Celebrating neurodiversity: The importance of challenging stereotypes
We spoke with our Wisers to hear their personal perspectives on neurodiversity, address common misconceptions, and explore why embracing different ways of thinking is crucial for a more inclusive world.
What does neurodiversity mean to you, and why is it important to celebrate it?
Marleen: As someone who is neurodiverse, for me it means that our brain functions in a way that’s different from most others. Our brains use unique pathways to process information, resulting in us being seen as 'different’. And by 'different,' I mean someone who serves as a reminder of the complexity and beauty of the world we live in. We should celebrate this uniqueness, encouraging others to embrace their 'out-of-the-norm' qualities, as this is the only way to eliminate the very idea of 'out-of-the-norm’.
Nurmianti: Neurodiversity is about realizing that brains like mine — wired for creativity, deep emotions, and bursts of energy — aren’t broken, just different.
Celebrating neurodiversity matters because for so long, people like us have been told to fit in, to be “less” of who we are. But the world needs our unique ways of thinking, our passion, our ability to see what others miss. When we celebrate neurodiversity, we’re not just raising awareness; we’re affirming that people like me belong, just as we are.
Charles: To me neurodiversity means celebrating the various ways that people’s minds work, and how they approach the world through that uniqueness. It’s about cherishing different perspectives, learning styles, and perceptions, and embracing this diversity with inclusivity and empathy.
"If you've met one neurodiverse person, you've met one neurodiverse person. Neurodiverse brains are wired differently, and we have such a range of experiences, but just because we’re different, we are no less valuable. By celebrating our distinct ways of thinking, we show that we’ve always been here and can contribute meaningfully, especially when given the right support."
Emma-Jane Stogdon (She/Her/They/Them)
Content Senior Specialist,
London
What are some common misconceptions about neurodivergent individuals, and how can we challenge them?
Marleen: Neurodiversity doesn’t just mean having some specific neurodiverse traits; it’s much more complex. Many people aren’t aware that numerous neurodivergent individuals have co-occurring mental health diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety, or even co-occurring physical conditions like increased pain, hypermobility, and gastrointestinal problems. For example, I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression since I was 15, but it took me 10 years—and money out of my pocket—to receive an accurate ADHD diagnosis because my symptoms didn’t match the typical traits.
Don’t get me wrong, neurodiversity is its own separate thing, but several other conditions have a higher risk of occurring if you are a neurodivergent individual. Too often, doctors focus on individual symptoms rather than the whole person. This can lead to misdiagnoses or delays in treatment.
‘’Neurodiversity is often misrepresented in the media, with TV shows and movies typically portraying only the extreme cases. This leads to comments like 'you don’t look neurodivergent.' But in reality, when I’m watching media content, I see neurodiverse traits in many characters, even when they're not explicitly labeled as such.’’
Gabriella Szabó (She/Her)
Customer Support Training Specialist, Budapest
Emma-Jane: In my experience, a phrase I have heard from others a lot is “you don’t look autistic”. The fact is, there is no one way for an autistic individual to look or be. Another generalisation I hear is “oh, we’re all on the spectrum somewhere”. But when autistic people speak about being on the spectrum (the official diagnosis in the UK is Autism Spectrum Disorder) this is because there are many autistic people with varying experiences, we are all autistic but within the spectrum. When non-autistic people use this language and include themselves, it can unintentionally invalidate our lived experiences.
The most effective way to challenge these misconceptions is by explaining why such phrases aren’t helpful, but doing so with compassion and empathy. Many people genuinely mean well, and their intent is not to cause harm. It’s important to start from that understanding when addressing these issues.
Nurmianti: A common misconception is that neurodivergent people are 'less capable' or 'lazy.' ADHD doesn’t make me lazy or unfocused; it means my brain thrives on creativity, passion, and challenges. To challenge these misconceptions, we need to listen to lived experiences, not stereotypes. Instead of trying to 'fix' neurodivergent people, we should ask, 'How can we support you?’
What has been your proudest moment in Wise or your career to date?
Emma-Jane: Many things! Wise is a place I’ve been able to thrive because I’ve had a supportive, empathetic team who have taken the time to understand how I work, which means I’ve been able to contribute to so many interesting and exciting projects. Probably the most important (and personal) project for me so far has been the chance to steer and organise a Living Library event across multiple offices for Neurodiversity Celebration Week. It means a lot that I can get involved in neurodiverse initiatives alongside my SEO role of producing blog content that consistently ranks well on Google and makes a real impact.
How can Allies best support our neurodivergent community? For example, accessibility or accommodations?
