Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Regina Mcmenomy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Regina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

My video call notification rang immediately after a meeting ended.

It was my new boss.

She was in the meeting that just ended.

My first thought? OMG what did I say wrong.

“Hey. What’s up?” I asked, a small shake in my voice as my emotions betrayed me.

“Is it just me or does she hate everything I say?”

I laughed, knowing exactly who she was talking about and having an intimate understanding of this coworker’s unique ability to make you feel like the sludge on the bottom of your coffee cup.

“It’s not you,’ I said. “She really does make everyone feel that way.”

From that moment I knew we would have a remarkably unique relationship. Knowing that she already trusted me enough to ask for help and guidance even though we’d only been working together for a few weeks was unbelievably reassuring. Over the next two years, she would become a trusted confidant, mentor, and friend.

I received my official ADHD diagnosis while I was working for her. There was no hesitance in her support.

“Just tell me what you need and we will make it happen.”

What she didn’t know is that her respect and belief in my ability to do my job, the fact that she didn’t need to schedule regular check-in meetings with me to make sure I was getting my work done, and her understanding of my need to flex my hours were the most powerful accommodations she could make for me.

She provided clear communications of expectations, gentle follow-ups on deadlines before they were due, and an acceptance that my work process might not follow a textbook approach but was still valid and successful for me. Each of these things made her the best boss I’ve ever had.

Regina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Meet Regina McMenomy, Ph.D. – Founder of Divergent Paths Consulting

I’m Regina and I’ve spent over two decades at the intersection of education, instructional design, and digital learning. My career has been shaped by a passion for making learning accessible, engaging, and effective—whether in higher education, corporate training, or digital course design. But my path took an unexpected and deeply personal turn when I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. That experience reshaped how I see the world and ultimately led me to launch Divergent Paths Consulting.

How I Got Into This Work

For years, I thrived developing cutting-edge learning experiences, working closely with faculty and businesses to make education more inclusive. However, after my ADHD diagnosis, I started recognizing the systemic challenges neurodivergent individuals face—especially in education and the workplace. I saw a gap in resources and support tailored to late-diagnosed professionals and businesses that want to be truly inclusive but don’t always know where to start. That realization fueled my transition into coaching and consulting for neurodivergent professionals and organizations. I want to help individuals navigate their careers in a way that embraces their strengths while also guiding businesses on how to create environments where neurodivergent employees can thrive.

What Divergent Paths Consulting Offers

Divergent Paths Consulting provides:

* One-on-One Coaching for Late-Diagnosed Adults – Navigating an ADHD or autism diagnosis as an adult can be overwhelming. I help individuals understand their neurodivergence, develop strategies to work with their brains (not against them), and create sustainable systems for success—whether that’s in the workplace, personal life, or entrepreneurial ventures.
* Corporate and Workplace Training – Many organizations want to be inclusive but don’t always understand the hidden barriers neurodivergent employees face. I offer tailored training sessions to help businesses create supportive work environments, improve communication strategies, and foster genuine inclusion for employees with invisible disabilities.
* Speaking and Workshops – I bring my expertise in instructional design, accessibility, and neurodiversity to conferences, organizations, and professional development events. Topics range from universal design in the workplace to rethinking productivity through a neurodivergent lens.
* Podcasting and Digital Content – My podcast (also called Divergent Paths) extends these conversations, providing insights, interviews, and discussions on neurodivergence, workplace inclusion, and personal growth.

The Problems I Solve & What Sets Me Apart

What makes Divergent Paths Consulting unique is the combination of personal experience, academic expertise, and practical strategies. As someone who has both lived and worked through the challenges of being neurodivergent in traditional workplaces, I bridge the gap between individual empowerment and systemic change.

For neurodivergent professionals, I help them:
✅ Understand their neurodivergence beyond stereotypes
✅ Create practical, tailored strategies that work with their unique brain
✅ Develop confidence and self-advocacy skills in the workplace

For organizations and businesses, I help them:
✅ Move beyond performative inclusion to create real, lasting change
✅ Understand the productivity myths that disadvantage neurodivergent employees
✅ Develop policies and practices that support diverse workstyles

What I’m Most Proud Of

I’m incredibly proud of how Divergent Paths Consulting has already helped individuals and organizations rethink what it means to be inclusive. Whether it’s a client telling me they finally feel seen and understood, or a company shifting its approach to better support neurodivergent employees, those moments reinforce why this work matters.

I’m also proud of my ability to combine research, accessible and universal design, and real-world strategies into solutions that work. My background in education and digital learning means I can translate complex concepts into actionable, engaging, and accessible training that actually makes a difference.

