K1: Designing for Neurodiversity Drives Performance

At Rising Tide Car Wash, more than 80% of the team is neurodivergent, and the company competes at the very top of its industry. Our core thesis is simple: when you design systems for neurodivergent team members, you build better systems for everyone. This talk tells the story of how we tested that idea against a hard business problem: membership sales. By designing clear systems, co-creating training with our staff, hiring objectively, and learning from the people who struggled most, we moved from the bottom 10% to the top 5% of the industry in all relevant measures in less than 2 years. A key enabler is AI: we use it to build custom internal tooling tailored to how our staff actually work, helping every team member reach their goals. Inclusive problem-solving didn’t just do the right thing—it built a stronger, more resilient business, and a replicable model leaders can apply to their own teams.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn how to design systems for the widest range of human brains

Learn how to use AI create customized tools to support individuals with autism

Learn how building a business around the strengths of individuals with autism leads to better business outcomes

Speakers