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Diversity comes in many forms

Northern Trust cultivates diversity on many levels, including a neurodivergent employee population

Our employees’ diversity of experiences and skills, and each of their unique viewpoints, are critical to our organization. We believe all forms of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are inextricably linked to the success of our business. But as businesses often discuss race, gender, sexual orientation and abilities, neurodiversity is less frequently addressed, despite one out of every five people globally exhibiting some form of neurodivergence1.

Neurodivergent employees can be a boon to productivity. A 2018 study published in the Harvard Business Review showed that teams with neurodivergent professionals can be up to 30 percent more productive than those without2. Teams that combine neurodivergent and neurotypical thinkers benefit from visual thinking, attention to detail, pattern recognition, visual memory and creative thinking that other teams may not.

Since 2020, Northern Trust has worked with CAI Neurodiverse Solutions, a neurodiversity employment program, to bring neurodivergent individuals onboard as consultants, working with them to develop their skills and career, while adding another point of view and skillset to the team. These consultants have worked specifically in the IT Metrics & Analytics space, where many of the aforementioned skills are paramount. The consultants initially work on a two-year contract.

"Understanding and championing neurodiversity in our company enables us to embrace the talents of everyone and create an inclusive and diverse workplace where we all feel respected and valued,” said Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Deidra Jenkins.

The partnership began with one neurotypical team lead and three neurodivergent consultants. In the past three years, that partnership has grown to include a total of 10 neurodivergent consultants, one of whom has been hired as an employee.

“Northern Trust was willing to take a chance on someone without any prior professional IT work experience and allowed me to make a lateral move onto a career path with far more upward mobility,” said Jaco Vermeulen, an employee who began as a CAI Neurodiverse Solutions consultant in 2020.

Vermeulen credits his managers with the success he’s experienced, saying “they really work hard to create an environment for neurodivergent individuals to excel in,” as well as providing training and resources to assist them in skill acquisition and development.

Not only do participants have access to a wealth of Northern Trust training, but CAI Neurodiverse Solutions also provides some training for managers on how to best work with neurodivergent individuals. Matthew Daye, a product manager in IT Metrics & Analytics, says there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but he focuses on “ramping down the chaos around them, like avoiding quick shifting of assignments or changing policies, as well as working with the CAI team leads who will break down larger tasks into manageable pieces, preventing anxiety.”

The approach seems to work for Vermeulen, who is thriving at Northern Trust. “It’s a fantastic team that I’m part of, and the culture that the company fosters is very welcoming and accepting,” Vermeulen says.

Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion in our 2022 Sustainability Report.

1 Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults | British Medical Bulletin | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

2 Neurodiversity Is a Competitive Advantage (hbr.org)