How I Became an Executive with ADHD (The 3 Shifts That Changed Everything)

February 16, 2026

If you have ADHD or suspect you might, this episode is for you. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 40s, after my entire corporate career.

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EPISODE SUMMARY

If you have ADHD or suspect you might, this episode is for you. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 40s, after my entire corporate career. Here are the three shifts that helped me thrive as an executive with ADHD. Register for my delegation workshop at morewomenpromoted.com/delegate
I spent years believing my ADHD behaviors meant I didn't belong at the table. I was always late to meetings, struggled with detailed strategy documents, and watched my neurotypical peers seem to breeze through tasks that felt impossible for me. But here's what I learned: people with ADHD often make exceptional executives.
In this episode, I share my journey of getting diagnosed with ADHD at 43, why middle management is actually the hardest stage for people with ADHD, and the three specific shifts that allowed me to not just survive but thrive in executive roles.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL LEARN:

  • Why people with ADHD make great executives
  • The one weakness-focused strategy that kept me stuck and what I did instead to finally break through to VP
  • Why "eat the frog first" advice doesn't work for ADHD brains and what to do instead
  • How to design your role and team to leverage your ADHD superpowers while delegating your weak spots
  • Why middle management might be harder for you than senior leadership (and why that's actually good news)
Whether you have ADHD, suspect you might, or just feel like conventional productivity advice isn't working for you, this episode will give you practical strategies to thrive in leadership.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Delegation Workshop: morewomenpromoted.com/delegate
• Episode on Morning Routines - Apple | Spotify
• Episode on Delegation - Apple | Spotify

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Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward and we can take it from there.

Remember, there’s room for all of us at the table.

Hi, I’m Katy McFee
A former VP and EVP who knows how hard it is to break into executive leadership. After years of feeling stuck, I figured it out and now, as a certified executive coach, I help other women do the same. I’ve supported hundreds in landing the promotions they deserve with strategies that make success achievable, without the years of trial and error.