Ep. 9: Neurodivergence: My Difference is My Defect, with Kathleen Perley

What if the very things you thought would hold you back were actually your greatest strengths? In this episode, linguist-turned-CEO Kathleen Perley shares how living with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD once convinced her she could never succeed. Instead, those differences became her superpower — fueling a multimillion-dollar business, a career in AI strategy, and a passion for redefining what intelligence really means. Her story is one of resilience, rebellion, and embracing the nonlinear path to success.

Read Kathleen’s new book, AI Made Simple. Results Made Real.

For more resources: liesmyego.com


Episode highlights:

How did Kathleen turn learning challenges into career strengths?
Kathleen leaned into nonlinear thinking, problem-solving, and pattern recognition. Her unconventional mind made her stand out in linguistics, technology, and AI. What once looked like chaos became her superpower in strategy and innovation.

How should parents and teachers of neurodivergent kids handle the learning disabilities?
Be careful with your words. Find and celebrate their strengths. Small wins build momentum. A single teacher’s encouragement can change a child’s trajectory.

What advice does she give to neurodivergent professionals?
Stop hiding, lean into your different lens, and know that perceived weaknesses can become your edge. Don’t waste energy perfecting skills you dislike; instead, amplify the work that sparks joy.

About Kathleen
Kathleen is a linguist-turned-entrepreneur and a recognized thought leader in artificial intelligence integration, dedicated to bridging the gap between AI and business leadership. As Faculty and AI Advisor to the Deans at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, she develops and teaches courses on AI strategy, generative AI applications, and AI implementation, equipping executives and students with the skills to navigate AI-driven transformation. In this role, she also advises university leadership on AI adoption, training faculty on emerging technologies, and shaping AI education across the business school. Beyond academia, Kathleen is the CEO and Founder of DemystifAI, an AI consulting and education firm that helps mid-sized businesses integrate AI to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. She previously founded Decode, a digital agency that scaled to $17M in annual revenue and specialized in healthcare digital transformation before being acquired by private equity-backed Unlock Health.

For more resources: liesmyego.com