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Overview

Optimum's executive coaching is tailored for neurodivergent leaders navigating the complexities of corporate leadership. We focus on enhancing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and effective communication, offering a safe space for exploration and growth. Through personalised sessions, we equip leaders with strategies for stress management, assertive communication, and navigating social dynamics, empowering them to leverage their neurodivergence as a strength. Our goal is to support neurodivergent executives in achieving success while maintaining authenticity in their professional roles.
Optimum's coaching programme includes individual and group coaching, leadership workshops, and online neurodiversity screening to understand each leader's unique strengths and challenges, their unique spiky profile. This comprehensive approach aims to leverage neurodivergent strengths, foster a culture of inclusion, and improve talent retention, ensuring neurodivergent leaders can excel and drive organsational success.

Neurodiversity Screening Profiler

Web-based neurodiversity screening profiler software identifies overall strengths and challenges across cognitive areas. Profiler considers the neurodivergent traits associated with Dyslexia, ADHD, ASC, Dyspraxia/DCD, Dyscalculia and social and communication challenges, along with understanding a range of other competencies in individuals.

It’s designed to understand your unique spiky profile and how they impact your leadership style. Screening also ensures that our coaching and development programmes are tailored to meet your unique needs.

Screening is an online 45 min assessment. You will receive a report and a 1hr debrief and development planning session.

Benefits: Understand the presence and characteristics of neurodivergent traits to tailor your development journey. Offers the business specific ideas for support and scaffolding to leverage talent.

Individual Coaching

Coaching packages are between 4 and 12 sessions depending on the need. It typically starts with a 2hr deep dive development planning session, followed by 60 min session every 2-6 weeks. We offer calls with line manager and/or people team to align on priorities.

Group Coaching

Join peer group coaching where you can share experiences, challenges, and successes with fellow neurodivergent leaders. These sessions provide a supportive environment to learn from others, understand diverse perspectives, network with like-minded peers and refine your leadership approach through collaborative learning.

A coaching cohort consists of a maximum of 6 participants matched for level of seniority and involves six monthly 2hr online sessions with an expert coach. Intake is 3 times a year.

Benefits: Builds ongoing peer support and networking that continues beyond the programme. Supports connections across the business and fosters an inclusive work environment.

Leadership Workshops and Programmes

Our leadership programmes are aimed to accelerate development of neurodivergent leaders by combining engaging interactive workshops, the power of deep dive individual and peer coaching, and offering practical and tailored tools.

Our programmes are 6-12 months long and blend 3hr workshops to address specific topics, themed peer coaching in small groups, and individual development planning sessions. A cohort has a maximum of 18 leaders.

Benefits: Maximise a deep shift in capability by creating sustainable behavioural change. Learning is maximised through a blend of individual and group work along with tailored advice and facilitation. Creates a cultural shift, improves cross-functional collaboration and talent retention.
Vida Skreb
Vida Skreb, Ph.D. is neuroscientist coach, consultant and supervisor. She has PhD in neuroscience on the topic of neuroplasticity; changed in the brain in long-term learning from the University of Zurich and a MSc in Chemistry. She’s been a Managing Consultant and Head of Coaching for a global leadership consultancy (YSC, now Accenture) and has worked with senior leaders from over 20 countries globally, including at C-suite level. She’s an ICF PCC accredited coaching and coach supervisor. Vida is neurodivergent herself and passionate about unlocking leadership potential.
Credentials and languages
  • Ph.D. Neuroscience, University of Zurich
  • MSc Chemistry, University of Zagreb
  • Coach supervisor, Oxford Brooks University
  • ICF PCC accredited professional coach
  • Use of Hogan, Firo-b, Swift, PSI and ELI Index
  • Fluent in English, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian and native Croatian

Contact us today to discover your future support network.

Contact Us
I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to receive specialist mentoring because of the wonderful personalised support that has helped me get through university
Some days I’ve been feeling down, but after my session I leave feeling infinitely better because it’s an outlet for whatever’s on my mind and my mentor’s warmth and enthusiasm is really uplifting.
Cansu T, Zoology Student
I have massively benefitted from the help that my mentor has offered
and she has really helped me be the best I can be during a crazy four years of uni!
Laura D - BA French & Spanish
Laura D
With the help of my mentor I have done things I didn't think I'd be able to
like present a poster at a conference, and now, I am a PhD student and the happiest I've ever been.
Oliver B - Phd Student
Olver
I can’t stress enough how much Specialist Mentoring had a positive impact on my university experience
Mentoring taught me so much: how to manage my time better, how to revise efficiently, and most importantly, how to cope with my anxiety on a day-to-day basis. Specialist Mentoring made my university experience a positive one, and I don’t think I would be the person I am today without it.
Sara G - MA Sports Journalism
Sarah G
More success stories

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterised by a predominance of either inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, or a combination of both. The condition involves challenges in managing attention, with considerable variability in how individuals focus on tasks based on their relevance. ADHD individuals often seek sensory stimulation and may have a strong need for movement, which can aid in concentration, anxiety regulation, or serve as a form of release. Organisational tasks can be particularly challenging, and there may be difficulties in retaining information in working memory. Written instructions or note-taking can be beneficial. Support in breaking down tasks and managing organisation is often needed.

 

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Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity acknowledges the natural variations in human brain function and behavioural traits as integral to human diversity, viewing conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia not as disorders but as different aspects of neurocognitive functioning. It advocates for societal shifts towards greater acceptance, rights, and accommodations for those with neurological differences, emphasizing inclusion and support. The concept of a "spiky profile" integrates with this view, illustrating how individuals may exhibit significant strengths in certain areas while facing challenges in others, further highlighting the diverse spectrum of human abilities and the need for tailored support.

 

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Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia affects both fine and gross motor skills, significantly impacting writing, typing, and self-care activities. Dyspraxic individuals may also face challenges with memory, attention, perception, and processing, leading to difficulties in planning, organisation, executing actions, or following instructions in the correct order.

 

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Dyscalculia

Individuals with dyscalculia struggle with mastering arithmetic skills, calculations, number sense, and mathematical reasoning. Challenges often extend to understanding quantities, time, and abstract numerical concepts. Dyscalculia is frequently accompanied by working memory difficulties. Approximately 50% of individuals with dyscalculia also face reading challenges, and many experience significant maths anxiety.

 

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Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects the ability to develop automatic and fluent word reading and spelling skills. It is often associated with challenges in phonological awareness, which involves understanding and manipulating the sounds in words, and may also impact orthographic processing—the recognition of whole words, letter strings, or spelling patterns. Dyslexic individuals might be self-conscious about reading aloud, which can also hinder comprehension, and may avoid using complex vocabulary in writing to prevent spelling errors. Though not officially part of the diagnostic criteria, dyslexic individuals often struggle with organisation, sequencing, and may have low academic self-esteem. A notable discrepancy exists between their confidence in verbal tasks versus written tasks.

 

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Autism

According to current diagnostic criteria, autistic individuals face challenges primarily in social communication and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour. The severity of these challenges can vary significantly. Many autistic individuals have sensory sensitivities that are particularly challenging in new and unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, they often prefer structured and predictable settings, benefiting from ample time to process information and adapt to changes. Social anxiety can pose a significant challenge in unstructured and unpredictable social situations. While the challenges of autism might be less visible in certain settings, they can still have a profound, cumulative effect on mental health, well-being, and may lead to burnout.

 

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