Dr. Samantha Hiew
Multi-Award-Winning Social Entrepreneur, Intersectionality & Neurodiversity Professional Speaker, Scientist, Storyteller, Women's Empowerment & Intersectional Inclusion Champion
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Videos by Samantha Hiew
With a knack for "Thinking Like a Scientist, but Speaking Like a Human" and using humour to energise her audience, Sam bridges the empathy gap by humanising neurodiversity & intersectionality to foster connection, belonging and psychological safety.
Sam works with teams to tailor talks based on the event aims while bringing her collective insights from lived experience research with the neurodiverse community.
Expertly weaving neuro-, psycho- and physiological-sciences into the context of people's lives to explain the human condition, her talks demystify human relationships and transform workplace culture. She then works with clients to embed positive changes within organisations.
Following Sam's neurodiversity & intersectionality training:
Speaking Topics by Dr. Samantha Hiew
Neurodiversity & Integration: Bridging Two Worlds
No two brains are the same. But what if you were born with a brain that constantly makes you feel like everything you do differentiates you from everyone else?
Sam’s Neurodiversity & Integration talk:
This training was rated 5 out of 5, with the following feedback “Samantha was fantastic… I could have listened to her for another hour. Lots of comments and questions from the audience too”.
Keynote by Samantha Hiew
Humanising Neurodiversity at Work
In understanding the neurodiversity movement, have we stopped to understand the human side of neurodiversity?
How the place we begun from and where we are in life impact how our neurodiverse experiences show up at work?
Sam’s Humanising Neurodiversity talk:
This training was given 5-star reviews by past clients.
Keynote by Samantha Hiew
Female Neurodiversity at Work
The sharp rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses in women over the last two years is seeing more of our female colleagues looking for answers and what areas they can get support in.
Sam’s Female Neurodiversity keynote:
This training has been described as “the most insightful and powerful session I’ve attended in the industry”.
Keynote by Samantha Hiew
ADHD & Autism Workplace Adjustments and Wellbeing
High achieving autistic and ADHDers have one thing in common, their careers are powered by their special interests and ability to channel their natural abilities to their work. The 140-200% productivity levels of AuDHDers can power teams to great success but often lends themselves to burnout.
Sam’s ADHD & Autism Workplace Adjustments & Wellbeing keynote:
This training has been described as "the best learning experience of my life”.
More topics can be found in our Speaker Pack.
Samantha’s Neurodiversity “Deep Dive” Trainings
Neurodiversity & Leadership Training Masterclasses
Sam runs half day Masterclasses to dive deep into Neurodiversity & Leadership, introducing neurodiversity at work and provides practical strategies, resources, and tools to lead, relate to, and support neurodivergents that models and promotes psychological safety.
The modules are bespoke and get to the heart of solving the double empathy problem, through effective communication and understanding individual experiences. Sam shares the tools to determine and harness the strengths of neurodivergents and enable them to channel their natural abilities. This training elucidates the best practices and common pitfalls in leading a neurodiverse team and what tailored reasonable adjustments at work look like. Our insights are built on the foundation of lived experience research and events-based learning from our ADHD Best Practice at Work conference, industry conferences and panels.
More details can be found in Sam’s training brochure.
Samantha’s Neurodiversity “Deep Dive” Trainings
ADHD & Autism in the Workplace: Tools to Thrive
Sam provides a holistic ADHD & Autism management programme for Autistic and ADHDers in the workplace to promote a better understanding of their strengths and challenges, so they can learn how to succeed at work through managing their ADHD and working as a team. We also dive deep into pre and post-diagnostic support, sharing tips, resources, and tools to enhance neurodivergent's wellbeing via a holistic look at medication, nutrition, lifestyle, and support systems.
This programme includes the ADHD Owner’s Manual workbook, 100 reasonable adjustments for ADHD at work and is suitable for neurodivergents with ADHD and autism looking for support within employee resource groups.
About Samantha Hiew
Dr Samantha Hiew is a multi-award-winning professional speaker, scientist, and social entrepreneur with a knack for telling stories that enlighten, empower, connect, and heal.
With a background in communications and medical science PhD, she specialises in using science to demystify human behaviour in all sections of life in our modern society.
Sam's work bridges two worlds - those with lived experiences of neurodivergence & those without - so we work towards unity within society.
Sam founded ADHD Girls when she was diagnosed with ADHD at 40 and identified as autistic, dyspraxic, and Touretter.
With unique insights from living on the cusp of two cultures, ethnicity and class, balancing motherhood and career across 16 sectors, Sam knew there were hidden stories of neurodivergents from underrepresented groups across eclectic life circumstances and worked to uncover them.
Built on collective insights from the neurodiverse community, Sam champions neurodivergent women’s empowerment and intersectional inclusion through storytelling, weaving neuro-, psycho-, and physiological sciences to humanise neurodiversity and intersectionality.
Sam’s talks illuminate the spectrum of human experience and struggles, bridge the empathy gap, and foster a sense of safety and belonging in oneself and the collective - sparking conversations and igniting positive actions.
Sam's work has been recognised with Difference Maker, Rising Star, Storyteller, Innovation and Excellence (Women's Mental Health Initiative 2023), Positive Role Model for Gender (finalist), Stereotype Buster and Community Choice awards.
