Pablo Plaza-Lastras

I am an integration architect at Accenture, and I am responsible for ensuring systems communicate with each other. I have been at Accenture for four years and I hold an associate manager position.

I was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago and my diagnosis has helped me in both my personal and professional life. I have been very open about my diagnosis in the workplace and everyone around me is aware of it including my manager and my colleagues.

Accenture is a very supportive environment, and I felt safe to be open about my diagnosis, particularly because there were clear internal communications about the support for employees with disabilities including those who are neurodivergent. I didn’t necessarily find it easy to be open at first, as I have never done it before, and perhaps some of my colleagues didn’t know how to react or what to say, but on a one-to-one basis they were very supportive.

When I decided to be open about my diagnosis, I first informed my People Lead, and then my practice, which is around 90 people. My diagnosis has helped my colleagues get to know me better and I can relate to many other people with similar conditions.

Accenture have been very supportive; for example, I have had coaching from specialist ADHD coaches, I attend employee groups focused on neurodiversity, and I have also become a mental health ally within the company.  The coaching sessions (From Genius Within and Problem Shared) has been most beneficial to me and also the Neurodiversity ERG (Employee Representative Group) internal sessions. I accessed this support through an AXA representative.

As a result, I have more confidence in myself by understanding some of my behaviours, and knowing the fact that it is not ‘this is the way I am and I can’t do anything’, but instead ‘this is the way I am, and I can do many things to help myself’

In addition to my role, I am also working on a prototype app that will promote community and diversity and will enhance connectivity among employees whether they work remotely or on different projects.

Each person can be open and talk about themselves in a safe space about anything they want their colleagues to know about them. The benefit is that if more people disclose their disability / neurodiversity, it will make it easier for others to do it.

After my diagnosis, I also became part of my department’s ‘People and Culture’ team, which aims to support our colleagues. My work there led to me being offered another role as Community Development Lead of my practice, which I’m very passionate about.

My advice for students with disabilities who are going through the recruitment process includes:

• Be yourself
• Be open about your condition from the start since the more information you provide the easier it is for the company to adapt the recruitment process to suit your individual needs.
• Research the company’s diversity and inclusion policies via their own website, and also check out resources such as MyPlus Students’ Club and Glass Door.
• Identify your strengths, including those you have developed as a result of your disability, and make sure you apply to roles that match your strengths