Neurodiversity training founder delivering ‘measurable change’ earns Young Professional of the Year prize
The founder of a training firm that has delivered measurable behaviour change for employees through neurodiversity training has been named Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year.
Iveta Pudilova, founder of National Neurodiversity Training, was recognised for delivering bespoke neurodiversity training programmes.
Neurodiversity describes the natural variation in how people’s brains work, think, communicate and process information.
It includes people with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia.
National Neurodiversity Training helps organisations understand these differences and adapt their working practices so that neurodivergent employees can thrive.
Iveta was named the 2026 Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in front of 385 guests at Birmingham Town Hall, having also won the Training and Education category.
The event, organised by Future Faces, the young professionals’ arm of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, was hosted by BBC Radio WM presenter PJ Ellis.
Headline sponsor was Arden University, while entertainment was provided by Undercover Artists Ltd.
National Neurodiversity Training provides training to organisations including Arcadis, Popeyes, the University of Birmingham and Transport for London. Each programme is tailored to the culture and needs of the organisation.
Over the past year, the company has trained more than 1,600 people across the UK and internationally.
This included the first neurodiversity training session delivered at the University of Birmingham, which was attended by 300 managers.
The company’s programmes are designed to create measurable changes in workplace behaviour.
At one client organisation, the proportion of employees disclosing a neurodivergent condition increased from 15 per cent to 47 per cent following the training programme.
In follow-up feedback, 83 per cent of managers reported that they had adapted their leadership style and communication to better meet the needs of neurodivergent employees.
This reflects a more flexible approach to leadership, recognising that neurodivergent employees may have different ways of communicating, processing information and working.
National Neurodiversity Training designs role-specific learning pathways tailored to individual confidence levels and incorporates the lived experience of neurodivergent employees into its learning design.
The company also uses AI-driven maturity assessments to personalise learning paths and measure the return on investment.
Beyond her role at National Neurodiversity Training, Iveta serves as chair of Aston University’s Centre for Enterprise and Innovation where she advises on curriculum design and accessibility in learning, as well as directly supporting students.
Award applications were judged by 21 judges across six judging panels.
Chair of the judges, the GBCC’s membership director Lillian Elekan, said: “It’s wonderful to see how Iveta’s journey as a young professional has developed, from winning a category award in 2024 to being crowned the overall GBYPY winner in 2026.
"She has gone from strength to strength, growing her businesses and using her lived experience to help organisations become more inclusive of neurodivergent people. This recognition is thoroughly deserved.”
Winners in full:
Greater Birmingham Apprentice of the Year
Shalom Gallagher - Accenture
GBYPY - Creative Industries and Culture
Sophie Allen - Serrano Media
GBYPY - Digital, Tech & Innovation - Sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College
Carys Hanson - KPMG
GBYPY - Sustainability and ESG
Ellie Larkin - Jacobs
GBYPY - Events and Hospitality - Sponsored by University College Birmingham
Aimee Hawkins - Lichfield District Council
GBYPY – Finance - Sponsored by Canaccord Wealth
James Kidd - XPS Group
GBYPY – Legal - Sponsored by Forvis Mazars
Poppi Hall - Enoch Evans LLP
GBYPY - Built Environment and Engineering
Priya Jadav - Balfour Beatty VINCI
GBYPY - People and Wellbeing - Sponsored by Partners Wealth Management
Georgia Hannant - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
GBYPY - Marketing, Sales, and Communications
Rebecca Snoad - Spark Media
GBYPY - Start-ups - Sponsored by Birmingham City University
Samantha Storey - The Foodies Club
GBYPY – Entrepreneurship - Sponsored by Birmingham City University
Emma Jones - AllinAll Events Ltd
GBYPY - Charity and Social Impact - Sponsored by South and City College
Zoe Maxfield - Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
GBYPY - Training and Education
Iveta Pudilova - National Neurodiversity Training
Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2026 - Sponsored by Arden University
Iveta Pudilova - National Neurodiversity Training
Future Faces President’s Award
Paul Faulkner - Barclays
Future Faces Ambassador Award
Prabjot Ragbotra - Mitchells and Butlers
Pictured: from left - Future Faces president Sarah Griffiths, Professor Dilshad Sheikh (Arden University), Iveta Pudilova and Future Faces manager Sophie Poduval-Morrell
