Understanding Autism

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“Many people with autism gravitate toward leadership because of the traits and values of our culture… We’re born leaders because we’re born to see world-building vision.” 

—

Saturday morning cartoons.

When you read that, what comes to mind?

For many people, it’s waking up early on a Saturday morning, buzzing with excitement because, finally, after days of anticipation, there’s no school. You trundle downstairs in your pyjamas, eager for a slow, easy morning with nowhere to be.

First stop: cereal. You pour yourself a bowl (because obviously, you’re independent enough to handle breakfast). Then, with your spoon clinking, you settle into the den and turn on the TV.

And there they are: He-Man and She-Ra. Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. The Care Bears. Chip and Dale. My Little Ponies. Or whatever crew made up your Saturday morning lineup.

This was such a universal experience in the 70s, 80s, and 90s that every time I mention Saturday morning cartoons to people who seem to be around my age, they immediately light up.

The grin. The excited listing of childhood favorites. The stories about waking up way too early, just to soak in as many episodes as possible.

And then comes the deep nostalgia dive—their favorite cereal, the ritual of making it, and what they miss most about those days.

Now, if you’re thinking, “Okay, but why are you telling me this story about cartoons?”—fair question. Stick with me.

Because while most kids woke up effortlessly for their Saturday morning ritual, my experience was completely different.

It wasn’t about not enjoying cartoons. I loved them. My struggle was something much simpler: actually waking up in time to watch them.

To put this in context for you, there were exactly zero Saturdays as a child that I woke up on my own, ready for cartoons, even though every Friday night I went to bed excited about the next morning. Every week, I was woken up by either my father, a friend (we had a lot of sleepovers in the 80s and 90s), or my sibling, to catch some of the cartoons that everyone would be talking about that week. For what it’s worth, there were also zero mornings of going to school that I woke up on my own; my father woke me up every morning from Junior Kindergarten up until the end of High School (clearly, my father was a saint given how awful I was as a teenager).

If it’s not clear at this point, I’m not a morning person, and never was not even as a small child. Most of us assume that children are naturally inclined to go to bed early and wake up early, which, while often the case, is not always true. I was one of the exceptions.

For so much of my life, I felt like I was failing at something everyone else seemed to do effortlessly. But here’s what I’ve learned: It wasn’t me that was broken. It was the system that was built without people like me in mind.

This isn’t just about mornings. It’s about the way schools, workplaces, and entire industries operate on a one-size-fits-all approach that ignores how different brains actually work.

As a kid, I wanted to watch cartoons, but I wasn’t naturally awake by 8 am. In school, I loved learning, but dragging myself out of bed felt like a daily battle. Then came work, where I struggled to focus in early meetings and was constantly told that peak productivity should happen first thing in the morning.

What I know now is that I don’t need to fit into those expectations. I need to structure my work around my brain, not force my brain into someone else’s structure. And that’s something all of us—especially leaders—need to recognize: The best work happens when people understand and honor their own rhythms, rather than forcing themselves into structures that were never built for them in the first place.

As someone with ADHD, my brain turns on and fires up mid-afternoon until late at night. THAT is when I am a great problem solver, big thinker, creative writer, confident leader, and ready to take on the world.

For years, I was told:

“You can train yourself to be a morning person.”
“It’s just a habit. You need to be more consistent.”
“Anyone can wake up early if they really want to.”
“The best ideas come in the morning.”

And for years, I believed them.

I believed that if I just tried harder, I could force myself to fit the mold. When it didn’t work, I blamed myself.

Then I started to understand more about my neurodivergence. I wasn’t failing. I was never meant to be a morning person. I need more flexibility than that in order to perform at my best and to feel my best. From there, I learned more about why I can’t listen to music when I have to do deep or creative work, but white noise or background noise is a gamechanger in the best way. I’m still learning, but slowly I am figuring out how to adapt much of what I do around the things that allow me to be and do my best.

This realization—that I wasn’t broken, I just needed a different rhythm—was a game-changer. But here’s the thing: I’m not alone in this. So many people, especially those who are neurodivergent, have spent their lives trying to force themselves into structures that were never designed for them. And when those structures don’t work, we internalize it as a personal failing instead of recognizing that the system itself is flawed.

This is especially relevant in leadership. How many brilliant, creative, strategic thinkers have been overlooked or underestimated simply because they didn’t fit into the standard 9-to-5 mold? How much innovation have we lost because we valued early risers over deep thinkers, or structured meetings over asynchronous brilliance?

That’s exactly what we dive into in this episode of Leading Through Crisis with Dr. Angela Kingdon—autism, ADHD, and neurodivergence in leadership.

“Many people with autism gravitate toward leadership because of the traits and values of our culture… We’re born leaders because we’re born to see world-building vision.”

Last week, I was joined by autistic advocate and host of the Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon. Angela drops a science/history lesson, a ton of pop culture references, and some much-needed thoughts on neurodiversity in the workplace and leadership.

Listen in to find out:

🎉 What Angela’s learned about herself and this awesome community since being diagnosed in 2012.

➡️ Why understanding the things neurodivergent folks have to know about themselves (to accommodate their environments) would benefit 100% of people, neurodivergent or not.

😳 The horrifying story (and the real reason) why we don’t use the term Asperger’s anymore.

➡️ Why leaders must develop cultural literacy around differences (aside from the fact that it benefits them too).

🦄 Some great anecdotes about autistic people, inventions, and culture.

I hope you’ll join us for the entire conversation, and share it with someone else who needs to hear it too!

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Dr. Angela Kingdon is a dynamic autistic advocate, author, and speaker, renowned for her impactful work in promoting neurodiversity and supporting autistic individuals. As the host of the Autistic Culture Podcast, Angela shares her experiences and insights as a late-diagnosed autistic person, aiming to create a more inclusive and understanding society.

Angela's journey began with a diagnosis at the age of 39, which she describes as a turning point that allowed her to embrace her unique neurodiverse perspective fully. Leveraging her lifelong special interest in non-fiction, she founded Difference Press™ and created The Author Incubator™, a program that has helped nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs write, publish, and promote their books. Angela's expertise and dedication have led her company to remarkable success, with her clients' books reaching millions of readers and generating significant revenue.

Angela holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Journalism and Media Affairs from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Communications from the European Graduate School as well as a graduate certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from the Unviersity of Colorado Boulder. She is also a bestselling author of eight books, including neurodiversity-affirming titles like The Equalizing Quill and Make ‘Em Beg To Work For You, which have earned her acclaim and recognition in the publishing industry.

Angela is not just an advocate; she is a beacon of inspiration, empowering autistic individuals and educating the broader community about the value of neurodiversity. Her advocacy extends beyond her professional work. She actively engages with audiences through social media platforms and her podcast, sharing her story and encouraging others to understand and embrace neurodiversity. Her commitment to making the world a safer and more inclusive place for neurodivergent people is evident in her storytelling, public speaking, and educational efforts designed to foster neuroinclusive workplaces and provide valuable insights into the benefits of neurodiverse teams and strategies for creating supportive environments for autistic individuals.

Regulating Stims: echolalic singing, nail-biting, fidget bubble poppers

Alliterative SPINs: Hamlet, Hamilton, John Hamm

Website: https://angelakingdon.com/

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