Celebrating Neurodiversity: Creating More Inclusive Marketing
As we enter into a new month, we don’t want to miss the chance to recognize Neurodiversity Celebration Month in April. This is a great opportunity to appreciate the many different ways that people think, process, and understand the world. Neurodivergence takes many forms, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, and more, reflecting the rich variation of the human experience. Despite 15-20% of people being neurodivergent, this community continues to be underrepresented. Neurodivergence, often invisible and misunderstood, proves that intentional representation is even more crucial, which is why we’re taking steps at AMA PDX to center accessibility and create spaces where neurodivergent voices are seen, heard, and valued.
To deepen our understanding of neurodivergence through a marketing lens, we spoke with Trinity Bowen, an MBA student at Portland State University. Trinity shared how neurodivergence has become her strength along her journey and offered a perspective into how brands and marketers can show up authentically for neurodivergent communities.
Q: Tell me a bit about your background in marketing and how being neurodivergent has impacted your journey.
A: My journey in marketing started when I was 16, when I started my early college program at Portland Community College. I had played volleyball all through middle school and high school, and saw that my community college had a volleyball team, but it was inactive. I took it upon myself to get the club restarted, market it to new players, and build all of the marketing materials for the team. It was this experience that helped me find my love for marketing.
My background in marketing spans over six years, starting with hands-on roles in social media management, branding, and project coordination. I've worked across industries, from consulting as a freelance branding and marketing specialist at Tillamook Creamery and other consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, to managing e-commerce operations with my own business, Revived Threads Co. I also had the opportunity to coordinate major marketing campaigns at Tillamook County Creamery Association and lead branding and communications initiatives at Multnomah County. Currently, I’m building on this experience while pursuing an MBA with certificates in the outdoor and athletic industry and data analytics to deepen my expertise.
Being neurodivergent has been both a unique challenge and an incredible asset throughout my journey. It sharpened my creativity, fueled a natural talent for pattern recognition, and made me especially strong at problem-solving and project management — skills that are crucial in marketing. At the same time, it’s pushed me to develop intentional structures around communication and organization, which has only made my work stronger. Embracing my neurodivergence has helped me carve out marketing strategies that are both deeply analytical and refreshingly creative, bringing a distinctive, holistic approach to every project I touch. Although it has been a challenge, and I still struggle with impostor syndrome in situations where nothing is familiar to me, I’ve found my neurodivergence to be a strength in the workplace because I can tackle problems with a perspective different from my peers and it has helped me gain a deeper understanding from those around me.
Q: Are there any marketing tactics or content formats that you find especially accessible or particularly challenging? What makes them stand out to you?
A: I’m naturally drawn to marketing tactics that are highly visual and structured, like infographics, tutorial-style videos, carousel posts, and clear step-by-step guides. Those formats feel intuitive to me because they combine creativity with organization. It’s easier for me to engage and problem-solve when there’s a visual map or a logical flow I can follow, and I can also get more playful with the creative elements because the "skeleton" of the project feels solid.
What can be more challenging are the super open-ended formats, like storytelling campaigns without clear guardrails or very abstract brand-building exercises. Without some kind of structure, it can be easy for me to get lost in overthinking or trying to explore too many directions at once. Over time, I've learned to create my own frameworks or checklists to anchor myself; it’s made me a stronger marketer because I can bridge that gap between big-picture creativity and real-world execution.
Being neurodivergent has given me a unique lens: I appreciate formats that make information accessible, direct, and engaging, and I want to build marketing that feels that way for others, too.
Q: What do you wish more people in the marketing industry understood about supporting neurodivergent talent?
A: I wish more people in the marketing industry understood that supporting neurodivergent talent isn’t just about offering accommodations; it’s about recognizing the incredible strengths that come with different ways of thinking. Neurodivergent marketers often bring creativity, innovation, pattern recognition, and problem-solving skills that can transform a campaign or a brand’s approach.
What helps most is clear communication, structured expectations, and flexibility in how work gets done. Things like setting upfront goals, offering multiple ways to process and present information, and valuing outcomes over rigid processes can make a huge difference. It’s also important to create an environment where asking for clarification or proposing alternative workflows isn’t seen as a weakness, but as a sign of someone committed to doing their best work.
Supporting neurodivergent talent is about seeing differences as assets, not obstacles. When companies do that, they unlock creativity and resilience that they might not have even realized they were missing.
Q: For marketers who want to be more inclusive but aren't sure where to start, what advice would you give them?
A: Start small, stay curious, and listen more than you talk. Inclusivity isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being intentional. Ask questions, seek out diverse voices, and be open to feedback without getting defensive. Build flexibility into your processes: offer different ways for people to contribute, create clearer structures, and make space for different communication styles.
Also, remember that inclusivity isn’t just about who’s in the room; it’s about whether they feel empowered to show up fully once they’re there. Prioritize psychological safety just as much as you prioritize innovation, and you’ll naturally create an environment where everyone — including neurodivergent talent — can thrive.
Neurodiversity in marketing, and in any industry for that matter, offers a unique perspective that can drive creativity, innovation, and connection. Teams are stronger when they include people who think in ways that aren’t considered 'typical.' That kind of diversity is a real asset. As we continue to build more inclusive teams and focus on representation, we can create opportunities to unlock potential and transform the way we engage with our audiences. By nurturing environments where all perspectives and lived experiences are valued, we’re not just becoming better marketers; we’re shaping a more inclusive future.