Interview with Daniel Reid: Navigating Neurodivergence and Career at Vodafone

Navigating Neurodivergence and a Career at Vodafone

Autism Acceptance Month, observed each April in the UK, is a time dedicated to celebrating and embracing the diverse experiences of autistic individuals. Unlike awareness campaigns that can sometimes focus solely on deficits or challenges, autism acceptance emphasizes understanding, inclusion and respect. The shift in terminology-from “awareness” to encouraging society to value autistic people for who they are, rather than seeing autism only through the lens of diagnosis or support needs. This month serves as a platform for amplifying autistic voices, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for our friends, family, colleagues and anybody who is living with autism.

At Vodafone, inclusion for all is something we live and breath and taking the time to get to know some of people a little bit better is always fantastic. We got to know one of our amazing colleagues Danny a little bit better in a month that is close to his heart. Danny is a Customer Account Security Manager at Vodafone, have a read below where we discussed about his career journey, neurodivergence, and experiences at Vodafone.

Career Journey:
My career at Vodafone began in 2000, where I worked in various roles, including a contact centre advisor and technical support. Despite leaving Vodafone in 2006 due to certain challenges, I rejoined the company through its acquisition of Cable & Wireless Worldwide. My enthusiasm and ability to connect with people have been key factors in my career progression. I have held roles such as Hosting Solutions Manager and Service Manager before becoming a Customer Account Security Manager.

Neurodivergence Diagnosis:
I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in March 2020 after years of struggling with social awkwardness and other challenges. My diagnosis has been a journey of self-discovery, learning about neurodivergence, and understanding my differently wired brain. I can only emphasize the importance of being believed in and trusted, this has been a significant factor in my career success. Being diagnosed as an adult (age 43), a lot of my life adventures suddenly became obvious and due to my brain being wired differently. My main challenges are anxiety, panic attacks, and a high-speed brain that takes a lot of calming down to be able to focus.

None surprisingly I am an adrenaline junkie but harbouring 5 bone breakages including my back. I tend to stick to cycling mostly nowadays or walking the dog.

I’m happy to talk about anything and everything. People regularly comment on my frank openness and honesty, Depression, Anxiety, being a Child Carer and the general challenges of being Neurodivergent in a Neurotypical landscape.

Support at Vodafone:
There is such a supportive environment at Vodafone, where I have found allies and mentors who understand and accommodate my neurodivergence. I have been actively involved in various initiatives, including ADHD calls, autism calls, and volunteering activities. My experiences underscore the importance of a supportive workplace that values diversity and inclusion, this is why I am proud to work for Vodafone.

Advice for Neurodivergent Individuals:
I advise neurodivergent individuals to believe in themselves, be open and honest, and advocate for their needs. Vodafone is a place where people are valued for their merits and abilities and encourage applicants to bring their whole selves to work.

Looking Forward:
My approach to life is to take each day as it comes, focusing on making each day a success. I find joy in the small victories and emphasize the importance of resilience and adaptability.

My story is a testament to the power of resilience, support, and self-belief in navigating a successful career while managing neurodivergence. My experiences at Vodafone really highlight the company's commitment to supporting people with neurodivergence, making it a great place to work for individuals from all backgrounds.

We wanted to thank Danny for taking some time out of his very busy day to talk to us and for the amazing advice for anybody who is neurodivergent, to believe in themselves and be open and honest, this is how change happens and sometimes it’s hard to be open and honest. These things help change to happen such as our fantastic achievement of becoming a disability confident level 3 LEADER!!!

At Vodafone, we will always champion change and push to better the lives of people and we can’t do that without of the help of people like Danny.