You’ve got a friend in me!

Entrepreneur and author Jamie Waller believes that early support is crucial for people with dyslexia, impacting whether they achieve success or fall into adversity. Dyslexia affects 35% of entrepreneurs and up to 50% of prisoners, highlighting the narrow path between success and failure for many. Jamie, author of *The Dyslexic Edge*, shares his story of overcoming a challenging childhood in London, where his teachers gave up on him. With the help of a supportive mother and joining the Imps Motorcycle Display team, Jamie found his way to entrepreneurship, becoming a multimillionaire by his twenties. His book explores how dyslexia can be a strength, showcasing interviews with successful dyslexics like Sir Richard Branson, Theo Paphitis, and Kelly Hoppen. Jamie aims to shift perceptions, demonstrating how dyslexic thinking can offer a distinct advantage in life and business.

In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Takyi shares her inspiring journey from a traumatic childhood in Ghana, where she was penalized for poor spelling and experienced the cane in the classroom, leading to feelings of inadequacy. After moving to the UK for secondary education and facing disassociation with schooling, she eventually left an abusive relationship.

Determined to prove her worth, Elizabeth enrolled in a college HR course but faced initial failure. It was only later that she discovered her Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, leading to a search for answers in the pre-Google era. With college support and assistive technology, she excelled in subsequent years.

With newfound confidence, Elizabeth founded “Aspire2 Inspire,” offering support to dyslexic business owners and others. She now serves as a neurobox ambassador, raising awareness about dyslexia and intersectionality. Despite being a single mother of three, Elizabeth continues to inspire through her resilience.

Key topics covered include childhood trauma, leaving an abusive relationship, discovering and overcoming dyslexia, supporting dyslexic entrepreneurs, navigating job searches with dyslexia, and finding one’s sense of belonging.

In this episode of The Dyslexia Life Hacks Show, Matt sat down with Danielle Cudjoe-Michalski. She shared her journey of overcoming challenges and embracing her strengths.

Danielle’s experience with dyslexia during her degree studies influenced her career choices. Her determination led her to secure a position at GSK, where she faced and overcame obstacles along the way.

She recounted an incident where her dyslexia was unintentionally revealed by a colleague, prompting her later on to raise awareness and educate others about neurodiversity.

Danielle also discussed the importance of self-care and managing energy to avoid burnout. Her journey of self-discovery helped her find a job that suited her unique work style.

She highlighted the significance of the GSK Neurodiversity network, which fosters inclusivity and diversity within the organization.

Additionally, Danielle shared her experiences of balancing her coaching business alongside her full-time job, emphasizing the rewards and challenges.