Beyond the label: reflections from a Kitchen Table Conversation on neurodiversity 

In September, Agilité's Luxembourg country head, Andrew Zacharias, participated in the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg's Kitchen Table Conversation on Neurodiversity in Leadership and the Workplace. Here, he reflects on some of the key takeaways from the discussion. 

What made the event different was its format. There was no stage, no presentations and no prepared speech. Instead, participants gathered around a single table and began with one question: "What does it feel like to live in a box that you don't fit in?" 

From there, the discussion was allowed to develop naturally, and brought together perspectives from business leaders, educators, coaches, workplace specialists and people with lived experience. Topics ranged from organisational culture and education through to leadership and awareness – the latter of which continues to be a significant issue. 

Despite growing understanding of neurodiversity, many people still feel uncomfortable discussing how they work best or disclosing a diagnosis within the workplace. The discussion highlighted the importance of psychological safety, trust and creating environments where people feel able to have those conversations openly.  

Another theme that resonated strongly was transition. Many contributors spoke about the support available throughout education and questioned what happens when people move into employment. While schools and universities increasingly recognise different learning needs, workplace support can feel less structured and more variable. 

As a result, the discussion raised an important question around how organisations begin to create smoother transitions from education into career. From a workplace perspective, the conversation reinforced something we often see in practice – designing environments that better support neurodivergent colleagues rarely benefits only one group of people. Good acoustics, greater choice of settings, quiet areas, clear navigation and flexibility can improve the experience for the wider workforce as well. 

For organisations, the message is clear: neurodiversity is not simply an HR or workplace topic. It is a people, leadership and business topic. Creating environments where different people can thrive ultimately benefits everyone. 

Take a lookat the full event write-up, here: How Do You Live in a Box That You Don't Fit Into? - The British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg