Arifien“We know now that being empathetic is a part of having dyslexia. So I think empathy is my invisible gift.” - Elizabeth ArifienAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Elizabeth Arifien is an actress in musical theatre, dancer, and a filmmaker. Elizabeth creates emotive performances and projects for others driven by personal and societal themes. Her collaborative works have been shared on stage and screen at the V&A, Royal Opera House and Lilian Baylis - Sadlers Wells. Alongside performing in shows she has conceptualised and produced over 40 events, films and workshops. In 2016 she founded Visceral Creative to assist and expand creativity into under-represented communities across London. Elizabeth also performed as Ikette in Tina Turner the Musical. Elizabeth is dyslexic and co-founder alongside Charlotte Edmonds of Move Beyond Words.Resources:https://elizabethrosearifien.com/abouthttps://www.movebeyondwords.co.uk/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:Today, Andrew is joined by Joe Garner, co-founder of property development company New Place Associates. In the episode, Joe opens up about his struggles with addiction and mental health - and how he overcome them. Andrew and Joe also also discuss what they do as entrepreneurs to counteract the challenges presented by ADHD, and why the loss of community centres has been a devastating blow for so many.Top Quotes:“Who you surround yourself with is so important. No matter what your shortcomings are your network can improve you because they improve your standards. That can make you successful.” - Andrew“You need to fail often, fail hard but fail forward.” - AndrewAbout the host:The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm.Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.About the guest:Joe Garner is an entrepreneur and founder of New Place Associates. After studying law at university and completing the Legal Practice Course - Joe was offered a graduate role combining his two passions, construction and contract law. Joe joined Knight Harwood where he spearheaded a commercial team that delivered projects in the One Hyde Park development and the Chiltern St Firehouse whilst also passing his APC to become a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. In 2018, Joe co-founded New Place Associates: a property development company that has built over 50 affordable houses since 2018. Joe has Pure-O OCD and ADHD.Resources:https://www.thisisnewplace.com/http://theinvisiblegift.com/https://www.kitall.co.uk/https://www.onefineplay.com/

TrailerWe're excited to bring you brand new episodes of The Invisible Gift. This season, Andrew will be joined by top entrepreneurs, incredible business leaders, and award winning artists. So make sure you don't miss these new episodes of The Invisible Gift - the show all about turning neurodiversity into possibility!

Episode Description: On today's podcast, Andrew is joined by entrepreneur and founder Roei Samuel. In the show, Roei explains why he thinks the future of working is in augmented reality, why the key to building diverse teams is in the hiring process, and the boys discuss restless leg syndrome. Top Quotes: “My neurodiversity helps me think ten steps ahead. That foresight, that quick thinking. For me that's the gift of ADHD.” - Roei Samuel “Before Covid, I never realised how lonely the world can be. That's why I'm not sold on augmented reality yet because human interaction feels like the essence of what we are.” - Andrew Kitley About the host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the guest: Roei Samuel is a successful serial entrepreneur. In 2014, aged 23, Roei launched one of the world's most successful eSports platforms, RealSport, which he scaled to 9.5million monthly users and took to a full multi-million-pound acquisition by Gfinity in 2018. Roei has ADHD and dyslexia, and in 2020, he launched Connectd – a smart-matching platform that connects start-ups with relevant investors and NEDs. This matchmaking subscription service removes any class, race and location bias - making investment accessible to all startups. The goal of the company is to make investment accessible for startups - regardless of class, gender, ethnicity and neurodiversity. Roei has also been featured in the BBC's Million by 30 list. Resources: http://connectd.co/ (connectd.co) http://theinvisiblegift.com/ (http://theinvisiblegift.com/) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/)

Episode description In the final episode of season 3 of the invisible gift, Andrew meets Nathan Whitbread - The Neurodivergent Coach. The Neurodivergent Coach provides Consultancy, Coaching and Assistive Technology training for dyslexic and neurodivergent individuals and teams. In the episode, we learn what the term neurodiversity really means. Nathan explains the Medici effect and why neurodiversity has finally become sexy. And the boys identify why the best leaders work for their employees. Not the other way round. Top quotes “Labels can be helpful but also quite dangerous. It's always important to remember first that you are a unique human with unique characteristics and traits who happens to have a dyslexia diagnoses.” - Nathan Whitbread “I always say we should strive to identify as individuals not by groups or labels because you can pigeon hole yourself.” - Andrew Kitley About the guest Nathan Whitbread is a motivational speaker and founder of The Neurodivergent Coach. Nathan described his early life in education as ‘constantly avoiding' essays. He would chose his degree precisely because it wasn't essay driven. Nathan graduated from the University of Surrey with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with Business and Management in 1998. Nathan would only learn he had dyslexia when he began a career in marketing. In 2015, Nathan founded The Neurodivergent Coach. The Neurodivergent Coach provides Consultancy, Coaching and Assistive Technology training for dyslexic and neurodivergent individuals and teams. The Neurodivergent Coach works with both individuals and organisations to create a more neuro-inclusive workplace. Since 2017 he has been a Workplace Needs Assessor for the British Dyslexia Association. Nathan is also an Associate Assistive Technology Training Consultant and Coach at eVoice. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://theneurodivergentcoach.co.uk/ (https://theneurodivergentcoach.co.uk/)

Episode description This week, we have Kane Dowell on the podcast. Kane is an entrepreneur and founder of gift & confectionary company Ask Mummy & Daddy. Kane began his career working with fellow dyslexic entrepreneur Cath Kidston before working his way up through the company and eventually leaving to start his own business. In the episode, we learn how a chance encounter led Kane Dowell to get his first job from Cath Kidston herself. Andrew and Kane discuss candidly how they both got in, and out, of debt. And the boys chat about how you know when a business has outgrown its founder. Top quotes “Because I couldn't do so many things in school I had to supplement my short comings by developing my skills with people. That is definitely something dyslexia has given me.” - Andrew Kitley “My invisible gift is the fact that I will speak and treat everyone the same. I think it's something I learned working with Cath Kidston who is a multi-millionaire but who always appreciated people being direct and straight up. My invisible gift is not pretending to be something I'm not.” - Kane Dowell About the guest Kane Dowell is an entrepreneur and founder of gift & confectionary company Ask Mummy & Daddy. Kane didn't get any GCSE's. Despite this, he knew he was an intelligent with a head full of ideas, but wasn't able to express them. He would learn he was dyslexic at age 11 and leave school at 15. Kane upon a chance meeting, would get a job working under fellow dyslexic Cath Kidston. He worked at there for nearly nine years as a retail marketing events and planning officer. Eventually he would move on and begin his own business - high end confectionary and gift company Ask Mummy & Daddy in 2017. The business immediately took off - they became permanent stockists in Selfridges stores across the UK, and were stocked in Fenwicks department stores. They also opened a pop-up store in the heart of Notting Hill for a year. Now the company is a full-time operation with their own production, marketing, and events teams. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.askmummyanddaddy.com/ (https://www.askmummyanddaddy.com/)

Episode description This week on The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets CEO & Founder of Cognassist - a company that offers tests to detect neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In the episode, Chris explains why the idea of designing an education system around an ‘average brain' is deeply flawed. Andrew asks Chris why there is a general reluctance for adults and children to get tested for having a neurodiversity, and the boys discuss when neurodiversity will finally be embraced. Top quotes “The disadvantage of neurodiversity isn't the neurodiversity itself but the environment that surrounds it” - Chris Quickfall “Do you want 20 of one kind of brain to solve a problem or do you want 20 different ones? I know which one an investor would choose.” - Chris Quickfall About the guest Chris Quickfall is a CEO and entrepreneur. In 2017, Chris established Cognassist which offers tests to apprentices and students detecting neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Since its inception, Cognassist has diagnosed more than 100,000 people. Cognassist is now the UK's leading digital cognitive assessment EdTech platform, working with over 100 of the UK's best education providers. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://cognassist.com/ (https://cognassist.com/)

Episode description This week on the podcast, Andrew is joined by motivational speaker and teacher David C. Hall. David is dyslexic & a best selling author with the book ‘Inspire Your Child's Greatness'. In the episode, the boys discuss how poor grades can destroy your confidence as a child. David debunks common myths around neurodiversity and explains the real reason why people underachieve and David reveals the secret to unlocking your true potential. Top quotes “The key to life is happiness & legacy. The world should be a better place when you leave it then when you arrived.” - Andrew Kitley “I've realised that a lot of people underachieve due to a skewed self concept. They have decided that they're not intelligent, or they can't learn, or learning is boring. So my work is built around redefining people's skewed self concept.” - David C. Hall “Ultimately the grades that we achieve are a reflection of our own skewed self concept.” - David C. Hall About the guest David C. Hall is a bestselling author, speaker and motivational coach. David C. Hall was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of just three and education was a challenge in his early life. Despite being initially four years behind, he would prove the doubters wrong by passing 11 GCSEs and his A-Levels as well. He went on to become a teacher himself and eventually opening a private tutoring business in his home city of Birmingham - helping other struggling pupils. Potential Unlocked Tuition Centre, based in Aberdeen Street, was launched in 2017 offering individual teaching, coaching and support to students aged up to 18. David is the author of the best-selling book The Empowering Parent (2019). Today, David works with parents, educators, policy-makers and organisations to ignite a movement of people who are fulfilled, successful and transformed to enjoy a passion-driven career and be a positive contributor to society. David has been School Governor on the Birmingham City Council since 2020. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://davidchall.co.uk/ (https://davidchall.co.uk/)

Episode description In this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew sits down with CEO of Neuropool, Jack Dyrhauge. Neuropool provides training, accessibility to career pathways and employment opportunities for neurodivergents, and they are building the largest pool of Neurodiverse talent in the UK. In the episode, Jack elaborates on his own experience of being medicated from a young age due to his ADHD. Andrew & Jack have a frank conversation on whether you should tell your employer you have a neurodiversity and Jack speaks powerfully on why companies need neurodivergence. Top quotes “If you look at the three entrepreneurs that lead the businesses that run this world: Facebook, Google, Tesla. They're neurodivergent people. So if you want to know the value of neurodivergence - look at the business leaders.” - Jack Dyrhauge “I'm a big advocate of diversity but in its true sense. So that's diversity across the board in every single way. All kinds of people from all works of life need to be in your company.” - Andrew Kitley About the guest Jack Dyrhauge is an Autistic, ADHD entrepreneur who is also CEO of Neuropool - a company that connects neurodiverse individuals to diverse employers. Jack struggled in school and failed to achieve any GCSEs growing up. In 2019, Jack started Neuropool - a company that aims to provide training, and accessibility to career pathways and employment opportunities to neurodivergents. Jack is also the founder of The Next Steps Foundation: Helping people with autism find a job they want, from building confidence to carving out a career path and landing their first interview. Jack is a neurodiversity & employment guest speaker at the University of Bath About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://neuropool.co/ (https://neuropool.co/)

