We’re bringing you a Q&A with Tania Gerard all about building marketing workflows that work with your neurodivergent brain, not against it.
If you’ve ever tried to force yourself into a “just be consistent” content plan and ended up burnt out, behind, and convinced you’re the problem, this one’s for you.
ABOUT YOUR TEACHER 👩🏫
Tania Gerard is an Accessible Marketing Consultant, TEDx speaker, and founder of Tania Gerard Digital UK.
They help companies improve accessibility, neuroinclusion, and digital marketing performance through practical strategies that work for all audiences.
Tania is known as one of the UK’s first consultancies to specialise in accessible marketing, supporting brands to meet WCAG 2.2 standards, simplify user experiences, and integrate AI responsibly.
Connect with Tania: LinkedIn or Instagram
How Teams and Individuals Can Thrive by Embracing Neurodiversity in Marketing
Here’s a snapshot into the advice and actionable strategies offered during their conversation, designed to help marketing professionals and teams create more inclusive, effective environments.
One of the biggest obstacles Tania Gerard faced in her previous agency roles was an absence of safe spaces for open, honest conversation. Often, it wasn’t the workflow itself, but the unwillingness to discuss how different people worked best that created most friction. Both speakers stressed that the most powerful (and free!) step any company or manager can take is to foster a culture of openness and curiosity.
How do you work best? What tweaks or tools would help you thrive?
This is the first step towards building trust, setting effective boundaries, and ensuring no one suffers in silence.
Practical Workflow Swaps
Here are some tactical swaps for classic marketing tasks:
- Content Planning: Ditch the intimidating 30-day calendar. Build “content buckets” you can dip into when inspiration strikes.
- Email Management: Schedule designated blocks to process your inbox, then shut it down. Treat email like live chat, not a never-ending stream.
- Meetings: Move away from meetings with unclear agendas. Try “Loom-first” or written updates so people can process at their own pace. If meetings are necessary, set a “no agenda, no attendance” rule.
Communication with Teams and Clients
Set expectations early. Tania Gerard recommends a “user manual”, a friendly guide on how to get the best from working with you. This fosters honesty, reduces misunderstandings, and prevents masking or burnout.
Within teams, communicate boundaries (e.g., using Slack statuses or quiet hours) and support colleagues by circulating agendas early, giving time to prepare, and building in space for different working styles.
Mindset and Continuous Experimentation
Ultimately, thriving as a marketer (neurodivergent or not) requires experimentation and self-awareness. Pick one workflow tweak to implement, assess how it works for you, iterate, and don’t be scared to set small rewards for progress.