Meet Gwendolyn Janssen of The END Institute

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gwendolyn Janssen.

Hi Gwendolyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Thank you for allowing me to share. From a young age I knew I wanted to be a nurse and that is where my career began. Taking care of others had always been my passion. After a few years of bedside nursing, I had the opportunity to move into nursing leadership which I immediately fell in love with – taking care of the people who took great care of others. I worked very hard, completed 2 master’s degrees, and felt like I was on a great path but something was always missing. Something about me did not quite fit in at work. I tried every development training, personal improvement course, and leadership book under the sun but none of it helped me be more accepted as a leader. It was not until my nephew was diagnosed with ADHD that my sister and I had an ah-ha moment when we started to look into it more deeply. ADHD has a strong genetic link and tends to run in families so it made sense that so many of the symptoms and presentations reflected the lived experiences of my sister and I. I sought an official medical diagnosis at the age of 33 and continued to pour myself over the research that was out there to learn more. The knowledge I gained about ADHD and neurodiversity, in general, changed my life. I suddenly had a why behind so many of the struggles and challenges I had experienced. Even though you hear a lot more about ADHD and neurodiversity these days, there is still so much stigma, bias, and a pervasive lack of understanding of the nuances of neurodiversity, even among the medical community. I wanted to make it easier for others to learn about the way their brain works from reputable sources and create a support system so no one would be left suffering in silence or solitude. That was the catalyst for starting the END Institute. I wanted to promote Excellence in Neurodiversity because I KNOW neurodiverse minds can do amazing things but having the support and the tools is critical to success. My mission is to make workplaces psychologically safe and supportive of neurodiversity in order to help neurodiverse professionals shine. No one deserves to feel shame for who they are and I hope to help create a world where our neurological differences are celebrated for the strengths, they bring instead of chastised for not fitting into the box society has created around the professional world and the world as a whole.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have to admit, it has definitely not been smooth although I am grateful for how much I have learned through the challenges and obstacles. Many people talk about ADHD being a superpower but if I am honest, it has played the villain in my life many times. From a personal perspective, ADHD impacts my mother, my sister, and my nephew. It is hard work breaking generational norms and trying to navigate the best way to function as a family when we are all figuring out how to manage our individual symptoms and support one another. That being said my nephew is definitely my “why”. He keeps me pushing towards creating a better future for the next generation of neurodiverse individuals. Despite the struggle, it helps to have people around you that understand you. I would never have been able to accomplish anything in my life without my sister beside me. No matter what happens we are there for each other through the ups and downs. From a professional standpoint it is not easy being ambitious and working so hard all the time only to feel like you’re getting 1/10th as far as everyone else. Gaining traction with the END Institute has been challenging as well because so many neurodiverse professionals feel unsafe or uncomfortable talking about their neurodiversity at work. It is a very scary thing. Many times, they would prefer to talk in private or not talk about it at all which can lead to further suffering for them as they try to hide who they really are. I hope the more we talk openly, the more people will feel comfortable shaking off the shame that has been imposed on them and embracing their brain for all of the beautiful things it can accomplish when it is properly supported.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I would love to.

The END (Excellence in Neurodiversity) Institute was created to be a collaborative and a safe space for neurodiverse professionals around the world. A place where they can come to share their stories, talk about their successes and their struggles, and be supported by people that understand them and the way their brain works. We will soon be offering training for corporations and educational institutions, public speaking (for education, training, and advocacy), and coaching for neurodiverse professionals. I am most proud of the fact that people are resonating with our stories. Even if they are not comfortable speaking openly yet, because The END Institute does, they feel empowered. I often receive messages from people I have never met saying how much it helps them to know that they are not alone and they learn a lot from the information we put out into the world. I think what sets us apart from others is that we focus on both advocacy/education and training/coaching for professionals. Navigating the working world as a neurodiverse professional can be a big hurdle but it is one that we want to help people overcome so they can realize their true potential.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I have found LinkedIn to be a powerful tool for networking and finding mentors. It has given me access to build relationships with people around the world that I would never have been exposed to otherwise and it has opened a lot of doors for me and the Institute. No matter what industry you are in, don’t be afraid to start posting on LinkedIn! 

Contact Info:

• Website: endinstitute.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endinstitute/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-end-institute/