Nacho Ruiz Hen’s powerful talk challenges society’s perception of neurodivergence, particularly bipolar disorder and ADHD, arguing that these conditions should be recognized as strengths rather than liabilities. The speaker shares a deeply personal journey—from hospitalization in a psychiatric ward to rediscovering purpose and building a thriving life. Through radical transparency, he sheds light on the struggles of bipolar disorder, including stigma, financial struggles, career instability, and suicidal ideation, while also highlighting the resilience, creativity, and visionary thinking that often accompany neurodivergent minds.
The speech begins with a provocative hiring dilemma: given two equally qualified candidates, who would you choose—someone neurotypical or someone openly neurodivergent? This question frames the central argument: society often underestimates neurodivergent individuals, failing to see the brilliance that comes from adversity.
The narrative then delves into the speaker’s lowest moments—being hospitalized, feeling broken, and believing his professional life was over. However, a turning point came when he embraced his diagnosis, restructured his life, and leveraged his neurodivergence as a superpower rather than a setback. He illustrates how his bipolar mind enabled him to be more creative and develop unshakable resilience—qualities shared by historical leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Building on this, the talk introduces four major initiatives designed to redefine neurodivergence as a strength and create impact on a broader scale:
The speech closes with a compelling call to action: embrace neurodivergence, challenge biases, and recognize it as a source of innovation and strength. The next time you work with, coach, or hire someone who thinks differently, ask yourself—what if their perspective is exactly what the world needs?
Nacho Ruiz Hens was born in Madrid in 1981 and has lived in New York since 2013. In 2020, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder—a moment that completely shattered his world. Over the course of nearly two years, he was hospitalized twice in a psychiatric facility. At one point, he refused medication and found himself in a state of complete loss of control. Professionally, he faced significant instability, being fired from two jobs and cycling through four different positions in just five years. His personal life was also deeply impacted—after 15 years of marriage, he and his wife decided to separate. Overwhelmed by it all, he struggled with dark and persistent thought patterns that made him feel utterly helpless and hopeless.
For an entire year, Nacho withdrew from the world, spending most of his time lying on the couch in complete isolation. It wasn’t until he reconnected with his passion that his journey toward self-acceptance and transformation truly began.