FINALIST 2025
Mikaela Sanchez was just one of the many students who struggle with the everyday challenges of being neurodiverse. Sadly, there are some who never make it to graduating, due to a lack of support.
Now a successful software engineer, Mikaela credits her success in part to the support she received from Foothold, including a funded fast-tracked diagnosis of ADHD.
In this exclusive interview, released to mark ADHD Awareness Month, we sat down with Mikaela to hear all about her experience growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, and how her diagnosis and follow-up support enabled her to reach her potential and achieve her dream of working in engineering.
Research shows an increased incidence of neurodiversity in engineers like Mikaela. In this video, she shares:
👉 What it’s like to learn, work and communicate with ADHD – and the challenges and strengths it brings
👉 What having an interest-based nervous system means for people with ADHD
👉 How her diagnosis changed her outlook on herself and her life
If you or someone you know has links to engineering and know or think you are neurodivergent, find support on our website: https://tinyurl.com/2vdzkzwc
Foothold is a charity dedicated to supporting engineers and their families through life’s challenges.
Established by engineers for engineers, we offer mental health resources, financial assistance, and wellbeing support to help individuals thrive in their personal and professional lives.
With over 100 years of history, we are committed to creating a compassionate and resilient engineering community. Learn more at myfoothold.org.
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