Rethinking Workforce Design Through the Lens of Neurodiversity
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Day 1
Time
10:35 am CDT
Location
Pathways Auditorium
Category
Breakout
Track
Advanced
Format
Hybrid
ceu(s) available
SHRM
About this session
Organizations invest heavily in attracting, hiring, and retaining talent, yet hidden friction within workforce systems often limits productivity, increases turnover, and constrains access to critical talent. This session examines the evidence-based business case for neurodiversity, drawing on organizational research to demonstrate how workforce systems intentionally designed for cognitive variation can strengthen manager effectiveness, improve talent outcomes, foster innovation, and enhance organizational performance. Participants will explore how using neurodiversity as a strategic lens can reveal where organizational friction exists across the employee lifecycle and identify opportunities to better support the full range of talent they seek to attract, develop, and retain. Designed for organizational leaders, the session equips participants with an evidence-based framework for evaluating workforce systems and understanding the leadership role in fostering more intentional workforce design.
presented by
Judy Reilly
Executive Director
University of Connecticut's Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment
Judy Reilly founded and directs the Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity & Inclusive Employment at UConn. Under her leadership, the center works nationally to educate and train employers about neurodiversity as a competitive advantage and how to implement inclusive practices to attain that advantage. The center also focuses on connecting neurodivergent candidates with companies that support their cognitive differences and driving critical academic research into the impacts of neurodiversity on organizational outcomes. Judy is trained in special education advocacy and law and earned her MBA from the University of Michigan. She is the parent of four adult children, two of whom are neurodivergent.
Allison Nemeth
Director of Stakeholder Engagement
University of Connecticut's Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment
Allison Nemeth is the Director of Stakeholder Engagement at the Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity & Inclusive Employment at the University of Connecticut. She leads stakeholder engagement across a national network of employers, universities, workforce organizations, and community partners while directing the Center’s Neuro-Inclusive Candidate Network, connecting neurodivergent students and job seekers with inclusive employment opportunities. Allison supports the design and delivery of employer education programs and advises organizations on implementing evidence-based neuroinclusive employment practices. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Career Knowledge and Practice Community and is passionate about expanding meaningful employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals through education and employer engagement.
Nikoll Gjoni
Enterprise Neurodiversity Program Manager
University of Connecticut's Wells Fargo Center for Neurodiversity and Inclusive Employment
Nikoll Gjoni is the Program Manager for the Enterprise Neurodiversity Program at Wells Fargo, which creates meaningful employment opportunities for an underserved community through innovative sourcing, selection, and onboarding processes. The program also enhances the employee experience through thoughtful support structures that support employees through their professional career journey. Before joining Wells Fargo in 2020, Nikoll led global change management initiatives and large-scale workplace transformation at JP Morgan.