Episode Description On this week's episode of the podcast, Andrew meet personal brand specialist Ellie Middleton. In 2021, Ellie made a post on LinkedIn questioning what acting ‘professional' on social media really is in the modern day. The post became a viral trend reaching over a million people. In the episode, Andrew and Ellie discuss the post that made her go viral, and the impact it had. Ellie also explains the importance of personal brand and reveals some useful tips neurodivergents can use to build their own. Top quotes “My biggest piece of advice when building a personal brand is to build it around yourself, who you are, and your values.” - Ellie Middleton “My mantra to life is embrace yourself. Embracing myself has given me the confidence to do whatever I want.” - Andrew Kitley About the guest Ellie Middleton is an influencer and personal brand specialist who has ADHD & autism. In 2021, Ellie made a post on LinkedIn questioning what acting ‘professional' on social media really is in the modern day. The post went viral with many others posting their version of what a professional really looks like - asserting that you can have any hairstyle, any form of clothing, or any number of tattoos etc. The post became a viral trend proving that there's more to being professional than appearances. Ellie's original post would end up reaching over a million people. As of January 2022, Ellie has over 20,000 followers on LinkedIn. Ellie is also a foodie & micro-influencer at @lifewithmidds. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliemidds/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliemidds/)

Episode description On this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, sits down with Edward Keelan aka The Dyslexic Investor - Principal Investor with Octopus Ventures. In the show, Edward explains what a venture capitalist actually does, Andrew asks Edward if dyslexics really are discriminated against by their employers, and the lads share anecdotes on their worst best man speeches. Top quotes “My invisible gift is my ability to roll back from failure.” - Edward “When you're younger you care what people think. When you're in your thirties you stop caring. And then when you're older you realise nobody cared anyway!” - Andrew About the guest Edward Keelan is Principal Investor at Octopus Ventures and blogs under the name ‘The Dyslexic Investor'. Edward would join the sales department of Octopus Ventures in 2008 and would work his way into the Investment Team becoming Principal Investor in 2019. In March 2020, Edward published his first blog as the ‘Dyslexic Investor' where he spoke candidly about his experiences, his dyslexia and his believe that neurodiversity offers a different, rather than inferior, set of skills. The post would go viral and would later be republished on the British Dyslexia Association's website. Edward was awarded mentor of the year 2020 at Career Ready. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-keelan-b241211/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-keelan-b241211/?originalSubdomain=uk)

Episode description On this week's episode of the podcast, Andrew meets online with sales expert, motivational speaker, and author Alison Edgar MBE. In the episode, Andrew and Alison discuss how we should build the confidence of neurodiverse children, Andrew asks Alison if the education system outdated, and Alison reveals the secret to getting what you want. Top quotes “Too many people search for that other half of themselves, that other person, to make them happy. We came into the world on our own. We're going to go out on our own. We have to make that happiness ourselves.” - Alison “People always say that they're one half and their partner is the other half. But if you're not complete yourself eventually you'l' be empty.” - Andrew About the guest Alison Edgar MBE aka **‘**The Entrepreneur's Godmother' is Managing Director of Sales Coaching Solutions, as well as an author and entrepreneur. In 2011, Alison started her own business: ‘Sales Coaching Solutions' aiming to train and empower small business and startups for succeeding. In 2017, Alison wrote her first book that would become WHSmith Top Ten and Amazon Best Seller: ‘Secrets of Successful Sales'. The book has been recognised by The Independent as one of the top business books written by a woman. In 2020, she launched her new book ‘SMASH IT: The Art of Getting What YOU Want'. A book all about how you can achieve your dreams. She has featured in numerous publications including The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday and Prima Magazine. In 2020, Alison received an MBE for recognition of her long-term work within entrepreneurship and business. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.alisonedgar.com/ (https://www.alisonedgar.com/)

Episode description In today's episode, Andrew meets Ben Cooke. Ben is a Strategy Consultant at EY-Parthenon: Ernst & Young's global strategy consulting arm. In 2018, Ben was Lead Contributor to a EY report titled ‘The Value of Dyslexia' which showed how the world of work is changing & how much dyslexics can have to offer going forward. In the episode, Andrew and Ben deep dive into the value of dyslexia report. The boys discuss key learnings and Ben will reveal some of the report's most fascinating stats. Ben and Andrew also discuss why ****businesses need diversity. Top quotes “Diversity is all about having different opinions, voices, points of view. And any leader you talk to would say that's the business case for diversity.” - Benjamin Cooke “We need to get a lot more comfortable with positive discrimination.” - Benjamin Cooke About the guest Ben Cooke is a Strategy Consultant at EY-Parthenon. Ben struggled in school with dyslexia but found he thrived at big picture thinking. In 2016, he graduated with a masters degree from Alliance Manchester Business School and, in 2017, joined EY as a Associate Consultant. Ey is a consulting service that provides, assurance, tax and transaction services that help solve business challenges and promote a better working world for all. In 2018, Ben was Lead Contributor to a report titled ‘The Value of Dyslexia' which showed how the world of work is changing & how much dyslexics will have to offer going forward. In 2021, EY launched its first neuro-diverse https://www.ey.com/en_uk/news/2021/07/ey-launches-first-neuro-diverse-centre-of-excellence-in-the-uk-to-boost-client-innovation (centre of excellence) to fuel innovation in technology, bring a new dimension of creativity, and drive greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/beniancooke/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/beniancooke/?originalSubdomain=uk) https://www.ey.com/en_uk/strategy/about-ey-parthenon (https://www.ey.com/en_uk/strategy/about-ey-parthenon)