What I Want Potential Clients to Know

* You’re not broken. Whether you’re struggling with focus, burnout, or workplace challenges, there’s nothing wrong with your brain—you just need strategies that fit how you work best.
* Inclusion isn’t about “fixing” neurodivergent employees—it’s about changing environments that weren’t built for them in the first place.
* You deserve support, and that support should be tailored to you. No one-size-fits-all solutions here—everything I do is built around the unique strengths and needs of the individuals and organizations I work with.

At the end of the day, Divergent Paths Consulting is about empowerment—helping neurodivergent people thrive and guiding organizations toward real, meaningful inclusion.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The Pivot That Changed Everything

Sometimes, a pivot isn’t just a course correction—it’s a complete redirection. That was the case for me when I walked away from a job after only six weeks, a decision that ultimately led to launching Divergent Paths Consulting.

For over two decades, I had built a successful career in higher education, instructional design, and digital learning. I led major projects, trained faculty, and helped institutions create accessible and engaging courses. I knew I was good at what I did. But as a late-diagnosed neurodivergent professional, I also knew that traditional work environments weren’t always built for people like me.

Still, I thought I could make it work. I accepted a role that, on paper, seemed like a great fit—aligned with my expertise, respected my experience, and offered an opportunity to make an impact. But almost immediately, I could feel it wasn’t right. The rigid structure, lack of autonomy, and unspoken expectations that I would “mask” my neurodivergence to fit in became overwhelming. I found myself constantly questioning my instincts, feeling drained and anxious by the effort to conform, and realizing that no matter how much experience or knowledge I had, the environment itself wasn’t sustainable for me.

At six weeks in, I made a decision that my past self would have been terrified to make: I quit. No backup plan, no safety net—just the certainty that staying would cost me far more than leaving ever could.

Turning a Crisis into a Calling

That moment of leaving was scary, but it was also clarifying. I wasn’t the problem. The system was. And if I, with my years of expertise and credentials, felt this way—how many other late-diagnosed, neurodivergent professionals were experiencing the same thing? How many businesses were unintentionally creating environments that pushed out talented, creative, and brilliant neurodivergent minds?

That’s when I knew what I had to do.

I took all my skills in instructional design, training, accessibility, and leadership and channeled them into something new: Divergent Paths Consulting. Instead of trying to fit into environments that weren’t built for me, I decided to build a business that supports neurodivergent professionals and helps organizations create workplaces where we can thrive.

Now, through one-on-one coaching, I help neurodivergent individuals understand themselves, develop sustainable work strategies, and advocate for what they need. Through interactive workshops, and presentations, I help businesses recognize the systemic barriers that push out neurodivergent talent and give them practical tools to build truly inclusive environments.

The Power of Choosing Yourself

Quitting that job after six weeks wasn’t a failure—it was the most important decision I’ve ever made. It was the moment I stopped trying to fit into spaces that weren’t designed for me and started creating spaces where neurodivergent professionals don’t just survive, but thrive.
Sometimes, the biggest pivots come from the hardest decisions. And for me, that moment of walking away led to something far greater than I ever could have imagined: a business that aligns with my values, serves my community, and empowers others to take their own divergent paths.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Breaking Free from the Mask

For most of my life, I believed that success came from adapting, conforming, and meeting the expectations of others. I thought that if I could just work harder, be more organized, communicate “correctly,” and suppress my quirks, I would finally feel like I belonged—whether in school, the workplace, or social settings.

This wasn’t a conscious choice; it was a survival strategy. Like so many late-diagnosed neurodivergent people, I spent years performing a version of myself that felt acceptable—pushing through sensory overwhelm, forcing myself into rigid productivity systems, and constantly second-guessing my instincts in professional spaces.

When I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, everything shifted. Suddenly, I saw that the very strategies that had once helped me succeed—masking, overcompensating, and constantly pushing through—were also the very things that were draining me, holding me back, and making me feel disconnected from my true self.

Letting Go

I had to let go of the idea that my worth was tied to how well I could hide my struggles and blend in.

I had to redefine success—not as relentless perfectionism, but as sustainable, meaningful work that aligns with how my brain actually works.

I had to stop believing that being “professional” meant being neuronormative—and start embracing the fact that my neurodivergence is not a liability; it’s a strength.

How This Changed Everything

Letting go of these deeply ingrained beliefs didn’t just change my mindset—it changed my entire life. It’s impacted every relationship in my life, how I move through the world, and how I support people. I want everyone with an invisible disability to know that they don’t have to mask their way to success. There is another way—one that honors their strengths, supports their needs, and allows them to show up fully as themselves.

Breaking free from masking wasn’t easy, and honestly, I’m still working on it. But every step I take toward authenticity brings me closer to the kind of success that actually feels like mine. And that has been the most important shift of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.divergentpathsconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doclizz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-mcmenomy-05191017/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JvqkoDyOHiyS_kR1VoS1Q
• Other: https://rss.com/podcasts/divergent-paths/