The Cost of Speaking Up: Why Many Stay Silent

For years, I didn’t dare speak up. Not only because of the societal norms I grew up with (hello, being born in the 80s and raised on “children should be seen and not heard”), but also because of the belief that diversity had to be something tangible, something visible.

When that changed, and I found my voice, do you know what happened? 75% of people supported me, grew alongside me, and respected what I was saying. But that other 25%? They worked tirelessly to remind me to stay quiet, stay closeted, and stop rocking the boat.

Yes, society and understanding are changing, but let’s not kid ourselves—there are still a significant number of people in positions of power and influence who cling to antiquated attitudes or, worse, use diversity as a stepping stone to elevate themselves.

We’ve all seen it. Politicians posing for a photo-op to appear supportive. Managers waving the inclusivity flag just to tick a box. Meanwhile, the people who are genuinely passionate about making change are being used as workhorses, left to burn out while someone else takes the credit.

Speaking out is brave. It’s terrifying. And yes, it’s exhausting when you see your message twisted, misused, or outright dismissed.

But will that stop me? Not a bloody chance. One of my favourite phrases (though I admit it’s a weird one) is: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

I don’t need to rely solely on standing in front of a room of managers or like-minded people to get my message across. I can weave it into my books, my screenplays, and every piece of creative work I produce.

To those who weaponise our passion and burn us out, I say this...BRING IT ON!

#Neurodivergence #SpeakingUp #InclusionMatters #Leadership #JustMyThoughts