Episode description On this week's episode, Andrew meets Amazon's Jon Hammant. Jon is Head of Compute for UK & Ireland at Amazon Web Services and he's had extraordinary career. He got his A-Level in computer science at 12, built the London Stock Exchange, and has worked in senior roles in Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. In the episode, Jon explains why being dyslexic has made challenges easier. The boys discuss the worrying lack of young people taking computer science in school and Jon & Andrew talk about the importance of failure. Top quotes “I've failed so many times in my life. I've gone to more job interviews than I could possibly name. But my life changed when I started writing down why I failed each job interview. When I did, suddenly failure stopped being something that made me stressed. Suddenly failure became about learning to be better.” - Jon Hammant “Failure has been so important to me in my journey.” - Andrew Kitley “I genuinely believe now that, for the first time in history, there's no barriers to what you can do. You can manifest whatever you think about.” - Andrew Kitley About the guest Jon Hammant is Head of Compute for UK & Ireland at Amazon Web Services. Jon Hammant grew up with ‘severe dyslexia.' He couldn't spell his name until he was 11. He had poor short term memory and was even worse at sports. When he was a child his mother enrolled him into an extracurricular computer science course. His mother would regularly take him to the library to practise as they didn't have enough money to own a computer themselves. At 12 years of age Jon received his A Level in Computer Science. He would enter the world of high finance and, in 2010, helped build the London Stock Exchange. He would go on to work high ranking positions in Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. In 2015, Jon became Head of Infrastructure for Financial Markets with Standard Chartered Bank. In 2017, he became Managing Director of Accenture. Today he works for Amazon as Head of Compute in the UK & Ireland. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhammant/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhammant/?originalSubdomain=uk) https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/ukir-case-studies/ (https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/ukir-case-studies/)

Episode description On the first episode of season 3 of the invisible gift, Andrew meets CEO of Microlink Dr. Nasser Siabi OBE. Dr. Siabi is the CEO and founder of Microlink - an assistive technology company that aims to provide disability management and assistive technology to both the workplace and educational facilities. In the episode, Dr. Siabi explains ****how technology changed his life. Andrew and Dr. Siabi discuss how the world's best companies have woken up to the importance of diversity and Nasser highlights why training your disabled employees will make your company more money! Top quotes “Neurodiverse people are the most creative in society. All they need to be given is the right tools and opportunity.” - Dr. Nasser Siabi “Those that have embraced diversity & inclusion and have empowered their disabled and neurodiverse employees are now the companies that are cutting edge and winning the clients.” - Dr. Nasser Siabi About the guest Dr. Siabi is the CEO and founder of Microlink - an assistive technology company that aims to provide disability management and assistive technology to both the workplace and educational facilities. Nasser Siabi was born in Iran in 1962. For the first fifteen years of Nasser's life, he suffered from a rare chronic visual impairment that removed him from education. He would go on to received his doctorate in Computer Science Technologies & Physics and establish Microlink in 1992. Microlink's award winning WPA service is now considered best practice and is widely used by over 27 other leading organisations in the UK and US. Nasser was awarded an OBE in 2011 for his contribution in helping over 300,000 disabled people transition from education into work. He is also a founding member of the British Assistive Technology Association (BATA) and part of the DWP Disability Employer Engagement steering group. In 2015 he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Diversity Awards (NDA) for his contribution to people with disabilities. About the host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of neurodiversity into a gift. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ (https://www.kitall.co.uk/) https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/) https://www.microlinkpc.com/ (https://www.microlinkpc.com/)

Welcome back to season 3 of The Invisible Gift - the show all about turning neurodiversity into possibility! For two seasons, Andrew has shared conversations with incredible people about how they used their neurodiversity to achieve extraordinary things. This season we wanted to change gear and focus in on the workplace. From what we learned so far, businesses are leading the change when it comes to neurodiversity but there's still a long way to go. So we wanted to speak to the business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts leading this change to learn how neurodiversity is perceived now, what still needs to be done going forward, and whether the world of tomorrow will be truly neuro-inclusive. This season has been the best yet so please join us for season 3 of The Invisible Gift - the show all about turning neurodiversity into possibility!

Episode Description:  On the final episode of season 2 of the Invisible Gift, Andrew meets acclaimed author and illustrator Sally Gardner. In the episode, Sally and Andrew have a wonderful conversation. Where Andrew hears about the chance encounter that made Sally a writer, Sally speaks powerful on the failures of the current education system calling for reform, and Andrew learns how dyslexia gave Sally her name! Top Quotes: "I never felt I could be a writer because of my dyslexia. I was too ashamed to say the truth. And the only thing that kicked me up the bum was necessity." - Sally "We create a mindset for dyslexic children early in life that hinder their development." - Andrew Kitley About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Sally Gardner  is an award winning children's author and illustrator. Her first book was published by Orion Books in 1993: The Little Nut Tree, a children's picture book that she also illustrated.  Her first full-length novel was a breakthrough, as I, Coriander won the Smarties Prize in 2005. Her Young Adult novel, The Double Shadow, was published in 2011 also to critical acclaim. Her novel, ‘Maggot Moon' (Hot Key Books 2012), won both the Costa Children's Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal 2013. Sally Gardner has written over 20 books, she has sold over 2 million books in the UK, and her work has been translated into more than 22 languages.  Resources: https://www.sallygardner.net/ https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/)

Episode Description:  On this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets award winning producer and BBC's Head of Talent for Comedy - Carrie Britton. On the show, Andrew and Carrie delve into the question of self declaring as neuro-diverse in the workplace, Andrew and Carrie discuss the ineffectiveness of the education system for dyslexics, and Carrie illuminates for Andrew why the unique architecture of her brain has aided her in the art of storytelling.  Top Quotes: "Difference is at a premium now." - Carrie Britton "Because there is a lack of neuro-diversity in parliament they don't prioritise issues relating to it. That's the very essence and purpose behind having diversity in all forms in every organisation." - Andrew "If you don't stand up for who you are and what you believe in then nothing is going to change. The more people embrace themselves the more rich, diverse, and aware society becomes." - Carrie "Part of the problem with being neuro-diverse is thinking you're alone. And we're not." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Carrie Britton  is an award winning producer and director, whose credits include ‘Embarrassing Bodies' and Who Do You Think You Are' and is the current Scripted Talent Executive for Drama and  Comedy at the BBC. Carries has also directed a number of films including the documentary series ‘Cutting Edge', BBC's ‘Modern Times' and ‘Inside Story'. She's worked for BBC Comedy, BBC Factual, Cineflix, Nutopia, IWC Media Hat Trick and other leading Indies. She's a member of the Royal Television Society's Futures Committee producing regular industry events, and of the Edinburgh Television Festival Talent Committee. She sits on the Advisory Board of the London Film Academy.  Resources: For Carrie's career highlights and contact visit her LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-britton-ab419213/?originalSubdomain=uk (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-britton-ab419213/?originalSubdomain=uk) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  On this episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew sits down with executive headteacher of dyslexia specialist school, Moon Hall Reigate. In the show, Michelle regales the fascinating story of Moon Hall's inception, Andrew learns more about the groundbreaking teaching techniques Moon Hall has developed, and Andrew and Michelle discuss why the education minister needs a background in education.  Top Quotes: "Education in the workplace is needed because people assume, wrongly of course, that dyslexic people are not going to achieve or they're not intelligent but that's not they case. They just need information delivered in a different way." - Michelle "We need passion to change the education system and the problem with an education minister that has no background in teaching is that their passion is for politics, and not education." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Michelle joined Moon Hall in 2017 as deputy head of academic before quickly working her way up to become Executive Head Teacher in 2019. Established in 1985, Moon Hall  are a specialist school for dyslexic children in Years 3-11. At the school, all children participate on a level playing field with their dyslexic peers. Children are taught strategies to enable them to understand and overcome barriers to learning and gain the confidence to be independent, positive learners. In 2020, she became a board trustee member of the British Dyslexia Association.  Resources: https://www.moonhallschoolreigate.co.uk/ https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/ (https://www.onefineplay.com/)

