Episode 3: Special Guest Courtney Broderick

Courtney Broderick works in strategic leadership development and culture advisory with mid-market companies through her work at PILOT. She’s also the founder of Chief Troublemaker, where she works as a strategic identity advisor helping women — especially late-diagnosed ADHD and neurodivergent women — build identity architectures when a single job, role, or institution is no longer a sufficient container for their work, voice, and earning power. She is a co-host of the We Are Tired AF podcast with two other late-diagnosed neurodivergent women navigating what comes next.

https://bio.site/wearetiredaf & www.chieftroublemaker.co

Summary

In this conversation, Noelle Banks and Courtney Broderick (www.chieftroublemaker.co) discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating life as neurodivergent women. They explore Courtney's journey to her late diagnosis of ADHD and CPTSD, the impact of trauma, and the importance of community and support. They also delve into the significance of EMDR therapy, the need for parallel systems in work and identity, and the power of curiosity in overcoming shame. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's unique strengths and building a supportive network.

Takeaways

• Courtney's late diagnosis of ADHD and CPTSD was a turning point in her life
• Corporate America often perpetuates a cycle of panic and dysregulation for neurodivergent individuals.
• EMDR therapy can be a transformative tool for processing trauma.
• The importance of community and support among neurodivergent women is crucial.
• Shifting perspectives on work can lead to greater fulfillment and success.
• Curiosity can help unhook shame and lead to self-discovery.
• Building parallel systems can help navigate corporate environments while maintaining authenticity.
• Neurodivergent women often have unique strengths that can be leveraged in their careers.
• The journey of self-acceptance is ongoing and requires patience and compassion.
• Creating a supportive network can empower women to thrive in their personal and professional lives.
  
  

Quiet the noise with a Free ADHD Toolkit: www.freeadhdtoolkit.com

How ADHD Really Shows Up at Work

In This Episode, We Explore:

• The lived experience of ADHD in a professional setting
• Fast thinking
• Emotional intensity
• Nonlinear organization
• The hidden labor of masking

Key Takeaways

• Your brain thinks in constellations. Work often demands bullet points.
• Your brain is not overreacting; it's wired to detect threats quickly. It's possible to understand this concept and regulate these feelings
• Time blindness means your brain perceives time as a feeling, not a measurement
• The perfectionism-overwork cycle is a coping strategy, not a flaw

Today’s Shining Moment
Where can you give yourself more compassion this week?

Resources Mentioned

Click for your FREE ADHD TOOLKIT

www.distilledpathways.com

Quiet the noise with a Free ADHD Toolkit: www.freeadhdtoolkit.com

In this inaugural episode of Shine Through, we explore a bold reframe:

What if professional success wasn’t about performance — but clarity?

If you’re a late-diagnosed ADHD or neurodivergent professional who’s spent years overworking, overthinking, or masking to fit into neurotypical leadership norms — this episode will feel like a breath of relief.

Your host, Noelle Banks, an executive coach for neurodivergent minds, shares the podcast's mission, her philosophy on authentic leadership, and what you can expect from future episodes. This is a grounding, validating introduction to a new way of leading: one rooted in clarity, compassion, and the truth of how your brain actually works.

• Why traditional “executive presence” doesn’t serve neurodivergent professionals
• How masking and perfectionism drain your leadership capacity
• Why clarity, not confidence, is the real foundation of impactful communication
• What this podcast will help you unlearn, reclaim, and rebuild

• Executive presence is not a personality; it’s clarity.
• You’re not broken. Your brain is not a problem to fix.
• Your ideas matter more than how well you perform them.
• Authenticity reduces burnout far more than rehearsed “professionalism.”
• Leadership becomes easier when you stop trying to sound like someone else.

You don’t have to become someone else to be effective.

Click for your FREE ADHD TOOLKIT

www.distilledpathways.com

Quiet the noise with a Free ADHD Toolkit: www.freeadhdtoolkit.com