The Anxious Achiever Leading for Inclusive Excellence with Dr. Keivan Stassun
Sep 30, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Keivan Stassun, a MacArthur Fellow and renowned astrophysicist, shares his journey towards fostering inclusive excellence in science. He reveals how changing communication norms in his lab, inspired by his son's autism, enhances focus for neurodiverse talent. Dr. Stassun emphasizes the value of structured meetings, respecting individual strengths like hyperfocus, and normalizing remote participation. He encourages managers to view every employee as a potential genius, unlocking creativity and innovation in diverse teams.
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Inclusive Excellence Equals High Standards
- Inclusive excellence means keeping high standards while including diverse minds to achieve greater creativity and innovation.
- Dr. Keivan Stassun argues inclusion is necessary to reach true excellence, not a lowering of standards.
Rebuilding Lab Communication For Inclusion
- Stassun recruited autistic students after his son’s diagnosis and redesigned lab communication to include them.
- He made precision in meetings essential to reduce confusing social cues and keep conversations work-focused.
Use Agendas And Guide Conversation
- Use agendas and state meeting purpose in advance to keep discussions focused and predictable.
- Guide conversations actively and 'pin' off-topic items to keep meetings productive and inclusive.
