Financial Systems for Neurodivergent Minds

Instructor, Victoria Verlezza

I’m a PhD who almost flunked out of high school because of my different identities. I wasn’t failing for lack of intelligence; I was failing a system that wasn’t built for a brain, body, or background like mine. The world told me I was “too much,” “too sensitive,” “too loud,” “too different.” What they didn’t tell me was that these very traits would become the foundation of my purpose. Today, I’m a thought leader in Cognitive Equity, neuroinclusive leadership, and human-centered workplace culture. My journey from an almost-dropout to a doctoral scholar taught me that systems don’t need more conformity; they need more compassion, curiosity, and courage. Over the past two decades, I’ve led organizational culture transformations, trained thousands of leaders across industries, and built frameworks that redefine what it means to lead inclusively. My work has been featured in global research collaborations, leadership conferences, and equity summits, always centering the belief that inclusion is not a program; it’s a practice of care. I’m living proof that brilliance doesn’t always look “standard.” The same neurodivergence that once made me doubt my belonging now drives my mission: to ensure that every person, regardless of how they think or process, can show up fully, be seen deeply, and lead boldly.