Introduction:
Psychological safety is the cornerstone of innovation in the workplace. Tara May, CEO of tech services company Aspiritech, understands the significance of creating a secure and inclusive environment for her team. Aspiritech, where more than 90 percent of employees are autistic, exemplifies how strong, empathetic leadership can drive innovation and success. This profile explores Tara May’s leadership philosophy, the mission of Aspiritech, and her journey as a transformative leader in the tech industry.
The Aspiritech Mission:
Aspiritech’s mission is to provide meaningful careers for individuals on the autism spectrum by offering various tech services, including quality assurance, user experience testing, data services, and more. The company’s impressive client list includes BOSE, Goldman Sachs, Aon, and Fortune 500 companies. Under Tara May’s leadership, Aspiritech has witnessed a 40 percent increase in new client revenue.
The team at Aspiritech works with diverse clients, ranging from financial institutions to pharmaceutical companies and tech startups. Their services encompass software quality assurance, data migration, data analysis, and Salesforce cleanup. Tara May highlights her team’s passion for user experience and excellence, emphasizing their commitment to identifying and rectifying issues.
Deep-Seated Values:
Tara May’s leadership philosophy is rooted in her upbringing in rural Michigan, where her parents instilled in her the values of treating everyone equally and working hard. She believes that a workplace should bring out the best in people by fostering inclusivity and kindness. May’s commitment to creating a culture of kindness and psychological safety allows her team to thrive and innovate.
Journey of a Transformative Leader:
Tara May embarked on her career in journalism as a crime reporter before transitioning to the tech industry. She recognized the dearth of tech-savvy leadership and saw an opportunity to become an expert in the field. She held leadership positions in digital strategy and media products, achieving significant growth in digital key performance indicators and revenue.
May acknowledges that the tech industry, while sometimes lacking in female leadership, offers unique opportunities for women to shine. Data-driven success metrics in tech make it harder to ignore or promote based on bravado or ego. Overcoming early career obstacles, including changing her appearance and voice to fit stereotypes, Tara May embraced her authentic self and became a role model for women in leadership.
Neurodiversity and Work:
As the parent of an autistic son, Tara May has a personal connection to Aspiritech’s mission. She and her husband fully embrace their son’s autistic identity and believe it is fundamental to who he is. Under May’s leadership, Aspiritech has launched NeuroGrowth, an educational consultancy aimed at making workplaces more neurodivergent-friendly.
NeuroGrowth offers training on addressing stress and anxiety in the workplace, improving communication for visual and auditory learners, enhancing performance management, and promoting workplace inclusion. Tara May highlights that neurodiversity can be a competitive advantage when individuals are provided with the right environment.
Building a Culture of Kindness and Innovation:
In her first year at Aspiritech, Tara May led her team through rapid change, including launching LinkedIn Learning, revamping PTO policies, and expanding client revenue. The team embraced these challenges, demonstrating their commitment to innovation and growth. Employee engagement surveys reveal that more than 95 percent of the team is highly engaged and satisfied with their work.
Tara May’s leadership style is grounded in active listening. She believes in removing obstacles, solving problems, and crafting a shared vision for the organization’s future as a team. Under her guidance, Aspiritech thrives as an inclusive and innovative workplace, emphasizing kindness, empathy, and psychological safety.
Data Points:
- 95% of the team is highly engaged and satisfied with their work (Source: Aspiritech 2022 Employee Engagement Survey).
- Autistic team members can be up to 140% more productive than average employees when matched with a job that fits their skills (Source: Harvard Business Review).
Aspiritech achieved more than 40% growth in new business in 2022 under May’s leadership.