Brain Friendly Systems

Returning to Work After Baby: The Cognitive Cost No One Talks About w/ Pei Ying Chua Ep 28

In this episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik is joined by Pei Ying Chua - Head Economist @ LinkedIn APAC to explore what really happens cognitively, emotionally, and logistically when mothers return to work.
 
Together, they unpack what is often left unnamed in professional settings: brain fog during breastfeeding, dopamine suppression, shifting identity, cognitive overload, and the invisible emotional labour of balancing caregiving with performance.
 
This conversation goes beyond productivity. It looks at the neurobiology of postpartum changes, the cognitive cost of constant micro-decisions, and what brain-friendly organisations can do to support sustainable performance for working parents.
 
Topics include:
The neurological impact of breastfeeding on dopamine and focus
Why "mum brain" is physiological, not incompetence
Cognitive load, decision fatigue, and emotional labour
Flexibility beyond location: workload pacing and quarterly structuring
Why empathy is a core management skill
Using AI to reduce mental logistics and cognitive strain
Protecting focus time and reducing unnecessary micro-decisions
The identity shift of returning as a "new version" of yourself
This episode is especially relevant for mothers returning to work after maternity leave, managers supporting new parents, HR leaders designing flexible policies, organisations focused on retaining female talent, and anyone interested in brain-friendly workplaces and sustainable performance.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Pei Ying Chua - Head Economist @ LinkedIn APAC
Innotainment podcast - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form: Submit questions for future episodes
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ - Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

Understanding 2e and gifted brains w/ Jennifer Costigan

In this bonus episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik sits down with Jennifer Costigan, founder of The Parent Consultancy, to explore one of the most misunderstood profiles in education, parenting and the workplace: twice exceptionality.
Twice exceptional, also known as 2E describes individuals who are gifted and at the same time navigating challenges like ADHD, autism, dyslexia or other learning differences. It's an uneven profile that schooling systems were never designed for, that workplaces rarely recognise, and that the people living it often spend decades trying to explain or hide.
Jennifer has spent years working with 2E children and their families, helping them understand complex profiles that show up differently at school, at home and inside the child themselves. Together, she and Aga connect the dots between what this looks like in early life and what it becomes in high-performing adults. They cover masking, burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the quiet exhaustion of always holding it together just long enough to collapse somewhere private.This conversation goes beyond awareness. It asks what changes when we finally stop trying to fix the person and start designing environments that actually fit the brain.
Topics include:
What twice exceptionality actually looks like and why it gets missed so often
The cost of masking: how high-functioning people gaslight themselves into burnout
Why the 2E profile falls through the gap between academic acceleration and learning support
Emotional intensity, perfectionism and the social impact of an uneven profile
What parents can do and what the system is getting wrong
Co-regulation, body scans, repair and the tools that actually work for sensitive, intense brains
How the same patterns show up in adults, leaders and high-performing teams
Why strength-based approaches work better than pressure for children and organisations alike
This episode is especially relevant for:
Parents of gifted or neurodivergent children navigating school, behaviour and big emotions
Adults who were the "smart one" growing up and are only now connecting the dots
Leaders and managers working with high-performing, high-intensity team members
Anyone who has ever been told they're so capable and felt completely alone in how hard everything actually was
Links mentioned in this episode 
- The Parent Consultancy- Jennifer Costigan on LinkedIn and Instagram- Learn more about your brain from an applied neuroscientist W/ Naomi glover - Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration⁠- Innotainment podcast⁠ - ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

AuDHD in Women: Why High-Performing Doesn't Mean Fine w/ Samantha Hiew Ep 26

In this episode, Aga Gajownik is joined by Dr Samantha Hiew, scientist, storyteller, and founder of ADHD Girls, to explore ADHD and Autism in women through the lenses of neuroscience, hormones, trauma, and workplace systems.
 
Together, they unpack what is often misunderstood or left unnamed: the cost of long-term masking, performance variability, nervous system overload, and why so many high-performing neurodivergent women burn out despite appearing "fine" on the surface.
 
This conversation goes beyond awareness. It looks at what is actually happening cognitively, neurologically, and psychologically in neurodivergent women, and what leaders can do to design genuinely brain-friendly organisations that support sustainable performance.
 
Topics include:
Why masking and self-regulation are so energetically expensive
Executive functioning, performance variability, and hormonal cycles
Trauma, nervous system responses, and their impact on work and relationships
Psychological safety, micromanagement, and cognitive load
Energy-based productivity and regenerative leadership
Practical, low-cost changes leaders can implement immediately
This episode is especially relevant for AuDHD and neurodivergent women navigating work and leadership, managers and HR leaders who want inclusion to actually work, and anyone interested in brain-friendly organisations and sustainable performance.
 
