From biodiversity to neurodiversity – How we benefit when others think and behave a little differently – Perspectives Matter 2026

What do bee colonies have to do with our everyday working lives? More than you might think: In some bee colonies, a small group of bees behave differently from the others—and it is precisely these bees that discover a disproportionately large number of new food sources. Diversity helps populations survive. This workshop shows that neurodiversity can similarly benefit our teams and organizations.

Together with Dr. Nic Selzer and Dr. Elisabeth Klein, we will begin by looking at examples from nature before exploring what they can teach us about our everyday working lives.

What forms of neurodiversity do we encounter—ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and synesthesia—and what do they mean in practical terms for how we work together? In small groups, we will explore these different ways of thinking and being and consider: What strengths can they bring to our teams? What barriers arise in workplaces that tacitly assume there is a “normal” way of thinking? And how can we work together to remove these barriers?

Through interactive exercises, we will experience some of these perspectives and develop practical measures for our everyday working lives, ranging from small adjustments to structural changes. We will ask ourselves: What can each of us start doing tomorrow to ensure that different ways of thinking are not merely tolerated but recognized and valued as an asset?

The event will be held in German.