Gabriella: Understand the different needs of neurodiverse people, such as sensitivity to lights and sounds. Many neurodivergent people learnt to hide their true selves from a young age, which is really exhausting, hence sometimes we get overly tired. When we can’t mask, we may become more irritable or less filtered, which can be misinterpreted as rudeness.
Being neurodivergent is like being bilingual, we learnt to speak neurotypical, and it would be great if others learned the 'neurodiverse' language too.
‘’Be open minded and don’t assume - ask questions and listen!"
Marleen Kuusik (She/Her)
Vulnerable Customer Consultant, Tallinn
Emma-Jane: We are all different, please don’t make assumptions. That said, for me personally, I can outwardly seem like I’m fine, when actually I’m an anxious mess on the inside. Simply checking in and asking how I am means a lot, especially when there are big meetings or events like Mission Days coming up.
‘’Being open to the needs that others communicate to you, and not reducing the severity of someone’s need because it does not affect you. A good example of this can be found when some neurodivergent people communicate that they are overwhelmed, a sound is too much, or lights are too bright. It is important to take these as legitimate issues for those people, and not diminish them because you yourself may not be impacted in the same way.’’
Charles Rider (He/Him)
Engineer,
Austin
One of our 13 global DEI Communities at Wise is the Diverse Ability Network. We offer company wide Disability & Neurodiversity Inclusion training curated and co-facilitated with our network members. We collaborate together so that Wisers have accommodations and the support they need to do their best work — whether that’s quiet spaces, flexible working, or anything else that helps them thrive.
Tags
Roles you might be interested in
Salary
16100 - 22000 BRL Monthly
Location
São Paulo
Team
Operations
Locations
São Paulo
Description
We are looking for a Banking Operations Manager to help us build Banking Operations Function across our LatAM region at our São Paulo office.As a Banking Operations Manager, you will be a pivotal indi
Reference
d16a6bb9-89c1-4add-a8c4-c14ff6feccee
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
2175 EUR gross/monthly + RSUs
Location
Tallinn
Team
Operations
Locations
Tallinn
Description
We’re looking for Law Enforcement Officers to join our growing Law Enforcement team in Tallinn. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s mission, grow as a specialist in fighting
Reference
a4a0510c-8819-405d-962f-2768ea2ccb53
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
490000 - 805000 INR Annual
Location
Hyderabad
Team
Technology
Locations
Hyderabad
Description
Here at Wise we're working to create a seamless IT experience by offering all the tools and permissions people need to do the best work they can, and simultaneously avoid being a speed hump. We have a
Reference
a531008a-ec5c-48b2-9e8b-387f8e32c4ad
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
95000 - 126500 USD Annual
Location
Austin
Team
Operations
Locations
Austin
Description
As a FinCrime Operations Team Lead you will develop and oversee the daily operations of a team of FinCrime Operations Analysts or Agents. Your primary purpose is to ensure the effective mitigation of
Reference
f2b64a3c-3b0a-482d-a259-084fd8d802fa
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£85,000 - £105,000 GBP + RSUs
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
About the role:Team you will be working with: ReceiveThe team’s mission is to enable people and businesses to get paid faster, cheaper in any currency via any payment method, anywhere. We’re building
Reference
e086825b-e60b-41a3-97ba-f17511633cc0
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
80000 - 103000 USD Annual
Location
Austin
Team
Operations
Locations
Austin
Description
Role & Job purposeAs a Partner Risk Monitoring Specialist, you will play a critical role in ensuring that Wise adheres to regulatory and compliance requirements. You will be responsible for monitori
Reference
b85f8612-9d5f-4f1b-a14d-6c7db175638b
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
85000 - 105000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed.Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spe
Reference
a855b692-eee2-4bde-b2ff-930b42119bbd
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
65000 - 85000 GBP Annual
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
About the role We are looking for a Software Engineer with a passion for solving problems at scale.Continuous Delivery is key to delivering features to our customers as quickly as possible whilst mini
Reference
286f6db9-16a5-49a8-a3db-d3a8c4cef6ed
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
3700 - 4600 EUR Monthly
Location
Tallinn
Team
People
Locations
Tallinn
Description
As a Senior Technical Recruiter, you’ll partner with hiring teams to scale our engineering organization, ensuring we attract, hire, and retain top talent while delivering an exceptional candidate expe
Reference
f16b3b63-71d2-429e-8b25-cda6c9fe0ba1
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
105000 - 130000
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer to join our Recommend team in the London office.The Recommend team builds and owns the recommendation experience that allows customers to recomme
Reference
1ca8bdcd-d99c-4f79-8cf3-7524e0a7c7d3
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Articles you might like
.png)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
09/01/2025
Summary
Nikita Pentchoukov, Presales Consulting Lead at Wise Platform, shares his journey and insights into the world of Solutions Consulting 🌍 “The best part is the genuine empowerment you'