Note: This episode includes reflective discussion of abusive relationships and trauma, explored in a professional and educational context.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Dr Samantha Hiew - Scientist, Storyteller, Founder of ADHD Girls
ADHD Girls - social impact organisation supporting neurodivergent women
Tip of the Iceberg (Amazon)
Autism and ADHD in Women: DSM-5 Criteria via Scientific and Intersectional Lens
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ -  ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

ADHD at Work: What Leaders Keep Getting Wrong (and How to Fix It) w/Moonlake Lee Ep 25

ADHD at work is still one of the most misunderstood neurodivergent experiences especially in Singapore. We don’t talk about it enough.
 
 
So this week on Innotainment, ⁠Aga Gajownik⁠ is joined by ⁠Moonlake Lee⁠, founder of Unlocking ADHD, to unpack what ADHD really looks like in the workplace beyond stereotypes, labels, and “special treatment” myths.
 
 
In this episode, they explore:
Why ADHD is often invisible, undiagnosed, and undisclosed at work
How executive function challenges around time, overwhelm and emotional regulation show up in real teams
Neurodivergent burnout, masking, and the hidden cost to organisations
Why "ADHD-friendly" workplaces are actually just better-designed workplaces
What leaders can start, stop, and redesign today, without lowering standards or overloading managers
How to support ADHD employees without singling them out or creating reverse exclusion
This conversation moves beyond awareness into practical, brain-friendly design. From communication and check-ins to psychological safety, body doubling, and strength-based work, this episode offers actionable insights for leaders, managers, and neurodivergent professionals alike.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
⁠Moonlake Lee⁠ - Founder, Unlocking ADHD
⁠Unlocking ADHD⁠ 
⁠Moonlake's LinkedIn Newsletter - ADHD Life & Musings⁠
⁠VIA Character Strengths Survey⁠
⁠Ep 19 - Workplace Disengagement with Naomi Glover⁠
⁠Ep 21 - Trust and Teamwork with Brian Slattery⁠
⁠Ep 22 - Corporate Benefits with Andrea Toh⁠
⁠Aga Gajownik⁠ - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
⁠Innotainment podcast⁠⁠ -⁠ ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes 
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram⁠ ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain⁠

Five Conversations, One Pattern: What Brain-Friendly Leadership Actually Looks Like Ep. 24

In this solo episode of Innotainment, Aga Gajownik reflects on the first half of Season 2 and brings together the most important lessons from conversations with neuroscientists, HR leaders and organisational practitioners while sharing what’s ahead for 2026.
What started as a short experiment turned into a deeper exploration of what it really takes to build brain-friendly organisations. Drawing on insights from guests including Naomi Glover, Larissa Murmann, Andrea Toh, Brian Slattery and Feng Ling Li, Aga unpacks the recurring patterns that kept surfacing across very different industries and leadership roles.
 
Discover:
Why burnout is more often caused by friction, unclear expectations and emotional labour than workload
How communication builds trust when it focuses on connection, not meetings
Why psychological safety enables learning, innovation and honest feedback
How micro-learning and small habits outperform long, high-stress training programs
What leaders miss when they manage outputs but ignore cognitive load and nervous systems
Why brain-friendly leadership is ultimately human-friendly leadership
Aga also shares personal reflections on leadership, self-regulation and the invisible emotional labour many managers carry, and outlines what's coming next as Season 2 moves into a deeper dive on neurodiversity at work.
 
Whether you're a founder, senior leader, people manager or simply trying to work better with your own brain, this episode offers a grounded, human perspective on how to lead without burning yourself, or your team, out.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Episodes referenced in this episode:
Ep 19 - Workplace Disengagement with Naomi Glover
Ep 20 - AI and Hybrid Work with Larissa Murmann
Ep 21 - Trust and Teamwork with Brian Slattery
Ep 22 - Corporate Benefits with Andrea Toh
Ep 23 - Learning Cultures with Feng Ling Li
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ - ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes 
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

Learning at Work: Why Annual Training Fails and What to Do Instead w/ Feng Ling Li Ep 23

In this episode of Innotainment, Aga sits down with Feng Ling Li, a seasoned HR leader helping organisations across Singapore and the region develop true learning cultures that drive performance, resilience and innovation.
Together, they unpack why learning is no longer “a yearly training budget exercise” but a daily practice that requires psychological safety, experimentation, and leadership empathy. From micro-learning and reverse mentoring to AI-supported development, this conversation shines a light on what it really takes to help people grow in a rapidly changing world.
 
Discover:
Why learning must feel as natural as breathing, not a KPI checkbox
How micro-learning and hybrid formats support real retention
Why psychological safety, empathy and respect matter more than ever
How AI supports learning, and where human judgment is still essential
Practical ways leaders can personalise development without burning out HR
How to measure learning outcomes beyond "completed course hours"
Whether you're an HR leader, founder or people manager, this episode shows you how to build a workplace where learning feels safe, continuous and human-centred, and where your teams can adapt at the speed of change.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Feng Ling Li - Head of HR, Lifelong Learning Singapore
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ -  ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

Corporate Benefits: Why Perks Don't Work and What Actually Makes People Stay w/ Andrea Toh Ep.22

In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with veteran benefits leader and founder Andrea Toh to explore what modern employee benefits really mean in today’s workplace.
Beyond insurance plans and surface level perks, Andrea reveals how meaningful benefits are built through culture, communication, and human connection, not just budgets. With 20 years of experience shaping benefits systems across Singapore, she unpacks how organisations can create workplaces where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to stay.
 
Together, they dive into:
Why "traditional benefits" no longer meet the needs of Gen Z and millennial workers
How culture, purpose and team communication directly shape employee experience
The hidden cost of poorly trained managers, and why they make or break retention
How small companies can create big impact through simple, human benefits
Why job design, team alignment and meaningful conversations matter more than perks
The role of family, flexibility and community in building workplaces people love
Whether you're a founder, people manager, or HR professional, this episode reveals how benefits can become a daily experience, not a PDF policy, and how leaders can design teams that thrive without burning people out.
 
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Andrea Toh - Founder, Benefit Solutions
VIA Character Strengths Survey
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ - ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes 
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

Trust Before Earned: How to Build High-Performing Teams Around Different Brains w/ Brian Slattery Ep.21

In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with Brian Slattery, founder of Teamwork Unlocked and former Head of Culture Club at Google, to explore what really happens inside teamwork when different brains, strengths and cognitive styles collide.
From late ADHD diagnosis and leadership quirks to building escape-room-powered leadership programmes, Brian shares a refreshingly honest look at how trust, psychological safety and better conversations can transform the way teams collaborate.
You'll hear:
How ADHD shows up in leadership and why late diagnosis often brings both clarity and chaos
Why trust should be given, not earned, and the speech Brian teaches leaders to transform culture
The nine team profiles he sees in action inside escape rooms, and why Mavericks and Challengers are disappearing
Why innovation stalls in risk-averse cultures and how permafrost forms in middle management
Practical, tiny habits that help leaders support cognitive diversity without adding workload
The art of celebrating failure and why "birthday culture" does absolutely nothing for motivation
Whether you're a senior leader, HR professional or a manager trying to build more brain-friendly teams, this conversation is a masterclass in understanding people, creating trust and designing systems that let every brain contribute.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Brian Slattery - Founder, Teamwork Unlocked
Teamwork Unlocked
VIA Character Strengths Survey
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ - ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

AI and Hybrid Work: What Leaders Are Getting Wrong About Both W/ Larissa Murmann Ep. 20

In this episode, Aga Gajownik sits down with Larissa Murmann, Digital Chief HR Officer at Unilever International, to unpack how leaders can navigate change, support their teams and adapt new technologies without burning people out. Larissa offers a candid, insider perspective on what's actually changing inside global organisations, from AI adoption and hybrid team design to fractional roles and wellbeing at scale.
 
Together, they explore the mindset shift leaders must make, why emotional and subconscious intelligence matter more than ever, and how to build high-performing teams when humans and AI increasingly work side by side. You'll hear practical strategies for navigating uncertainty, preventing burnout, and creating workplaces where people feel trusted, empowered and supported, no matter their neurotype, generation or working style.
Discover:
Why AI transformation is 10 to 20 percent technology and the rest is human behaviour
The three skills AI cannot replace: emotional intelligence, subconscious self-knowledge, and cultural judgment
Why remote work doesn't break trust but lack of relationship will, and what trusted leaders actually do differently
How fractional work is becoming a genuine strategy, not a compromise
Whether you're a founder, HR leader or emerging manager, this conversation will show you how to design more brain-friendly teams and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving world.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Larissa Murmann - Digital Chief HR Officer, Unilever International
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
Innotainment podcast⁠ – ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain

The real cost of workplace disengagement w/Naomi Glover Ep. 19

In our first episode of Innotainment Season 2, Aga Gajownik brings back applied neuroscientist Naomi Glover to dive deep into what’s really happening inside our workplaces and inside our brains.
From burnout and disengagement to the challenges of introducing psychological safety, this episode explores how outdated structures, rigid office mandates, and untrained managers are quietly costing organisations billions.
Discover:
What neuroscience reveals about engagement, burnout, and motivation
Why flexibility and trust aren't "perks" but performance essentials
How technology and AI are reshaping how our brains focus and connect
Practical shifts to start building brain-friendly organisations that help everyone thrive, neurodivergent or not
Whether you're a senior leader, HR professional, or simply someone tired of bad meetings, this episode offers a science-based perspective on how to make work actually work.
This is Season 2 of the Innotainment Podcast, now continuing as Brain Friendly Systems with Aga Gajownik.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Naomi Glover - Applied Neuroscientist, Neuro-Informed 
Gallup State of the Global Workplace Report
Boston Consulting Group Burnout Report
Aga Gajownik - Certified ADHD Practitioner and founder of Innovation Integration
⁠Innotainment podcast⁠ – ⁠Q&A / Office Hours Submission Form⁠ : Submit questions for future episodes
Follow Innotainment Podcast and Aga Gajownik on Instagram ⁠@innotainment_podcast,⁠  ⁠@myquirkyadhdbrain