ADHD Isn’t Laziness: Understanding Neurodivergence at Work, in Parenting & Within Yourself with Kristen Pressner

For so many women, ADHD has been misunderstood for decades — often internalised as laziness, failure, or not trying hard enough. But what if that story was never true to begin with? In this week’s episode of the ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, I’m joined by Kristen Pressner, Global Head of People & Culture, TEDx speaker, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity for a conversation on ADHD, leadership, parenting, and why understanding your brain can change how you live, work, and relate to yourself. Kristen brings both professional insight and deeply personal experience to this conversation, sharing what it’s been like raising four neurodivergent children while navigating a high-powered career, and how this journey has reshaped the way she understands ADHD, both at home and in the workplace. This is a conversation that gently challenges some of the narratives many of us have grown up with, particularly the idea that ADHD is about laziness or lack of discipline, and instead invites us to explore what might be possible when we approach ourselves (and others) with more curiosity, compassion, and understanding. In this episode, we explore:

Kristen's experience of supporting her family through their neurodivergence diagnosis

The different emotions that can come with an ADHD diagnosis

Why understanding the biology of ADHD can help us work with our brains

The impact of undiagnosed neurodivergence on mental health and relationships

Why so many people may not recognise themselves in traditional narratives

How creating non-judgmental environments can reduce shame in those with ADHD

How to feel safe to survive, which allows you to thrive

Why knowing your needs can be tricky, and how to gently explore this

Practical ways workplaces and managers can support neurodivergent employees with meaningful, individualised accommodations

How Kristen has brought her lived experience into her leadership work to support others more effectively

The concept of a “brain friend” and how having someone alongside you can make navigating life with ADHD feel less overwhelming

How tools like AI can support neurodivergent people to process thoughts, communicate needs, and better understand themselves

This episode is a reminder that there is nothing “wrong” with your brain, and that with the right support, understanding, and space to explore what actually works for you, things can begin to feel a little more possible. Timestamps:

00:01 - Introduction to ADHD Women's Wellbeing

00:48 - Kristen's Family's Journey of Neurodivergence

12:30 - Navigating Neurodivergence in Family Dynamics

29:40 - Navigating Neurodivergence in Parenting

37:51 - Understanding Neurodivergence and Its Impact on Relationships

This week’s episode is sponsored by Understood.org, the leading nonprofit dedicated to empowering the millions of people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, I’d recommend listening to their podcast, Everybody Gets a Juicebox, as it’s full of relatable stories and practical tools to help your family thrive while protecting your own wellbeing, too! The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Event Recording is here! My first-ever ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live event sold out, and now the full experience is available to you wherever you are, whenever it feels right. Alongside three neuro-affirming experts, we spent four hours exploring the questions that matter most to late-diagnosed women. Get lifetime access here! Inside the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Live Recording, you'll find:

Kate Moryoussef on post-diagnosis growth and her gentle framework for what comes next

Dr Hannah Cullen on the neuroscience of ADHD and why your brain works the way it does

Hannah Miller on reconnecting with purpose through a neurodivergent lens

Adele Wimsett myth-busting on hormones, HRT, progesterone and perimenopause

Understand yourself more deeply, feel less alone, and finally access the expert knowledge you deserve.