What if the problem isn’t that you’re bad at following systems—but that the systems you’re following were never designed for you in the first place? In this episode, Melissa Vining sits down with Avigail (Avy) Schondorf to challenge the idea that there is one “right” way to work, especially for neurodivergent professionals. Avy shares why individual experimentation matters more than prescriptive advice, how to identify what you actually have control over at work, and why collecting data about yourself can be one of your most powerful tools for creating a better work experience.

Inside this Episode:

• Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Why strategies that work for one person may not work for another—and why finding what works for YOU requires experimentation, not a perfect prescription.
• Taking Back Control: How to separate what you can and cannot control at work, then look for the angles, tools, and choices available within your sphere of influence.
• Managing the Manager: How to focus conversations on outcomes rather than rigid processes, advocate for the way you work best, and create more autonomy without sacrificing accountability.
• Self-Accommodations at Work: Why proactively adjusting your environment—from lighting and sound to breaks and meeting structure—can reduce unnecessary drain and help you do your best work.
• Use Your Data: How tracking patterns, outcomes, and what works for you can turn your neurodivergence into a source of information and help you advocate for the conditions you need to succeed.
• Building Confidence: Why challenging the stories you’ve been told about yourself can help you trust your own experience and stop wasting energy trying to fit someone else’s expectations.

Guest Bio:

Avigail ”Avy” Schondorf is an entrepreneur and advocate for neurodivergent individuals. She hosts the AvyHD podcast, empowering neurodivergent entrepreneurs with practical insights. As CEO of Alisto, she helps ADHD entrepreneurs overcome overwhelm and achieve business success through top-down, bottom-up operational support. Recognized for her efforts in providing shame-free business strategy, Avy is celebrated for helping people stop trying to outwork a brain that doesn’t run on willpower, making impactful contributions to the neurodivergent community and beyond.

Connect with Avy:

https://avyhd.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/avy-schondorf/

https://www.youtube.com/@avy-hd

https://www.facebook.com/avi.schondorf/

Episode Timestamps:

00:34 – Meet Avigail Schondorf

01:08 – Avy’s nonlinear career journey and why a traditional 9-to-5 wasn’t sustainable

05:45 – Finding work that plays to your strengths

07:21 – ADHD, executive function, and the limits of one-size-fits-all advice

12:49 – The strengths of being neurodivergent and why iteration matters

13:20 – Why systems aren’t designed for individuals—and how to find what works for you

19:42 – Making your current job work better while keeping your options open

23:19 – Managing your manager and creating more autonomy at work

26:24 – Reducing workplace drain through self-accommodation and control

31:21 – Building confidence, challenging expectations, and trusting your own experience

35:43 – Connecting with Avy

P.S. If you’ve found this episode helpful and want to support the podcast, ⁠buy me a coffee here⁠! Your support helps me keep creating content that helps high-performing misfits find work that fits. https://buymeacoffee.com/melissavining