Is ADHD Your Secret Weapon? Surprising Ways Neurodiverse Entrepreneurs Outperform the Rest
Why ADHD May Be Your Greatest Business Asset—Not a Liability
Dr. Freeman challenged the traditional, medicalized view of ADHD... ‘ADHD describes people who are uniquely gifted at living in the present.’
If you’ve ever felt like the world of entrepreneurship moves at a pace both exhilarating and unsustainable, you’re not alone. As the host of the ADHD-ish Podcast, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with incredible minds who illuminate the complex dance between neurodiversity and entrepreneurial success. In a recent episode, I spoke with Dr. Michael Freeman, a psychiatrist with a robust research background and lived experience as a serial entrepreneur. His perspective offered invaluable new layers to our understanding of the journeys entrepreneurs with ADHD navigate.
Dr. Freeman approaches the entrepreneurial landscape from a unique vantage point. He does not have ADHD, but his clinical and academic work at the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship, especially with those who do have ADHD, has granted him profound insight. He reflected on how he was initially drawn to the entrepreneurial mindset through his research on bipolar disorder, eventually realizing the deep overlap with ADHD. “About forty percent of people in the bipolar spectrum also have ADHD,” he shared, “and about forty percent in the ADHD spectrum have bipolar conditions.” This striking statistic framed the rest of our conversation, revealing just how much co-occurring mental health conditions factor into the lived experiences of many founders.
For Dr. Freeman, the draw toward entrepreneurship for those with ADHD, especially entrepreneurs, is more than mere statistics. He described how these individuals possess an intrinsic need for independence, creativity, and autonomy—qualities often stifled in traditional workplaces. Female entrepreneurs with ADHD, in particular, often recount feeling out of place in structured, rule-bound environments.
Many report that only when they step into entrepreneurship—where chaos is the norm, and innovation is currency, do they finally feel at home. Dr. Freeman likens these neurodivergent founders to economic first responders, jumping into business “crises” with the same drive and clarity emergency responders bring to disaster scenes. Essentially, what seems like chaos to others is often the natural habitat for a mind that thrives on novelty, urgency, and high stakes.
Yet, with these gifts come real challenges, which Dr. Freeman was careful not to gloss over. He emphasized that many female entrepreneurs with ADHD struggle silently with the daily realities of running a business—the overlooked details, the persistent need for planning, and the emotional rollercoaster that can accompany self-employment. What distinguishes those who succeed, he noted, is the willingness to embrace a full toolkit: leveraging medication when needed, investing in executive support, relying on coaching, and most importantly, cultivating radical self-acceptance.
Perhaps one of the most impactful moments of our conversation was when Dr. Freeman challenged the traditional, medicalized view of ADHD. He invited us to reframe ADHD not as a deficit, but as an evolutionary advantage, saying, “ADHD describes people who are uniquely gifted at living in the present.” This is especially powerful for female entrepreneurs, who are often confronted with a double bind—expected to be both nurturing and assertive, systematic and creative, all while contending with a world that isn’t designed for neurodiverse minds. He encouraged us to adopt metaphors that speak to our strengths—think “hunter” instead of “patient”—so that we can fully own both the gifts and challenges of ADHD.
The topic of shame arises frequently in discussions with female entrepreneurs in particular, and Dr. Freeman did not shy away from it. Many successful founders he has worked with started their journey in denial, resisting the ADHD label out of fear or stigma. But true transformation, he insists, begins with self-awareness and the courage to accept reality as it is. For founders, especially female founders who may have absorbed years of cultural messaging about what they “should” be, this acceptance is both liberating and strategic. It’s only when we see ourselves clearly that we can build the support systems and teams we need—not as compensation for weakness, but as smart business decisions.
Reflecting on Dr. Freeman’s insights, I was reminded yet again that the path of the entrepreneur with ADHD is anything but straightforward. The world is quick to celebrate the dazzling highs—the innovation, creativity, and drive—but often overlooks the quiet resilience and intentional support that underpin true success. Dr. Freeman’s observations are a call to action for all of us: to normalize neurodiversity in entrepreneurship, to celebrate the messy brilliance of ADHD brains, and to provide real strategies that help female entrepreneurs thrive.
As I wrapped up our conversation, I was left feeling both grateful and optimistic. Grateful for voices like Dr. Freeman’s that cut through the noise and offer genuine wisdom, and optimistic that more female entrepreneurs with ADHD will find the validation and resources they deserve. The ADHD-ish Podcast will always be a place for those conversations—a place where neurodiverse founders, especially female founders, can find knowledge, camaraderie, and fresh perspectives to fuel their own journeys.
If you'd like to hear the full episode on the ADHD-ish Podcast, you can do that here.
