In the realm of entrepreneurship, neurodivergent individuals are finding novel ways to harness technology to enhance their business processes. Rita Ramakrishnan, founder of Iksana Consulting, exemplifies this trend. As a solopreneur with autism and ADHD, she faced unique challenges in managing her business operations. “Anything that requires being on a specific schedule, anything that requires deep organization, those things were really challenging,” she remarked to Business Insider. However, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has provided her with the tools to overcome these obstacles.
Ramakrishnan views AI as an essential component of her workflow, describing it as her “external executive function,” which compensates for her organizational challenges. Over the past year, she has not only maintained her business but also seen revenue growth, all while pursuing graduate-level studies. She noted, “I don’t think enough people are talking about how AI is opening up market opportunities for neurodivergent folks.”
AI Enhances Task and Energy Management
Each morning, Ramakrishnan uses AI tools like Anthropic’s Claude or Google’s Gemini to organize her thoughts and tasks. This process helps her transition from a “jumbled place” to a “synthesized and organized place.” She further utilizes AI to plan her day according to her energy levels, ensuring tasks are aligned with when she’s most productive. “It knows when to schedule things based on when my energy levels are high or low,” she explained, highlighting how AI understands her preferences for tasks she enjoys versus those she finds challenging.
AI Assists in Maintaining Focus and Organizing Information
Chris Haddox, founder of DECOY LTD., shares a similar experience. Haddox, who has ADHD, uses AI to keep himself on track with business tasks. He finds that interacting with AI helps him maintain focus, especially when no one else is available for collaboration. “It’s difficult for me to stay focused on one train of thought,” Haddox admitted, but AI helps organize his thoughts and recall past solutions and best practices.
AI Aids in Sales and Networking Preparation
AI has also proven beneficial in enhancing Ramakrishnan’s sales and networking skills. While she excels in coaching sessions, sales conversations have been more challenging. She uses AI to gather data on potential clients and simulate various scenarios, making her more confident in these interactions. “My autistic brain loves data,” she said, emphasizing how this information helps her connect with clients by anticipating their needs.
Ramakrishnan’s approach underscores the potential of AI to empower neurodivergent entrepreneurs, not by making them more productive in a conventional sense, but by allowing them to work in harmony with their unique cognitive patterns. “I’m not using AI to be more productive. I’m using it to stop punishing myself for how my brain works,” she concluded.
