Andreia Morgado, founder and director of IMPACTsci and a member of Women in ESG Portugal, exemplifies visionary leadership, innovation and community engagement. As a late identified AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD) neurodivergent innovator, Andreia has uniquely leveraged her background to drive significant advancements in educational innovation, social equity and sustainable development. She has successfully led the acquisition, coordination, and implementation of over 20 European projects across diverse fields, including EduTech, digital transformation, participatory methodologies and responsible research and innovation. Under her leadership, IMPACTsci has formed strategic national and international partnerships, including collaborations with APVA (Autistic Voices Association), the European Council of Autistic People, the International Institute of Neurodiversity, several European universities among other key organisations. She has built a team of external advisors, all neurodivergent experts in their fields, who contribute to the organisation’s success. Andreia's leadership extends beyond her organisation, impacting the wider community through active engagement and contributions to events organized by APVA and EUCAP. Her initiatives promote social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and economic growth, demonstrating her dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
RUNNER-UP
Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year Award
Andreia Morgado
RUNNER-UP Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year Award
Peoples' Choice Category Winner
IMPACTsci (www.impactsci.org) - Portugal
"Empowering Neurodiversity, Fostering Innovation"
Engage on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreiamorgado/(Official Andreia Morgado LinkedIn account)
https://www.instagram.com/impactsci/ (Official IMPACTsci Instagram account)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactsci/(Official IMPACTsci LinkedIn account)
https://www.instagram.com/andreia.m.audhd/(Official Andreia Morgado Instagram account)
Summary
Key People
Dr. Adrian Solomon
DIrector
Helix-Connect Europe
Tiago Rodrigues
L&D Project Lead
IMPACTsci
Raquel Almeida
Innovation Manager
A.SPIRE
Rute Ferreira
Head of Digital Learning Experience
ISQe
Sara Rocha
Vice-President
European Council of Autistic People
Prof. M. Begoña Arenas
Associate professor
Universidad Internacional de la Rioja
Prof. T. Bartosz Kalinowski
Associate professor
Head of Centre for Excellence in Research - Knowbase,
University of Lodz
Prof. Miguel Perez Valls
Full Professor
University of Almería
Mr. Vassilis Tsoulis
Founder
YET NGO
Acknowledgements
To my daughter who always inspires me to be true to myself.
Images
Andreia Morgado
MAAT meeting
QUEST meeting
SHIFT meeting
ACTIVATE Workshop
LIFEx Presentation
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Growing up and in my early adulthood, I struggled to find my place. I often felt out of place and misunderstood, which made navigating the educational and professional landscape incredibly challenging. However, discovering my neurodivergent identity was a turning point. It allowed me to understand myself better and find my community. This personal revelation was central to shaping the vision and mission of IMPACTsci.
As the founder of IMPACTsci, I have leveraged my experience to develop inclusive educational methodologies and tools. We collaborate with key stakeholders in education and training both in Portugal and across Europe to maximise learners’ learning outcomes acquisition, independently of their neurotype. Our approach is grounded in Responsible Research and Innovation, ensuring that our methods are scientifically sound and socially responsible.
A cornerstone of my strategic approach is inspired in the “nothing about us, without us” slogan, which relies on this principle of participation and it has been used by Advocacy Organisations world wide. I believe, and know to be true, that all neurotypes bring a different set of strengths and have specific needs when it comes to work. However, we know that people with disabilities struggle to find meaningful work even when having the right set of skills. Therefore, at IMPACTsci, I have tried (and achieved so far) that a majority of our employees are neurodivergent, all external experts are neurodivergent as well, and we always work to find neurodivergent people or organisations in our procurement activities. We aim to empower neurodivergent people, not only through our research and services but directly by contracting them as well. We do this not only because neurodivergent people deserve it but also because they bring a very differential skill set that is very valuable for our activities and ensures our approach is always innovative, inclusive and accessible.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
As a late identified AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD), I had to overcome obstacles and I am happy to share some key learnings and advice from my journey:
• One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the power of passion and authenticity." When you align your work with your core values and passions, it becomes a source of joy and fulfilment. This intrinsic motivation drives you to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals.
• Self-belief is crucial, especially when you feel like the only one pursuing a particular path. There were times when I doubted my ability to make an impact but believing in myself and my vision kept me moving forward. Trust your instincts and have confidence in your unique perspective.
• Embrace your neurodivergent traits as strengths rather than obstacles. Our brains are wired differently and that diversity is what drives innovation and creativity. Appreciate your unique cognitive profile and leverage it to approach problems from new angles while working with your brain's natural rhythms.
• Surround yourself with people who understand and support your journey. Whether through mentorship, collaboration or community groups, having a network of like-minded individuals provides encouragement and helps you stay resilient.
• Stay curious, seek out new knowledge and be willing to pivot when necessary. This mindset will help you navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.
• Always embrace failure as it is in failure than lessons can be learned.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
My goal for IMPACTsci is to continue the commitment to supporting and empowering neurodivergent individuals. I aim to expand our impact by increasing our team of neurodivergent employees and external experts and launching our apprenticeship programme in the coming year. This program, aligned with our pledge as members of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships, will provide valuable opportunities for neurodivergent individuals to gain practical experience and build meaningful careers.
In addition, I plan to continue leveraging our research projects and corporate training initiatives to empower a broader range of learners and create more inclusive ecosystems. Our focus will be on developing and implementing innovative educational methodologies that cater to diverse cognitive profiles, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
I also aim to deepen our cooperation with key national and international stakeholders to share best practises, co-create impactful projects and amplify our efforts to promote neuroaffirmative practises. These collaborations are instrumental in driving systemic change and fostering environments where all individuals are valued and supported.
Through these efforts, I strive to create a ripple effect of positive change, not only within our organisation but also across the broader community. At IMPACTsci, our vision for the future is clear: to support and empower the maximum number of neurodivergent individuals, fostering a world where everyone can achieve their full potential.
