What do autistic pattern recognition, Temple Grandin’s visual thinking, and Israel’s elite intelligence unit have in common?

In this episode of Culture by Neurodesign, Dr Lisa Colledge explores why neurodivergent thinking styles - such as autistic and dyslexic neurotypes - are a natural match for high-performance roles in cybersecurity and intelligence.

From Unit 9900 in the Israeli Defence Forces to the US Federal Workforce pilot, this episode explores how visual cognition, spatial reasoning, and anomaly detection are turning teams including neurodivergent individuals into national security assets.

Drawing on neuroscience from Professor Laurent Mottron, real-world recruitment practices, and Temple Grandin’s vivid personal insights, Lisa also reflects on how leaders can build teams where different neurostyles complement and amplify each other.

Other episodes referred to in this podcast are:

• Episode 15 – Autism, allism, and innovation: a case study with Professor Laurent Mottron. https://www.lisacolledgeconsulting.com/podcast/autism-allism-and-innovation-a-case-study-with-prof-laurent-mottron

In this episode, Dr Lisa Colledge introduced Professor Mottron and discussed his collaborative approach with autistic researchers, showcasing how combining different thinking styles lead his research lab to innovative outcomes.

• Episode 16 – From constraints to creativity: dyslexia and innovation. https://www.lisacolledgeconsulting.com/podcast/the-dyslexic-brain-and-a-blueprint-for-resilient-innovative-teams

Relating to GCHQ’s recruitment of dyslexic individuals for signal intelligence and anomaly detection, this episode discusses the enhanced holistic perception and big-picture thinking associated with dyslexics.

• Episode 33 – Autism and Silicon Valley: a case study in neuro-inclusive design. https://www.lisacolledgeconsulting.com/podcast/autism-and-silicon-valley-a-case-study-in-neuro-inclusive-design

This episode is another example of how a particular function – in this case the technological functions of Silicon Valley – are a natural fit with the skills associated with autistic individuals.

• Episode 34 – Anti-bias brains that excel in logic and rational decision-making. https://www.lisacolledgeconsulting.com/podcast/anti-bias-brains-that-excel-in-logic-and-rational-decision-making

Dr Lisa Colledge shared several examples of how autistic brains resist the cognitive biases associated with heuristics (cognitive shortcuts), and the importance of this enhanced rationality in decision-making.

Temple Grandin’s chapter describing her visual thinking style is: My Mind is a Web Browser: How People with Autism Think. (1995) Published in Learning and Cognition in Autism, Eric Schopler and Gary B. Mesibov (eds), Plenum Press, New York. Chapter 8, pp.137-156. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232499978_My_Mind_is_a_Web_Browser_How_People_with_Autism_Think

I'm Lisa, and I take inspiration from neurodivergence-inclusion to help leaders create cognitively inclusive cultures that connect people with different cognitive styles, empowering everyone to contribute their best.

Learn how my services can transform your team: https://www.lisacolledgeconsulting.com/services

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