Welcome to episode #95! We’re thrilled to be joined by Elizabeth Kaelin today.
Elizabeth Kaelin is a tech founder, award-winning commercialization mentor, and intersectionality business advocate. Her career spans healthcare, tech, venture capital, and corporate leadership, where she helps businesses scale while challenging traditional business norms.
Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Elizabeth shares how she overcame burnout, adapted her leadership style, and built sustainable success. She is passionate about rethinking productivity, advocating for neurodivergent-friendly workplaces, and showing how ADHD can be a leadership strength.
In this episode, we discuss navigating ADHD as an entrepreneur, energy-based productivity, and how to build a business that actually works for your brain.
Welcome to the show, Liz!
Questions
JN: When did you first realize you had ADHD?
- Diagnosed three separate times before fully accepting it
- Initially dismissed the diagnosis due to career success & masking
- ADHD symptoms became more obvious during burnout & career transitions
JN: How did ADHD impact your early career?
- Worked in dietetics, tech, venture capital & consulting before founding her startup
- Struggled with executive dysfunction & burnout in structured corporate settings
- Thrived in entrepreneurship but faced challenges in long-term project management
JC: How did your ADHD diagnosis change how you approached work?
- Stopped trying to "fix weaknesses" & started optimizing strengths
- Focused on energy-based productivity instead of rigid time management
- Learned to work with her brain, not against it
JN: What was the biggest challenge in building your business as a neurodivergent entrepreneur?
- Struggled with traditional productivity systems that don’t work for ADHD
- Had to develop her own strategies for prioritization & decision-making
- Learned to lean into her strengths rather than force neurotypical approaches
JC: What is your approach to productivity now?
- Uses energy management instead of strict schedules
- Prioritizes flexibility & intuition over rigid planning
- Explores non-traditional frameworks like numerology & cyclical planning
JN: What productivity strategies DON’T work for you?
- “Eat the Frog” method (doing the hardest task first)—completely drains motivation
- Rigid time-blocking & consistency-based productivity hacks
- Trying to force structure instead of embracing fluidity
JC: How do you prevent burnout while managing multiple projects?
- Learned to listen to her body & mental energy levels
- Simplifies decision-making using intuition & structured randomness
- Balances structure with novelty to maintain engagement
JN: What is your morning routine like?
- Uses randomized prompts to keep routines engaging & prevent decision fatigue
- Focuses on three key things daily (movement, mindfulness, connection)
- Simulates a commute even when working from home to set mental boundaries
JN: How do you wind down at night?
- Struggles with sleep & phone distractions—uses grayscale & separate phones
- Listens to music or ambient sounds to shift into relaxation mode
- Tidies up before bed to avoid waking up in a chaotic environment
JN: Where can people connect with you?
JC: Final words for the audience?
- “I’d love recommendations for ADHD-friendly digital systems or consultants who help with automation and accountability.”
- “Managing inattentive ADHD without a second brain system is tough—any tips for setting one up?”
More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
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Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io
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Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io
Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/
Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/
