In episode 57 of BWD In The Know, James Walker is joined by multi-award-winning financial planner Hazel Bowen FPFS TEP for the latest conversation in the Future Fit Financial Planning series.
Hazel's route into the profession was anything but straightforward. Growing up in a working-class household in Norwich, moving from state school to private education on a bursary and later building a successful career in financial planning have all shaped how she thinks about opportunity, leadership and belonging.
Diagnosed as autistic and with ADHD as an adult, Hazel speaks openly about the relief that came with understanding herself differently, the value - and limitations - of labels, and why being neurodivergent cannot simply be treated as something an individual should learn to \"fix\".
In this episode, James and Hazel discuss:
This is an open and deeply personal conversation about neurodiversity, leadership and what it really takes to create workplaces where different people can thrive.
Above all, it is a reminder that good leadership does not require having all the answers. Sometimes it starts with being curious enough to recognise that the person opposite you may experience the world very differently.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Future Fit Leadership
01:01 Childhood, Class and Belonging
05:25 Self-Belief and Backing Yourself
07:57 Representation and Speaking Openly
10:43 Finding a Career in Financial Planning
13:38 Servant Leadership and Creating Belonging
15:53 Hazel's Autism and ADHD Diagnosis
21:20 Relief, Labels and Understanding Yourself
27:07 Identity and Communication Differences
35:33 Curiosity and Proper Conversations
38:41 Reasonable Adjustments and Better Performance
44:35 Preparing for Better Conversations
48:32 Masking and Becoming More Yourself
56:12 Why Clarity Is Kindness
62:31 Directness, Honesty and Respect
67:07 Diversity of Thought and Cultural Enrichment
71:43 Curiosity, Experience and Future Leaders
75:25 One Wish: Joy and Belonging
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