As an Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship and mentor to many neurodivergent entrepreneurs, this book provides new insights to help increase understanding and a springboard to take action to support neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship directly addresses an important, under-researched and often misunderstood phenomenon. Alexander-Passe's study is both ambitious and a significant, important, and timely contribution to the research and practice.
Professor Nigel Lockett is an Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde and blogs as The Dyslexic Professor. He is an entrepreneur turned academic with a career spanning being a senior academic, serial entrepreneur, community leader and mentor to neurodivergent entrepreneurs.
The subject of Neil's book Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship is something I have lived.
I was a child who failed at school. Not just "did poorly," but failed often and publicly in the classroom. I left the education system with the deep-rooted belief that I was not good enough. I did not feel I belonged in the world. It felt like something inside me was broken. Like many people with dyslexia and other neurodiverse traits, I carried those feelings of anger and hurt into adulthood. They fuelled me and gave me a hunger to achieve and prove everyone wrong. As for me, my drive now comes from a different place. My primary objective is not just to build businesses or to chase respect, but to fight for a world that includes everyone, providing access and opportunity to those excluded from society.
Guy Hands is the founder of Terra Firma, a European investment firm. Over four decades, Guy has overseen the investment of more than 18 billion in 43 businesses with an aggregate enterprise value of 52 billion, transforming businesses across sectors from housing and pubs to trains and renewable energy. Guy is President of Access to Excellence at Mansfield, a Bancroft Fellow of the College and a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Neil's book provides a rich exploration of the role models of tomorrow, providing new case studies that enhance our understanding of what a neurodivergent entrepreneur looks like. What emerges is a clear message: the same traits that challenge neurodivergent individuals in school or employment can become powerful assets in entrepreneurship. Neurodivergent entrepreneurs are not marginal to this future - they are central to it. Their creativity, resilience, and values-driven approach are exactly what our economies and communities require.
Neil's book is timely because it does more than document individual journeys; it calls for systemic change. It urges educators to teach entrepreneurship inclusively, investors to broaden their definition of success, and policymakers to design support systems that welcome all minds.
A neurodivergent entrepreneur, Rob Edwards is Founder and CEO of the NEA, the Neurodiversity & Entrepreneurship Association. The NEA provides a meeting place for all those with an interest in neurodiversity and entrepreneurship.