Episode Description:  On this episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew is joined by comedian and writer Michael Fabbri. In the episode, Michael reveals the inside production secrets of your favourite comedy panel shows, Andrew and Michael discuss why dyslexics naturally become leaders, and Michael explains why his friend posted a dead cat through a letter box.  Top Quotes: "Because of the barriers and the lack of opportunity dyslexics and neuro-diverse people have, they are forced to lead. They have to become leaders. They have to be in charge." - Michael "Kids who are dyslexic will always feel like crap in the current education system because that environment wasn't made for them." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Michael Fabbri is a comedian and writer who performed and produced the BBC radio series ‘The Dyslexicon'. Michael is an English stand-up comedian and writer based in Brighton and has been performing stand-up comedy since the early 2000s. Michael is a frequent contributor to panel television shows like Mock the Week & Stand UP for the Week - regularly submitting jokes aired to broadcast. In 2003 he reached the final of So You Think You're Funny on Channel 4. As well as performing all over the world, he has also performed in several solo shows at festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Michael was nominated for Best Club Comic at 2012 Chortle Awards.  Resources: https://twitter.com/michaelsfabbri?lang=en (https://twitter.com/michaelsfabbri?lang=en) https://www.michaelfabbri.com/ https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  This week on the The Invisible Gift, Andrew chats with the CEO and founder of Dekko Comics, Rossie Stone. In the episode, Rossie explains the origins of his company - and why his struggles with dyslexia led to him founding it. Andrew and Rossie talk through the problems with labels, Rossie highlights the importance of a strong support network for dyslexics and the boys explain why the world of tomorrow will be made for the neuro-diverse.  Top Quotes: "I haven't got a problem with the way school teaches. I've got a problem with the fact it only teaches in one way." - Rossie "Because as a group of people we are so used to failure we have learned what are values are. The concept of leaving a company to go somewhere else where you are better understood is easy for us to comprehend." - Andrew "The world doesn't fit into the box it used to and that's great for us, for the neuro-diverse, because we are out of the box thinkers." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Rossie Stone  is an illustrator, artist, and founder of Dekko Comics. Dekko Comics is an educational comic book company, that aims to revolutionise teaching for dyslexic and neurodiverse students. Rossie struggled in school at the ‘academic subjects' but thrived in acting, art, and english - this inspired to find alternative methods for learning such as making his own comic books. Rossie runs comic book workshops for young people who want to enter the medium. Rossie has also spoken at TedX on multiple occasions about his experiences with dyslexia.  Rossie is also an ambassador for Dyslexia Scotland. Resources: https://dekkocomics.com/ https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description: On this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew sits down with famed micro artist and Guinness world record holder Willard Wigan MBE. Willard takes Andrew through his journey to becoming the greatest micro artist in the world, speaking powerfully about the autism and dyslexia that helped define his creativity and vision on life, and we discover what the Queen said when she saw his work. Top Quotes:  "I'll tell you what brought it home for me. The Queen, when she saw my work, said she's never had something so small that's meant so much." - Willard "Sometimes in life we can feel like we're a diamond in a dustbin but whatever you put your mind to you can achieve." - Willard About the host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the guest:  Dr. Willard Wigan MBE  is an artist and sculptor who specialises in microscopic art. Wigan worked in a factory for two decades before making a name for himself.  During that time, he sculpted at night, working on his miniatures. Willard's work would get finally noticed by the public after carving a bust of, ironically, William Shakespeare. This would be the catalyst for starting his own workshop in a shopping centre. He has been the subject of an award-winning TV documentary from Channel 4, been a guest on chat shows, and his work is exhibited across the World within the Ripley's Believe it or Not exhibitions. Willard has achieved two Guinness World Records for the smallest sculptures ever created entirely by human hand. Willard was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 & was awarded a doctorate in 2018 as recognition to his contribution to the arts. Some of Willard's famous admirers include David Lloyd, who owns a 70-piece collection insured for more than 20 million dollars; Sir Elton John; Magicians Sigfried and Roy; and Prince Charles of Wales. Resources:  https://www.willardwiganmbe.com/ https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  On this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew is joined by Prof. Nigel Lockett aka The Dyslexic Professor. Nigel and Andrew have a fascinating discussion - deep diving into the nature of neuro-diversity and why its an evolutionary adaption. Nigel and Andrew reimagine the world where dyslexia is celebrated and Nigel identifies the three key traits dyslexia gave him to be a successful entrepreneur.  Top Quotes: "My underlining point is about diversity because I have learned through my job, through my research and through being dyslexic that having a team of cognitive diversities is just better." - Nigel Lockett "The reason why the tech industry makes so much money and is so successful is because they're agile. They're geared for quick changes" - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Prof. Nigel Lockett is Professor of Entrepreneurship at https://www.strath.ac.uk/ (University of Strathclyde). He blogs as https://nigellockett.com/2016/12/18/thedyslexicprofessor/ (The Dyslexic Professor) and recently co-founded a specialist group – https://www.dyversitylab.com/ (Dyversity Lab). Before joining https://www.strath.ac.uk/business/ (Strathclyde Business Schoo)l, Nigel previously worked as Professor of Entrepreneurship at https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/ (Lancaster University Management School) and Professor of Enterprise at https://business.leeds.ac.uk/ (Leeds University Business School). He is the co-author, with http://business-school.open.ac.uk/people/rkb7 (Professor Richard Blundel,) and http://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/catherine-wang (Professor Catherine Wang) of a major textbook, Exploring Entrepreneurship. In 2017, Nigel ‘came out' as a dyslexic and starting blogging as a the dyslexic professor. Nigel has posited that not only is dyslexia not a disability but that is it is an advantage - claiming it is his ‘superpower'.  Resources: https://nigellockett.com/about/ (https://nigellockett.com/about/) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  This week on The Invisible Gift, Andrew is joined by entrepreneur and reality TV star - Tanya Bardsley. Tanya and Andrew have a fascinating conversation, exploring ADHD and how it can make you entrepreneurial, Tanya talks openly about the bullying she experienced in school, and Andrew asks Tanya what her advice is to parents of dyslexic children.  Top Quotes: "Getting diagnosed with ADHD was a huge weight off my shoulders. Finally I knew what was wrong with me and I could get the tools to help." - Tanya "We're given these negative labels. When you're at school with dyslexia you're just the thick kid and when you're at school with ADHD you're just the naughty kid." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Tanya Bardsley is a glamour model, entrepreneur and television personality known for her work in The Real Housewives of Cheshire. Tanya rose to prominence in the early 2000's being featured in, and appearing on the cover of, a number of different magazines such as ZOO and FHM. In 2004, Tanya began her career as a television personality hosting the sky one shows Gamenation & Strike. In 2015, Tanya appeared in the first season of the real housewives of cheshire. The show portrays affluent housewives in their everyday lives and explores their relationships with their friends, family and partners. Tanya is the only cast member to appear in all 13 seasons. In February 2020, Bardsley created the wellness hub and fashion boutique  at shop ''Tanya Bardo Boutique'' in Wilmslow, Cheshire with BBC radio personality John Junior.  Resources: https://www.instagram.com/tanyabardsley7/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/tanyabardsley7/?hl=en) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  This week on The Invisible Gift, Andrew is joined by writer, presenter and resident Blue Peter Vet - Rory 'the Vet' Cowlam. Andrew and Rory have a great conversation, where Rory tells Andrew how he became a trained vet despite struggling in school, the lads discuss the challenges of presenting and reading lines when you're dyslexic, and Rory explains why mental health is the veterinary professions 'dirty little secret.'  Top Quotes: "The reason why I call dyslexia my superpower is because it allows me to be emotive, to wear my heart on my sleeve, it allows me to be open." - Rory "When you know your weaknesses it means you really know your strengths." - Andrew About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Rory ‘The Vet' Cowlam is a British veterinary surgeon, writer and television personality. Rory graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 and he holds a postgraduate qualification in animal surgery. Rory began working  as a presenter after graduating college in 2017. He is a broadcaster on a number of well known shows such as The CBBC show, and The Pets Factor - where Rory, along with three other vets, are followed while they go about their work in vet practises. Rory has also appeared on British broadcasting national institutions such as Blue Peter, BBC Breakfast, Lorraine, Sky News and Saturday Morning Mash Up.  Along with his television work, Rory has authored the book 'The Secret Life of a Vet'.  Resources: https://www.instagram.com/rorythevet/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/rorythevet/?hl=en) https://rorythevet.com/about/ (https://rorythevet.com/about/) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Episode Description:  On this episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets actress and winner of Strictly Come Dancing - Kara Tointon. In the show, Kara and Andrew discuss Kara's groundbreaking BBC dyslexia documentary; 'Don't Call Me Stupid', Andrew and Kara get emotional when talking about the support they received from their family, and they discuss whether medicating children for neuro-diversity is the right approach.  Top Quotes: "You take these amazing, creative kids and when parents medicate, they get put into a box. They withdraw inside themselves." - Andrew "Dyslexia is not a hindrance. It's a good thing. It's a gift." - Kara Tointon About the Host: The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice and inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift. About the Guest: Kara Tointon is an English actress, known for a variety of television and stage roles. In 2005, Tointon joined the cast of BBC soap EastEnders as a new character, Dawn Swann. This would become Kara's best known role which was fitting  given her first ever television appearance was on EastEnders as an extra in 1994. In 2010, Kara won Strictly Come Dancing series 8 with her partner Artem Chigvinstev. Tointon has been acclaimed for her theatre work as well - Her 2011 role as Eliza Doolittle in West End's production of Pygmalion was met with acclaim. In 2015, she was cast as Maria in The Sound of Music Live. Resources: https://www.instagram.com/kara_tointon/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/kara_tointon/?hl=en) https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/

