Meet Brandon Slade

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Slade a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I got my resilience largely from my personal journey of navigating and overcoming significant learning challenges. Throughout high school, I struggled with academics, and it wasn’t until college that I recognized my brain worked differently from my peers. Receiving my ADHD diagnosis became a pivotal moment; instead of seeing it as a limitation, I was driven to better understand how the ADHD brain works.

This understanding, cultivated through my own experiences, led me to teach special education for 12 years. Later, in 2018, I founded Untapped Learning with a mission to help students facing similar executive function challenges, particularly those with ADHD and dyslexia. A core part of my work now is to help these students build their own confidence and resilience, a focus born from my own path of turning adversity into a source of strength and a deep-seated desire to empower others based on what I went through.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As the founder of Untapped Learning, my professional focus is on helping students from middle school through college overcome executive function challenges, particularly those with ADHD and dyslexia. Through coaching, we build crucial skills like organization and time management, aiming for their success not just academically, but in life.  

What’s most exciting is seeing students transform as they realize these skills are learnable. We strive to ease school-related tension for families and empower students with practical strategies like routines and self-advocacy, guiding them with a personalized approach.  

I started Untapped Learning in 2018, a path deeply influenced by my own academic struggles, my ADHD diagnosis, and my 12 years in special education. Our brand is built on providing actionable support

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

A deep, personal understanding of neurodiversity, especially ADHD: This stemmed from my own academic journey and subsequent ADHD diagnosis, which drove me to truly understand it.  

Advice: Immerse yourself in your area of passion. Learn from diverse sources, including personal stories and reflection, to gain comprehensive insight.

Resilience and perseverance: Navigating and overcoming my own academic challenges was fundamental in building this quality.  

Advice: View challenges not as setbacks, but as crucial learning opportunities. Actively develop self-advocacy and use routines to maintain consistency.

Practical experience in education and skill-building: My time teaching in special education were invaluable, highlighting the need for actionable, real-world strategies.  

Advice: Prioritize gaining hands-on experience in your field. Focus on how to translate theoretical knowledge into tangible skills and practical support that can genuinely help others.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

What’s been most powerful for me in overcoming challenges is deep self-understanding, particularly recognizing how my brain works, coupled with proactively seeking effective strategies.

In this, the value of mentors is immense, which is why they’re central to Untapped Learning. Our mentors help students improve crucial executive function skills and build a foundation for success. They act as guides, helping students harness their strengths and unlock their full potential to navigate obstacles. Having that trusted support is the most helpful part of this journey.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

None

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made