Clients Samantha has worked with
Social media & videos interviews exploring the intersection of neurodiversity and culture, race, and being a high achiever
Speaking in action
"From the first moment of contact with Sam I was struck by her commitment, passion and professionalism. Sam wanted context, she wanted to talk to our members and find out what they wanted and needed other people to know about their experiences - and what needed to change and why. Sam really cares, and wanted to make the talk we asked her to give as relevant, impactful and powerful as possible. Which she did."
"Dr Samantha Hiew supported our business in a speaking event on neurodiversity in the workplace last week. This is a topic earmarked as part of our I&D agenda and to assist the education and awareness of our management team, in support of our people. Wow! What an eye-opening and inspiring piece that has got many a conversation going - exactly what we'd hoped for. Thank you Dr Hiew for sharing your thoughts, recommendations and a truly thought provoking lived experience that many of us can identify with. Definitely recommend!"
"Sam’s talk was incredibly powerful and I believe many attendees got a lot out of it. It was part of a half-day event and many of the points Sam raised in her presentation were brought up in the remainder of the sessions. She was an engaging and inspiring speaker, who expertly wove her lived experience and professional experience into her presentation in a way that added depth and complexity. She discussed the intersections of co-occurring conditions, gender, race, socio-economic privilege and neurodivergence. She provided practical steps and advice around next steps in intersectional neurodivergence. She used great examples to highlight how cultural background, gender, sexuality etc. could impact how neurodivergence would present and why this was a particular issue in terms of diagnosis. Sam's talk was thorough and pitched at an appropriate level."
"I had the pleasure of working with Samantha on a recent webinar around Neurodiversity and ADHD. Sam led the webinar and the feedback we have received from attendees has been phenomenal. Sam was engaging and knowledgeable and her passion for the subject came through. She had both myself and the rest of the audience completely invested for the whole webinar - for me personally, it was one of the best learning experiences of my career so far. I would highly recommend Sam - so much so, we are planning webinar number 2! Thank you Sam!"
"I am more than thankful that Samantha gave a talk about Neurodiversity & the Family Lifecycle for our Parents Month May 2022. Sam gave really helpful insights into all the different stages neurodiverse families go through and practical ideas on how to support neurodivergents. It was a really inspiring, eye-opening and comforting talk owed to Sam's very positive and calm attitude of presenting a complex topic. Thanks for creating such a wonderful experience for our colleagues, Sam. You brought this topic so close to people's hearts and raised awareness in such a great way."
"I FEEL SEEN" was the consistent theme of the feedback from employees after Sam's chat on Neurodiversity and misconceptions and best practices in the workplace.
Sam's talks are so informative and rich in context. In just 1 hour she will fast track your learning on this topic. She dives deep into the science and brain differences whilst also covering intersectionality and gender equity. She is also very relatable sharing personal stories and bringing to life how neurodivergent people experience in the world which makes the audience feel really seen and heard.
She inspired the audience to share their own experiences too which created a great sense of community and buzz but most importantly momentum around advocacy.
We love your work Sam!
Sam delivered a powerful presentation to an audience of over 400 employees on the subject of neurodiversity as well as sharing her own moving story. Her passion for championing positive action in neurodiversity combined with her extraordinary authenticity and confidence to share her vulnerabilities is formidable. I have never heard our auditorium fall so quiet as she spoke, nor a round of applause so loud when she finished.
Press & features
Dr Samantha Hiew announced as a finalist for Positive Role Model for Gender for National Diversity Awards!
Sam was shortlisted from 90,000 nominations for the Positive Role Model Award for Gender for her work championing women with ADHD and demystifying neurodiversity within society.
Dr Samantha Hiew won the Rising Stars Award
Dr Samantha Hiew won the Rising Stars Award 2023 by We Are the City, in the Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups Category, for her work in empowering women and girls with ADHD and improving neurodiversity understanding via intersectional lens through ADHD Girls.
Utopia, knowledge and support platform for neurodivergents is launched
26th September 2022 – Utopia, a new knowledge and support platform for neurodivergents by ADHD Girls Ltd, has launched….
September 26, 2022
Female Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Sam shared her personal journey of late diagnosis of neurodivergence and her professional insights into what is necessary to…
ADHD Girls earned Double Nominations at the 2022 Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards
ADHD Girls was nominated for Stereotype Buster and Community Choice Awards at the 2022 Celebrating Neurodiversity Awards (hosted by…
March 24, 2022
Dr Samantha Hiew took home the Storyteller Award (highly commended)
Sam took home the Storyteller Award (highly commended) at This Can Happen Awards Ceremony
June 14th 2023
Woman’s Own: The Rise in ADHD in Adults
Dr Samantha Hiew’s ADHD story is featured on Woman’s Own Magazine. If you’re looking for some support, check out…
Staring Back At Me Campaign
This campaign is initiated and funded by Takeda. ADHD is a neurodevelopment condition that can cause differences in the way we think,…
Grazia: Why does it take so long for women like me to be diagnosed with ADHD?
Bonnie McLaren interviewed us for this feature piece in Grazia. Here are some excerpts of ADHD Girls within the…
April 14, 2022
Forbes: ADHD Crisis in the UK: Underdiagnosed, Lacking Support and Stigmatized
Dr Nancy Doyle wrote a Forbes feature about the current landscape of ADHD diagnosis and support in the UK….
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