Purpose at Deloitte David Martinez
Purpose at Deloitte

Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace

A Neurodivergent professional embraces their true self and helps others find theirs at Deloitte

Their role at Deloitte: Solution Consultant, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Kansas City. A Marine Corps veteran, David learned about Deloitte from a veterans’ organization while completing their degree in business analysis through the GI Bill. David, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, is autistic, and was able to connect through a recruiter with the Neurodiversity@Deloitte program. “I was really open with the recruiter about being autistic,” David recalls. They joined Deloitte in 2021 as a business analytics consultant. “I’ve felt I’ve been able to be open about being neurodivergent since the day I started – I’ve never had any fear of that,” they say.

Purpose in action: Soon after joining Deloitte, David found their community in a number of ways. Their openness to discuss neurodiversity led to speaking roles at Deloitte events, and David soon helped create the National Neurodiversity Network, which offers neurodivergent professionals at Deloitte resources, advice, and a sense of community. “People can to talk about specific challenges of being neurodivergent in a professional setting,” David says. “I feel that people will understand exactly where I’m coming from.” David also works to bring awareness to the tools and standards that neurodivergent people may require, such as audio captioning. “And I feel like there are other people out there like me,” they say. “So, when I see something that doesn’t work for me, I figure if I talk about it, then it’ll probably help someone else too.” They also act as a mentor and connection point with new Deloitte professionals, and in the LGBTQIA+ and Allies Community. David is exploring their Indigenous roots to the Taíno people of the Caribbean and has connected their Indigenous identity to their nonbinary identity, helping lead intersectional events with the Native American, Pacific Islander, and Allies Community.

Impact: Because of their support for inclusivity at Deloitte, David received the 2024 US Purpose MVP Award, which recognizes professionals who are making an impact that matters and contributing to Deloitte’s collective purpose. For David, Deloitte’s inclusive spirit has helped support their own journey, and they feel empowered to help others. “I came out as nonbinary about two years ago, and I was able to get to that point largely because trans and nonbinary people at Deloitte were talking to me about their experience,” David says. Through that process, David says, they were also able to hone in on their two-spirited identity, a Taíno identification that exists outside the male-female binary, and has explored that concept in the Native American, Pacific Islander, and Allies and LGTBQIA+ and Allies communities. “There are so many ways that you can feel included at Deloitte,” David says. “Leaders really work to create brave spaces so that people can feel comfortable being themselves. I was able to come out as nonbinary and embrace my identities in part because of the support I’ve received here.”

“And I feel like there are other people out there like me. So, when I see something that doesn’t work for me, I figure if I talk about it, then it’ll probably help someone else too.”

Read more about how we lead with purpose and advance equity

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