Preview  Welcome back to Season 2 of The Invisible Gift, the show all about turning disability into possibility. Andrew Kitley grew up knowing he was different. His dyslexia made it difficult for Andrew to learn the same way others did in school. Despite Andrew possessing exceptional abilities in other areas, he was told he had a problem, a disability. Andrew left school frustrated, unfulfilled, without reaching his full potential. This could have been a disaster but it turned out to be a blessing. Andrew would work his way up the literal and metaphorical ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. Now, Andrew is under no illusion he has a gift. His dyslexia, his neurodiversity, has made him determined, adaptive, and creative. Andrew is on a mission to learn more about neurodiversity. How it can challenge, define, and empower. In The Invisible Gift, Andrew will seek the advice and inspiration of another trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning their challenge into an invisible gift. Season one proved to be an inspiring odyssey into the power of neurodiversity. And now Andrew's back, joined by co-host and executive producer James Bishop, to have more incredible conversations with amazing people across the neuro-diversity spectrum. So please join us, this is The Invisible Gift Season 2.  

On the final episode of Season One of The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets famed writer, and Pulitzer prize winning poet, Philip Schultz. In this episode, we're taken to the heart of the question: How did a boy who couldn't read or write win a Pulitzer prize? Andrew and Philip share an incredible conversation where Philip takes us back to his challenging and character forming childhood. Philip explains the genesis behind his persona writing, how it can unlock one's writing potential, and how this process led to his globally successful school: The Writer's Studio. Philip also explains how he learned about his dyslexia, the story behind his powerful memoir My Dyslexia, we hear a performance of Philip's poem ‘Googling Ourselves'.    Top Quotes “I lived in a world where dyslexia explained a lot. The life of the imagination was a more feasible, safer life than the one on the outside.” - Philip Schultz “The hardest thing in teaching is encouraging people to translate what they really feel about the subjects they're writing about” - Philip Schultz “I couldn't learn how to read or write. So I became a writer.” - Philip Schultz “The struggle is to overcome the image of the self as a failure.” - Philip Schultz   About The Guest Philip Schultz was born into a working class family in Rochester, New York. He struggled in school, failing to learn to read until he was eleven years of age. Despite this, Philip would go on to study in university, and released his first collection of poetry Like Wings in 1978. Philip Schultz has been teaching creative writing for almost five decades. After spending four years as the director of New York University's graduate creative writing program, he founded his own school, The Writers Studio, in 1987. Schultz's work has been published in The New Yorker, Partisan Review, The New Republic, The Paris Review, Slate, and other magazines. He won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for his collection poetry Failure. This, before the Nobel Prize for Literature, is the highest honour a poet can receive globally. He wouldn't learn he was dyslexic until his son was diagnosed with the condition, at the age of 57. In 2011, he published his memoir My Dyslexia.  Resources https://www.writerstudio.com/courses/online/ https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/philip-schultz https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/   About The Host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice & inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.

In the ninth episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew sits down with Professor Rod Nicolson. Professor Nicolson has been one of the leading academics researching the subject of dyslexia for four decades. Together, Rod and Andrew traced the causes of dyslexia, what exactly is going on in the brain of a dyslexic, how the understanding of dyslexia has morphed and transformed in schools and workplaces, analysed the meaning of ‘positive dyslexia', and what needs to be done to better aid dyslexics in schools, universities and beyond.  Top Quotes “We have been looking at what goes wrong for dyslexic people. We should be looking at what goes right.” - Professor Rod Nicolson “We came up with a very simple theory behind dyslexia. Dyslexic children take longer to get their skills automatic.” - Professor Rod Nicolson “The distinctive skills of dyslexic people are the ones employers are actually trying to train in their talent management classes.” - Professor Rod Nicolson “If you fail at those early tasks in school, like for example reading, it becomes aversive. It becomes like seeing a spider when you see that book.” - Professor Rod Nicolson  “My advice to dyslexic people? The world is open to them.” - Professor Rod Nicolson   About The Guest Professor Roderick Nicolson is Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University, in Lancashire UK. His area of specialism is in human learning and he has authored a number of books on the subject of dyslexia alone. Professor Nicolson's research into dyslexia began in 1987, and his 2012 book, Positive Dyslexia, aims to redefine popular notions about dyslexia - shifting the focus from the supposed challenges, and onto the strengths.  Resources https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/ http://positivedyslexia.org/index.html https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.onefineplay.com/   About The Host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice & inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.

