Being an entrepreneur is not just a career choice – it’s often a necessity for those of us who think, work, and live differently. As someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, I now see clearly how my brain is wired for vision, momentum, and creative problem-solving – but also why traditional workplaces never worked for me.
Today, on National Entrepreneurs’ Day, I want to celebrate the growing community of neurodivergent founders – especially those with ADHD – who are building businesses not despite their differences, but because of them.
Why So Many People With ADHD Become Entrepreneurs
Recent studies suggest that up to 60% of entrepreneurs exhibit traits associated with ADHD, and those with diagnosed ADHD are five times more likely to start their own business. Why? Because entrepreneurship allows us to create environments that work with our brains, not against them.
ADHD often brings a unique set of superpowers:
• Hyperfocus (yes, it’s a thing!)
• High energy and creative thinking
• Natural problem-solving skills
• Risk-taking and resilience
• Big-picture vision
But it can also bring challenges with executive function, time management, and overstimulation – which is why traditional employment models often don’t fit. Many ADHD founders, myself included, felt like square pegs in round holes before finding freedom in entrepreneurship.
Building with Purpose: The ADHD Blueprint
Earlier this year, I collaborated with the brilliant team at Lifted Adventures to co-create the ADHD Founder Blueprint, a resource designed specifically to help ADHD entrepreneurs build thriving businesses that are aligned with how their brains work.
The Blueprint outlines ways to:
• Build a team that complements your strengths and supports your challenges
• Create systems and boundaries to manage time, energy, and attention
• Recognise when structure is needed – and when to ditch it
• Lead in a way that centres empathy, flexibility, and impact
It’s not about fixing yourself – it’s about designing your business to work for you.
Culture Action: Supporting Neurodivergent Founders in Their Teams
At Thrive, we don’t just support neurodivergent founders – we help them build inclusive cultures from day one.
If you’re an entrepreneur (with or without ADHD), here’s a culture action you can take today:
🧠 Create a psychologically safe environment where neurodivergent employees can thrive.
🔹 Introduce flexible working hours and remote-first policies
🔹 Avoid ‘one-size-fits-all’ performance reviews- personalise them
🔹 Provide clarity in expectations and communication
🔹 Encourage open dialogue about neurodiversity from the top down
🔹Create a licence to Thrive to better understand your team and encourage your self to be vulnerable allowing your team to better understand your needs too!
When leaders bring their whole selves to work, they create space for others to do the same. As an ADHD founder, I’ve built Thrive around the values I once needed in the workplace – autonomy, empathy, curiosity, and support. And I’ve seen firsthand how powerful that can be.
Final Thought
If you’re a neurodivergent entrepreneur – or thinking of becoming one – know that you’re not alone.
You’re not too much.
You’re not unfocused or disorganised.
You are bold, visionary, and capable of changing the way we work for the better.
And if you lead a team, ask yourself: how can I make space for brilliance that doesn’t look like mine?
Let’s build a future where every kind of mind can thrive.
If you want to speak to someone in our team to help your workplace thrive contact us on enquiries@thrivelaw.co.uk we would be happy to chat!
