The £11 Million Spiky Profile (The ROI of Cognitive Diversity) - Gavin Simpson ACMA CGMA
Moving past standard corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Gavin proves the hard commercial value of cognitive and background diversity.
Summary
Moving past standard corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Gavin proves the hard commercial value of cognitive and background diversity. Drawing on his track record of delivering £11m in corporate savings, he shows leaders how to harness neurodivergent and working class talent to spot hidden waste, drive massive efficiency, and deliver measurable financial returns.
Who is it for?
- C-suite
- Senior leadership / management
- Remote or hybrid teams
Credentials
Previous Clients
- Kaplan,
- Instructus Group,
- CIMA,
- TEDx,
- House Of Commons,
- Jaguar Landrover
Reviews
“Gavin recently joined our men’s development programme as a guest speaker and he was a total breath of fresh air… creating one of those rare moments where you could feel the whole room hanging on his every word. What really sets Gavin apart is that he doesn’t repeat the usual “just work harder” message. Yes, it’s plain to see that he’s worked hard, but that’s not the heart of his message. It’s about finding spaces where you belong, where who you are is seen as an asset rather than a problem to fix.
His style is candid, down-to-earth, and at times very funny. He’s a natural storyteller with that rare ability to inspire without ever sounding preachy or overly rehearsed. We can’t wait to have him back!”
– Kirsty Lancaster ED&I Training Programme Manager
Awards
- CIMA Student Of The Year 2024,
- Author, TEDx Speaker,
- Member of the CIMA 2040 Advisory Group,
- Westminster Neurodiversity Expert
Activity overview
For too long, neurodiversity and social mobility in the workplace have been treated as a compliance exercise or a charitable "nice-to-have" HR initiative. In this highly commercial, data-driven keynote, Gavin Simpson completely flips that narrative. Drawing on his background as a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a Lean Six Sigma practitioner, Gavin demonstrates that cognitive diversity is actually one of the most powerful levers a business can pull to increase operational efficiency and bottom-line profit.
Gavin shares his compelling story of utilising his Autistic profile, his "Spiky Profile", to see the hidden operational waste that neurotypical thinkers walk right past. By leaning into his natural pattern recognition and hyper-focus, he taught himself VBA coding and automated a dead-stock system that saved a business over £11 million. This session proves that the intense focus, lateral thinking, and granular perspective inherent in many neurodivergent individuals are the exact skills needed to solve complex operational bottlenecks.
Backed by data from Deloitte and the Harvard Business Review, Gavin shows how neurodiverse teams can be up to 30% more productive. Leaders will leave this talk empowered to stop forcing "square pegs into round holes." Instead, Gavin provides a strategic framework for identifying the hidden, unconventional problem-solvers within their business, aligning them with the right operational problems to unlock massive commercial value.
Agenda
Beyond CSR: The Commercial Reality
Gavin redefines neurodiversity, shifting it from a charitable HR initiative to a hard operational asset. He introduces the B2B data proving that cognitively diverse teams drive better decisions and are significantly more productive.
The “Spiky Profile” Advantage
An exploration of the neurodivergent brain and why extreme strengths out-value the traditional “flat-line,” well-rounded employee. Gavin explains why standard recruitment filters out the exact lateral thinkers needed to drive efficiency.
Seeing the Unseen:
The £11m Case Study Gavin breaks down how he applied his autistic traits to see hidden waste in a global supply chain. He shares the story of teaching himself complex coding to build a system that delivered massive corporate savings, proving the value of the spiky profile.
Applying Lean to Talent. How to stop wasting human potential. Gavin teaches leaders how to align “outlier” intelligence with their biggest operational bottlenecks, ensuring that unique minds are given the right problems to solve.
Systemising Genius Actionable steps for leaders to create environments where unconventional problem-solvers are given the tools, psychological safety, and autonomy to drive serious profit.
Locations available
Worldwide
Length of session
45 minutes + 15min Q&A
Max capacity
Unlimited
Cost
