In this episode of Accessible Disruption, the hosts are joined by Yush Sztalkoper, founder of NeuroSpark+, to tackle the overlooked "human capacity risk" inherent in today's rapid AI-driven transformations. Yush argues that while companies rigorously assess technical and financial risks, they often fail to evaluate if their workforce has the biological bandwidth to absorb change. She introduces her strategic approach, "stabilize first," positing that human nervous systems must be regulated and secure before they can effectively adopt new technologies; otherwise, organizations risk stalled adoption and widespread burnout.

The conversation dives deep into the intersection of neurodiversity and leadership, with Yush sharing how her journey raising a twice-exceptional son revealed that standard corporate systems often force individuals to "mask" their struggles until they reach a breaking point. She outlines her framework of five human domains, wiring, regulation, energy, processing, and belonging, and advocates for "universal design" in the workplace. By designing systems that support the "edges" (neurodivergent needs), leaders actually create better, more sustainable conditions for the entire workforce, preventing the "chronic override" that leads to exhaustion.

Finally, the group explores the practical application of AI as a "maximizer" rather than just a replacement, discussing how tools like large language models can act as accommodations that bridge executive function gaps for neurodivergent and neurotypical brains alike. The episode concludes with a call for leaders to move beyond rigid standard operating procedures and develop the empathy to recognize when their teams have hit their limits. To learn more about human readiness advisory, visit NeuroSpark+ or connect with Yush directly on LinkedIn.