From a Mental Institution to Finding Life's Purpose with Valeriya Hjertenaes

Step into a deeply moving, paradigm shifting, and tenderly human conversation with Valeriya Hjertenaes, PhD, neurodiversity and sustainability leadership expert, global keynote speaker, author, coach, and award winning podcast host, on this episode of Intimate Conversations: Dark Night to Divine Light.

Joining us from Norway at nearly midnight, Valeriya brings her lived experience, research, and heart to a conversation about what it means to be wired differently in a world built for someone else.

Valeriya shares the moment everything changed. While working in Ukrainian orphanages and navigating her first adoption, she experienced her first intrusive thought amid exhaustion and cognitive overload. Without a framework to understand what was happening, she spent two years struggling in silence before seeking professional help. Then, just three months after walking the red carpet at Cannes as a sustainable fashion advocate, she checked herself into a mental health institution for four weeks.

It was there, with limited phone access, that she discovered the term neurodiversity and found a new sense of purpose. She rebuilt her PhD around the subject, launched her podcast, and began transforming her personal experience into a mission to help others thrive.

We also talk about:

What neurodiversity means and how cognitive diversity contributes to human potential Valeriya's personal experience with OCD and her perspective on neurodivergent strengths How intrusive thoughts work and why having a thought does not define who you are The difference between masking and thriving as a neurodivergent person Why seeking mental health support can be an act of courage How to approach a neurodivergent child, partner, or colleague with curiosity instead of judgment The 5E ENABLERS Method: Empathize, Evolve, Evaluate, Enhance, and Empower How digital overload can affect focus, wellbeing, and cognitive performance The role of daily rituals, spaciousness, and self trust in supporting wellbeing Raising teenagers with openness about mental health How neurodiversity can reshape leadership, inclusion, and workplace culture Why collaboration, connection, and slowing down matter in an increasingly polarized world The difference between asking "How are you?" and genuinely wanting to know This episode is a reminder that being different does not mean being broken. Valeriya's story invites us to question old assumptions, recognize the strengths within cognitive diversity, and create enviro