The holidays are a whirlwind, but for neurodivergent female entrepreneurs, they can quickly spiral into a recipe for burnout. With mounting expectations and endless to-do lists, it's easy to forget the basics—like staying hydrated or taking a moment to rest. As Paula Liub, burnout coach for sensitive and neurodivergent women, reminds us: our well-being isn't optional—it's essential. From simplifying gift shopping to creating space for downtime, Paula's insights are a gentle reminder that saying “yes” to everything shouldn’t mean saying “no” to ourselves.

This holiday season, let’s focus on thriving, not just surviving.

Ruth Rathblott introduces the concept of "strategic hiding," a nuanced approach to balancing authenticity and professional expectations. By understanding when and how to reveal personal aspects, we can navigate workplace dynamics without sacrificing our mental well-being. This thoughtful perspective aligns with the evolving leadership landscape, where vulnerability and trust have become essential. Female entrepreneurs, in particular, can create inclusive and thriving environments by fostering openness and self-awareness while embracing their unique leadership styles.

Managing ADHD often feels like a balancing act—trying to stay productive while nurturing mental well-being can be a challenge. That’s where the “dopamine menu” comes in: a customizable list of mood-boosting activities tailored to keep energy, motivation, and focus steady. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the steps to create your own dopamine menu, from brainstorming activities that make you feel good to making sure they’re always within reach. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or simply seeking a little more balance, this dopamine menu can transform your day-to-day life.

Today, I’m excited to share a topic that's personally significant to me: navigating the entrepreneurial world as a woman  with ADHD.  I recently connected with serial entrepreneur, Bri Seeley who shared her late-in-life discovery of ADHD with me and how it has shaped her journey as a creative and entrepreneur. The discussion was raw, real and offered an insightful and empathetic look into what it’s like to navigate business and life with a brain that operates differently. Let’s unpack some key highlights and my takeaways.

In this client success story, I share the transformational journey of Jennifer Yates, a multi-talented consultant who was struggling to find her focus. Through personalized coaching, intentional constraint, and tools like Voxer and ThinkUp, Jennifer moved from feeling overwhelmed by her many ideas to confidently stepping into her true entrepreneurial identity. Her breakthrough moment was not just about gaining clarity but embracing her unique strengths and passion, allowing her to thrive both personally and professionally.

Female entrepreneurs with ADHD often possess an intuitive brain that can sense abnormalities in behavior. Essentially, we can make connections and recognize red flags early on. However, persistent self-doubt and the negative messages we've internalized tend to override these instincts. If you ever experienced being shamed for being eager and quick-thinking during your schooling years, this can significantly contribute to negative self-evaluation. The shame from these experiences accumulates, making us question the very instincts meant to protect us. This can render us susceptible to the narcissistic partner’s tricks. 

As a female entrepreneur, I often find myself grappling with the delicate balance between ambition and reality. The latest episode of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur podcast, featuring Racheal Cook focused on the uncomfortable topic of entrepreneurial poverty among female entrepreneurs. There is the hype and there is the reality and one of the things I love about Racheal is her commitment to telling the truth about what it actually takes to be successfully self employed, so more women have an legitimate shot at a sustainable business. Here’s an exploration of the enlightening discussion that covers essential aspects of building a successful, sustainable business while maintaining our well-being.

If you have ADHD, you're no stranger to emotional dysregulation and overwhelm. If you're a female entrepreneur, you know the ups and downs of running a business are a major source of stress. Combine these realities, and the task feels monumental. In my recent conversation with ADHD Women's Wellbeing Coach Kate Moryoussef, we explored how deeply loving and accepting ourselves—especially when we make mistakes—isn't just a lofty ideal; it's a survival strategy. Kate's reminder that treating ourselves with the same nurturing kindness we use when teaching children is transformative. From self-awareness and somatic work to breath work and Emotional Freedom Techniques, these tools help bring our nervous systems under control when triggered. Kate's practice of committing to decisions "no matter what" and extracting lessons from them without shame aligns with my belief that flexibility beats rigid routines. For female entrepreneurs with ADHD, radical self-acceptance and self-compassion aren't optional—they're essential for sustainable success.

As a former psychotherapist who's diagnosed others with ADHD and been diagnosed myself, I want to open up a conversation about who fits under the ADHD umbrella. Getting a formal ADHD diagnosis as an adult woman involves meticulous interviews, forms, symptom checklists, and sometimes full psychological evaluations—if it's even available where you live. The psychiatric community has a gender bias when it comes to ADHD diagnosis. Women are told "you can't have ADHD, you completed a college degree" or "you've made it this far without a diagnosis, why get one now?" One woman was told by a psychiatrist that he "does not believe women can have ADHD." Here's a lesser-known fact: it's not the number or severity of symptoms that determine diagnosis—it's the degree of impairment. Women who've created workarounds and built systems might not meet diagnostic criteria, but they most definitely have ADHD. The term ADHD-ish creates space for those who resonate with ADHD traits but don't have formal diagnosis. It's about being inclusive and acknowledging that we all deserve validation.

Do you ever feel like you're constantly juggling a million ideas, unable to slow down and focus on just one? Or perhaps you're perpetually seeking new experiences, easily bored if things start to feel routine. As a driven female entrepreneur, you might wonder if these traits are related to giftedness, ADHD, or both. The path to success as a gifted female entrepreneur is anything but straightforward. The need to make a significant impact, coupled with perfectionism and high standards, creates relentless pressure and the ever-looming specter of imposter syndrome. Layer in ADHD realities—intense drive to learn and create, difficulty finding fulfillment in work that doesn't align with intellectual passions, sensory sensitivity, and organizational challenges—and the complexity multiplies. From high creativity and intense focus to impulsivity and restlessness, the intersection of these unique perspectives fuels our entrepreneurial journey. It's crucial to cultivate self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-advocacy while seeking supportive environments that recognize our unique strengths and struggles.

True thought leadership requires a willingness to engage in uncomfortable conversations and challenge long-held beliefs. It's not about preaching to the converted—it's about pushing boundaries and sparking debates that lead to growth and progress. Thought leaders bring a fresh viewpoint to their industries, challenging conventional wisdom and offering innovative solutions. Take Gabor Mate as an example—his unique perspective and bold communication position him as a sought-after authority who doesn't hold back from sharing controversial opinions. But being a thought leader goes beyond expertise—it's about creating projects and platforms that enhance your brand authority and amplify your message. It can be frustrating to see individuals with limited knowledge calling themselves experts and thought leaders, which is why you need a legitimate body of work and depth of knowledge before positioning yourself this way. Thought leadership is not about empty self-promotion but rather about sharing genuine insights, wisdom, and expertise that can impact people's lives. Your voice matters, and the time to make a difference is now.

Nicole Kalil wrote "Validation is For Parking" to bring balance to the fact that 92% of business books are written by men. Her message challenges the "confidence con"—the false and mixed messages women receive around how to look confident versus how to be confident, which can lead to self-loathing and perfectionism. A crucial insight from chapter 5: understanding what you're not meant for is just as important as knowing your passions and talents. Building confidence starts by taking action and challenging yourself to grow, but you need to look inside yourself—not to external validation or approval—to find lasting confidence. For women 50+, navigating ageism and sexism in the workplace becomes a form of self-empowerment. By understanding and addressing discrimination, you can take charge of your career path, assert your worth, and ensure your skills and experience are valued. Remember: saying yes to something means saying no to something else. Choose intentionally, embrace who you're not, and recognize that confidence is an inside job.