KB Heylen
they/them
That’s me on the right. Queer. Neurodivergent. Outsider. Super pattern recogniser. Whip smart. Researcher. Nerd. No, I’m really not on social media. Yes, I really do have pink hair.
Counter to popular stereotypes about neurodivergence, I enjoy meaningful connection and deep listening, and am driven by curiosity. My authenticity and playfulness puts people at ease and makes our work together fun!
I have worked as a strategy and business consultant for 6+ years, helping dozens of organisations and more than 200 individual freelancers and small business owners with strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, business cases, research and business start ups. I have also owned my own successful bricks-and-mortar and freelancing businesses and worked for more than a decade in communications and economic development in the non-profit sectors.
I am based in the Blue Mountains NSW but work remotely with people and organisations across the country. I have recently submitted my PhD (yes, you can call me Dr KB very soon!) and, being the giant nerd I am, I also have a Master of Research and a Master of Commerce.
Some of the things that motivate me:
Working only with people and organisations who share my values
Using my business and organisational skills for social good and supporting others to do the same
A strengths-based aoproach to life, focused on what is in our control, what we are capable of, and what we can change
Flipping the script on neurodivergent stereotypes by understanding how to work with my strengths and modelling this behaviour in the world
Knowing that I can be both an introvert and a people person - I prefer gentle, meaningful connection both personally and professionally
If it sounds like we might be a good fit or you just want to have a chat, please get in touch via the link below.
Strategy + ADHD
I see patterns and solutions days, weeks, even years before others – which is a competitive advantage I love sharing with my clients.
Neurodivergent brains are wired differently. I don’t have the neuro connections that filters information the same way neurotypical people do, meaning I see and sense everything very quickly, all at once. This can be overwhelming on a social level – but it also allows me to see connections, patterns and details that most people miss.
Three-dimensional thinking is also a trait I share with other ADHDers. This allows me to see structures, relationships and connections from multiple angles and perspectives. I’m the one who questions the black and white thinking and see the grey in between (side note: this makes me pretty resistant to cults!)
I prefer meaningful connections to fleeting interactions, which is great for information gathering with stakeholders in things like planning sessions and interviews. All of my work begins with the relationship first.
How this helps you
It can be hard for people inside an organisation to see clearly, especially when dealing with every-increasing workloads or facing ‘it’s always been done this way’ thinking.
This is where I come in: my outsider status (literally and figuratively) and my neurodivergent brain can see things you might have missed, connect dots that might seem random, and pull patterns out of seemingly disparate data sources.
I then convert those insights into concrete, actionable strategies to guide your organisation through whatever issue you might be facing – from restructures and reviews to new revenue streams, and from big picture visioning to compliance, governance and achievable action plans.