by
Verona Hasani
+(1).jpg)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/29/2025
Summary
From complex data to global teamwork – our interns tackle real challenges that shape our product. Read more 🚀 "Your actions as an intern do not live in an 'intern-only' sandbox, rath

by
Sapphire Birmingham

Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/29/2025
Summary
What do you do when traditional banking fails you? 🤔 German Sibay, Engineering Lead, turned his cross-border payment frustrations into a career mission. "I often joke that I used

by
Amani Albertsen
+(1).png)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/28/2025
Summary
Smrithi Ravi, APAC Head of Engineering, shares her journey of leading Wise’s expansion across the Asia Pacific, from building innovative teams to launching our new hub in Hyderabad 🇮🇳

by
Verona Hasani
.jpeg)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/20/2025
Summary
Emmanuel Thomassin, Chief Finance Officer, reflects on his career journey and what drew him to Wise's customer-first culture 🌍 “What continues to excite me about Wise is our custom

by
Verona Hasani
+(1).jpeg)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
08/04/2025
Summary
🔍 Wondering what a Solutions Engineer at Wise does? Ritika Sehijpal, Solutions Engineering Lead, gives us the inside scoop. “If you’re looking for a place to grow, learn from tale

by
Verona Hasani
.jpeg)
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/29/2025
Summary
Our Wise Parents and Carers Community recently brought everyone together for a 'Connecting Our Wise Parents on Leave' event 🎉 Check out their insights from the event ⬇️ Annika Teede, o

by
Verona Hasani

Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/28/2025
Summary
Caroline Corbett-Thompson, ESG Manager, dives into the meaningful work happening behind the scenes at Wise ⬇️ “Collaboration and patience are vital if you're looking to make a real

by
Verona Hasani
.jpeg)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/22/2025
Summary
Amani, Engineer in our Budapest office, has transformed her passion for problem-solving into a vital role supporting our FinCrime teams 🚀Learn how Amani's journey at Wise is making a meaningf

by
Amani Albertsen
.jpeg)
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
07/03/2025
Summary
From being a customer of 11 years to making a real impact as an Engineering Lead, Emanuele Blanco shares his journey to joining Wise, what keeps him motivated, and his advice for anyone lookin

by
Verona Hasani