Neurodiversity, AI risk and speaking up in the boardroom, with Professor Charlotte Valeur, FTSE Chair and NED

"All boardrooms have people of different neurotypes. We are everywhere, and once we can properly acknowledge that, we can consider the broader human variety that human beings beautifully are." 

This week's guest on the Boardroom Confidential podcast, powered by Sherpany, is Professor Charlotte Valeur, founder of the Institute of Neurodiversity and former chair of the Institute of Directors.  

Charlotte shares the boardroom stories that have shaped her career, including becoming the first high-profile UK businessperson to publicly disclose an autism diagnosis, her refusal to play by unwritten boardroom social rules, and why she believes disagreement, not consensus, is where boards actually learn. 

She also discusses why, in a world with AI, neurodivergent thinking may become a board's most valuable asset. And sets out the risks raised by the recent US restrictions on foreign access to some AI models. 

Charlotte began her career as an investment banker in Copenhagen and London before becoming a non-executive director and chair across a range of boards. She is the author of "Effective Directors: The Right Questions to Ask", a corporate governance consultant, and visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde. 

Boardroom Confidential is brought to you by Sherpany, a leading meeting management solution, designed to meet the unique needs of the board, board committee, and executive meetings.  

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:25) Disclosing Diagnosis 

(07:04) Neurodiversity in AI Era 

(10:15) Transparency and Leadership 

(15:01) Better Board Meetings 

(23:54) When to Walk Away