Bonnie Evie Gifford

How has being Neurodivergent shaped the direction of your career?

Embracing my neurodiversity has empowered me to set better boundaries professionally, to speak up and advocate for myself when I am struggling, and to accept that my different way of approaching things is a strength, not a weakness.

What industry do you work in and what do you love and/or loathe about it? 

I work within the marketing industry, creating content primarily around mental health and wellbeing. I love the creativity and ability to create content that can actually have an impact on readers who may be struggling with their mental health or may be unsure how to seek support or even figure out exactly what’s wrong and how they can try to improve things. 

While some days I love how fast-paced of an environment it can be, other days I loathe it. As someone on the spectrum, I particularly thrive when I know what to expect, or when I am able to plan things or have a routine - which just isn’t always possible in my field. It can be frustrating (and even lead to tears) at times, but it can feel rewarding too.

How did you get into your job/industry? 

I went to university to study Creative Writing at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. While I would have loved to have continued studying for my PhD, I kind of fell into copywriting - first in the travel industry, then gaming and retail. I’ve moved between content creation roles, but I’ve stuck with it ever since. I spent so many years being told by neurotypical people that I needed to be more. More outspoken, less shy, more like everyone else. It wasn't until I started speaking with other neurodiverse women that I began to realise that I was enough.

Have you always wanted to work in your industry?

As someone who has struggled with anxiety since I was a pre-teen, it had never occurred to me that I would be able to enter the marketing industry, much less make a career creating content around mental health and wellbeing. 

I always felt I was too much yet not enough to make it work. I ask too many questions, worry too much, sometimes I get caught up in the details, not to mention I’m just not what you would call a ‘people person’. Yet since getting my diagnosis as on the spectrum in my 20s, I’ve become more forgiving of myself, more accepting of my ‘flaws’, and I’ve started recognising my strengths instead of purely dwelling on the negatives.

Does it feel like a good 'fit' for you as a neurodivergent woman? 

Honestly? It can vary. Some days it feels like the perfect fit. Other days, I want to pack it all in and become a lighthouse keeper. But on the days where everything does click and I feel like I’ve done a good job, it makes it all worth it.