Blind In The Boardroom: How Kirk Adams Became Disability Inclusion’s Secret Weapon

02/03/2025 52 min Temporada 2 Episodio 58

Listen "Blind In The Boardroom: How Kirk Adams Became Disability Inclusion’s Secret Weapon "

Episode Synopsis

What if blindness is a superpower?

Meet Kirk Adams—a visionary leader who’s spent 30 years shattering barriers for people with disabilities; he is on a mission to ignite a revolution in disability inclusion.

After losing his sight at age 5, Kirk rose to become CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind and sat on numerous boards including the World Blind Union. He has two master’s degrees and, in 2019, earned his PhD. Now, he’s advising startups, consulting with Fortune 500 companies, and proving that disability isn’t a liability—it’s a dividend.

🔥 In this inspiring interview, Kirk reveals:

✅ How he’s building the mentorship he never had as a blind child
✅ The high-impact projects accelerating workplace inclusion (spoiler: they’re game-changers)
✅ Behind-the-scenes of his groundbreaking book The Disability Dividend—launched to transform hiring in 2024
✅ Why companies like Google and Microsoft are betting BIG on disability tech

Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, or someone who believes in inclusive innovation, Kirk’s story will make you rethink what’s possible. Ready to supercharge your bottom line and your purpose? Watch now—and discover why disability inclusion is the future of business.

FEATURED ON THE SHOW:

Dr. Kirk Adams, CEO
https://drkirkadams.com/
Innovative Impact LLC Consulting: https://www.innovativeimpact.consulting/
Newsletter: https://drkirkadams.com/newsletter/
Podcast: https://sites.libsyn.com/542867/site

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

How he became blind at five years old
The skills blind children are taught
Why self-advocacy is one of the skills blind children are taught or should be taught
Why he decided to launch a consulting firm
About some of the startups he’s either advising or helping to build
How the national discourse and policies on DEIA is impacting his business
Why he decided to pursue his PhD at 61 years old
Why effective leaders are part of networks
Her definition of a no limit life

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