On this week's episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew meets with entrepreneur, and dyslexia teaching specialist, Paloma Forde. Paloma explains to Andrew the distinctive differences between dyslexic and non-dyslexic children, highlighting the creativity and verbal strength dyslexia can bring. Paloma and Andrew discuss the most effective teaching methods for dyslexic children, the importance of early intervention, and how, when given the necessary support, neurodiverse children flourish.  Top Quotes “There's an overlap of 40% between dyslexia and autism.” - Paloma Forde “You don't need diagnoses for intervention. So catch dyslexia early” - Paloma Forde “I always tell parents: 50% of Nasa are dyslexic.” - Paloma Forde "Dyslexic children are way more creative.” - Paloma Forde   About The Guest Paloma Forde is a teaching specialist and founder of the award winning business Screening4Dyslexia. Paloma has worked for over twenty years in teaching. She initially specialised in autism but became aware of the lack of research and understanding in dyslexia, and began researching the topic herself. Paloma has since developed teaching strategies that are designed to aid dyslexic children in their learning and education. Paloma now advocates for the early screening and intervention of children with dyslexia, arguing children must be given the tools to adapt and thrive with dyslexia. In 2017, Paloma founded Screening4Dyslexia: A business dedicated to providing affordable and accurate testing for younger children. In 2017, her work was recognised nationally by The Sunday Business newspaper - Winning the ‘Small Business Award', presented by Theo Paphitis. Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://screening4dyslexia.com/ https://www.onefineplay.com/    About The Host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice & inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.

On this episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew chats to CEO of VERB Brands Chris Donnelly. Chris brings Andrew back to his childhood, highlighting the incredible support he was offered in school, and how influential seeing other successful CEOs with dyslexia was in moulding his ambition and confidence. Chris and Andrew also spoke about their families, the positives and negatives of leadership and dyslexia, how the pandemic has brought the best out of their proactive mindsets, and they also explore how dyslexia helps forge the independent thinking required to excel as an entrepreneur.  Top Quotes “Because you fail so much as a student, when you go out into the world, failure doesn't scare you.” - Andrew Kitley “I think with dyslexia and ADD, they do make you resilient. You will come up with solutions because you have to.” - Chris Donnelly “With dyslexia, when you get good enough to be normal you're really disciplined in understanding how to overcome challenges.” - Chris Donnelly "My advice to dyslexics is: Don't fear. They say you have a problem; I see it as a positive.” - Chris Donnelly About The Guest Chris Donnelly is the founder of VERB Brands, a luxury digital ad agency based in London. Chris was surrounded by dyslexia growing, with his brothers and father all having the same neurodiversity. From his entrepreneurial family, his naturally inquisitive mindset, and the academic support he received in school, Chris excelled. At 21, Chris founded what would become the multi-million pound company VERB Brands in his dorm room. Chris also has ADD and dyscalculia, which makes operating the financial side of his business a challenge. Despite this, Chris' meticulous and positive outlook has led to Verb Brands becoming a thriving business worth millions of pounds.  Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://verbbrands.com/ https://www.onefineplay.com/    About The Host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice & inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.

In this episode Andrew sits down with Mirabel Brow, a chemistry student at University of London. Mirabel's academic achievements are extraordinary by any standards, but when considering Mirabel has dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism, they are even more phenomenal. In the episode, Mirabel tells Andrew of the incredible influence her mother had on her education and how Mirabel's precocious mindset enabled her to both succeed and exceed in school. Andrew and Mirabel get under the skin of neurodivergence, discussing the common overlap of different conditions, how each poses a unique set of strengths, and what needs to be done to get the most out of neurodiverse students.      Top quotes “Once I was assessed I knew I wasn't stupid.” - Mirabel Brow “I'm not a diagnosis; I'm a person.” - Mirabel Brow “You can just leave school and get a job. You don't have to worry. Everyone's journey is different” - Andrew Kitley “One in five people are dyslexic.” - Mirabel Brow   About The Guest Mirabel Brow is a chemistry student from University College London. Mirabel had chronic dyslexia growing up, and as a child she was told she wouldn't be able to read until age 11. Mirabel also has dyspraxia and is on the autism spectrum. Although initially she found school challenging, her parents capitalised on the precocious and diligent child. She took extra work home and spent summers practising her reading and writing. By her teens, Mirabel was flourishing academically and would go on to study chemistry at University College London. She is currently president of the Art Society and plans to specialise in inorganic chemistry.  Resources https://www.kitall.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirabel-brow?originalSubdomain=uk https://www.onefineplay.com/     About The Host The Invisible Gift is hosted by entrepreneur and dyslexic, Andrew Kitley. With twenty years experience, Andrew Kitley has worked his way up the metaphorical and literal ladder to become Managing Director of Kitall: an engineering firm. Under Andrew's guidance, Kitall is now one of the most sought after names to complete complex engineering projects in the UK. In each episode of The Invisible Gift, Andrew seeks the advice & inspiration of a fellow trailblazer who has defied the odds to achieve the extraordinary - turning the challenge of dyslexia into a gift.