Join Simon Brown and Paul Ashcroft as they explore Tara May's inspiring journey from journalism to leading Aspirtech, a company championing neurodiversity and harnessing the unique strengths of autistic adults. Discover how curiosity drives innovation, leadership, and social impact in the digital age.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Neurodiversity and Leadership
02:59 Tara's Journey: From Journalism to CEO
06:06 Understanding Aspirotech's Mission and Model
08:48 Defining Autism and Neurodiversity
11:51 The Unique Strengths of Neurodivergent Individuals
15:13 The Role of Technology and Human Collaboration
18:08 Creating a Supportive Workplace Environment
20:56 Fostering Neurodiversity in Organizations
23:50 The Impact of Creativity and Problem Solving
26:56 Global Efforts and Collaborations for Neurodiversity
29:59 Leadership Lessons and the Importance of Kindness

Resources

Aspirtech
NeuroWorks
HAPI
The Curious Advantage Podcast
Simon Brown LinkedIn
Paul Ashcroft LinkedIn
Tara May LinkedIn

The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.

The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audiobook
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Discover more about The Curious Advantage here

Keywords
neurodiversity, autism, leadership, digital transformation, AI, inclusive workplaces, social enterprise, innovation, curiosity, talent, joy coaching teams, coaching

Unlock the secret to building an authentic, high-quality brand in a saturated market.

In this episode, we’re joined by Finn Hall, CEO of Headstrong and former Team GB cyclist, who is redefining the functional mushrooms space through an uncompromising focus on quality, design and curiosity.

Finn shares his journey from elite sport to young entrepreneurship, revealing how a personal discovery sparked a mission to challenge industry standards and build a brand people can genuinely trust. He opens up about the realities of starting and scaling a premium brand in a saturated market, and what it takes to stay authentic while growing fast.

We explore how curiosity fuels innovation, why authenticity is non-negotiable in today’s landscape, and how social media and community have become powerful drivers of modern brand success. From building trust with your audience to creating a loyal following, Finn shares what it really takes to turn a product into a movement.

From the science behind functional mushrooms and extraction quality, to the role of design, storytelling and digital presence, this conversation is packed with insight for anyone building a brand today.

Show Links
Headstrong Website
Headstrong Instagram
Finn Hall LinkedIn

The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.

The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audiobook
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Discover more about The Curious Advantage here

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.

In this episode, Simon Brown and Garrick Jones speak with leadership expert Shawn Vanderhoven about how curiosity, and the often overlooked power of pausing, can transform leadership, decision-making, and team performance.

In a world that rewards speed and constant action, Shawn challenges the assumption that great leaders need to move faster. Instead, he explores how creating space, through better questions, clearer priorities, and intentional pauses, can unlock stronger thinking and more meaningful contributions across teams.

Drawing on insights from his book Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World, Shawn shares practical strategies for building an intelligence culture, avoiding common leadership traps, and helping teams focus on what truly matters. The conversation offers a fresh perspective on how leaders can shift from doing more to enabling better work.

Show Links
Shawn's LinkedIn
Wiseman Group
Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World available on Amazon

The Curious Advantage explores curiosity and its growing importance in the digital age. From history, neuroscience, and anthropology to business and culture, it takes the widest possible view of curiosity. At its heart is the ‘Sailing the 7C’s of Curiosity’ model, a practical framework to help individuals harness curiosity as a power skill for growth and transformation.

The Curious Advantage is available on Amazon and Audiobook
Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram
Discover more about The Curious Advantage here

The Curious Advantage Podcast is executive produced by Jessica Wickham and Aliki Paolinelis. Audio editing by Danny Cross and video editing by Jessica Wickham.