Join Monique de Maio in an enlightening episode of ‘Possibilities’ featuring Julia Pitlik, a dynamic Chief Marketing Officer and a fervent autism advocate. Dive into Julia’s personal and professional journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating the world of neurodiversity. From early denial to determined advocacy, Julia shares her experiences in educational advocacy, her son’s journey with autism, and the importance of embracing neurodiverse talents in both educational and corporate settings. This episode is not just a story of a mother’s love and determination but also a call for more inclusive and supportive environments for neurodiverse individuals

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience in Advocacy: Today we will dive into the necessity of persistent advocacy in overcoming institutional and societal barriers, promoting an active role for parents and community members in seeking justice and resources.
• Corporate Recognition of Neurodiversity: Points to growing awareness in the corporate sector about the value of neurodiverse talents, urging for more inclusive and systematic approaches within Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Community Awareness and Support: Calls for increased community awareness and support for neurodiverse individuals, advocating for public initiatives and policies that foster inclusivity and understanding across various social settings.

0:00 Intro to Julia Pitlik

6:00 Challenges in Education and Advocacy 

18:00 Navigating Systems and Leading with Advocacy 

22:00 Navigating Advocacy and Leadership 

26:00 Investing in Children with Special Needs 

32:00 Promoting Neurodiversity in the Workplace

About our guest:

 Julia Pitlik is a CMO/ Chief Marketing Officer, a business-to-business growth strategist and a brand builder. Her subject matter expertise extends from SaaS/ Software-as-a-Service, network connectivity, cybersecurity, customer experience, power, resiliency, and partnerships. She is a board member on several nonprofits and is a huge autism advocate. Included in her board work is Arvine, which is a tech company based in Santa Clara, and her nonprofit work is extensive. She’s an executive board member on OWNN, which is One World Nonprofit Network, as well as the executive board member on Music Movement, another non profit. Julia has an MBA from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas, and a magna cum laude bachelor of science in public relations from Illinois State University.