Anum Farooq : The Neurodivergent Professional and Global Outlooks

Anum Farooq : The Neurodivergent Professional and Global Outlooks

An introductory series relating to neurodivergency and global systems, by first looking at perspectives from the world of work and the neurodivergent professional.

According to the Harvard Business Review; "Neurodiversity is a competitive advantage, and a growing number of prominent companies have reformed their HR processes in order to access neurodiverse talent; among them are SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft, Willis Towers Watson, Ford, and EY. Many others, including Caterpillar, Dell Technologies, Deloitte, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, and UBS, have start-up or exploratory efforts under way. 

SAP uses a metaphor to communicate this idea across the organization: People are like puzzle pieces, irregularly shaped. Historically, companies have asked employees to trim away their irregularities, because it’s easier to fit people together if they are all perfect rectangles. But that requires employees to leave their differences at home—differences firms need in order to innovate. “The corporate world has mostly missed out on this [benefit].  

John Elder Robison, a scholar in residence and a cochair of the Neurodiversity Working Group at the College of William & Mary, writes “Indeed, many individuals who embrace the concept of neurodiversity believe that people with differences do not need to be cured; they need help and accommodation instead.”  

Anum Farooq is a highly accomplished and diversified, neurodivergent professional with an established skills set across education, entrepreneurial, youth and environmental advocacy, culture and arts field, as well as being internationally published.

Anum brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and analytical skills to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges, as a graduate of Imperial College London with a component of her degree in Management from Imperial College London Business School. Anum is also a country wide ambassador for an educational NGO.

With a proven track record in driving organizational success as Director of Odyssey Global Media, optimizing operational efficiency, and fostering stakeholder engagement, she is a results-oriented professional committed to achieving exceptional outcomes.

She is also an United Nations FCCC Youth Constituent and is an IYC Youth Advocate. She champions for education and neurodivergent individuals, and leads from her heart to make a meaningful impact on the world.

Anum is also a globally published artist, with her artwork is displayed on dedicated art channels and streamed across major platforms including Apple TV Plus, Samsung TV Plus, VIZIO, ViX, Google Play, Xumo and LG TV amongst others as a Loupe Artist.   She has been awarded the 2023 Artistic Excellence Award from the Circle Foundation for the Arts in Greece, and Exceptional Merit in the 4th Edition of the Global Talent Art Prize. She received the RAK Fine Arts Festival 2023 English Poetry Award in the UAE. In 2022, Anum was longlisted for Digital Innovation in Art Award and was a participant in the Noon Arts Award exhibition. 

Anum's artistic achievements extend beyond the art world, with her work being recognized by the wider community. In 2021, she was invited to be a Linked INNYC Women of the World Artist, highlighting her impact and influence on society as a whole. Her work has also been featured in social media campaigns, including The Poignant Rose in the Art, Culture, Tourism UK Social Media Campaign of 2021.