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Valeriya Hjertenaes

Valeriya Hjertenaes Profile Photo

Neurodiversity & Sustainability Leadership Expert/Global Keynote Speaker/Podcast Host

I am a PhD-level expert in Neurodiversity and Sustainability Leadership, working at the intersection of human performance, social sustainability, and leadership in complex systems.

As a NEURODIVERGENT LEADER with LIVED EXPERIENCE of OCD, I approach leadership through the lens of cognitive diversity, precision, and structural resilience. My work repositions neurodiversity as a performance architecture — not an inclusion topic — strengthening decision intelligence, ethical rigor, and sustainable value creation.

I am the FOUNDER of the 5E ENABLERS Method™ — a circular SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP ARCHITECTURE FRAMEWORK ⭕️

Rooted in five strategic Enablers — EMPHATIZE, EVOLVE, EVALUATE, ENHANCE, EMPOWER— it is a regenerative performance system where cognitive diversity drives sustainable advantage ♻️

The framework equips boards and executive teams to translate human complexity into measurable decision intelligence, resilience, and long-term performance.

With 15+ years of cross-cultural leadership experience, I have held senior roles across multiple countries, continents, and sectors — including corporate consulting, international enterprises, charitable foundations, and human rights–focused initiatives across Eastern and Western Europe.

Fluent in seven languages and an authorized translator, I operate confidently in complex international and transnational environments where nuance, trust, and precision shape outcomes.

Alongside my executive work, I have been engaged in initiatives addressing transnational challenges and intersectional vulnerabilities affecting displaced and marginalized populations. As an adoptive parent of two children, my commitment to human sustainability is both professional and deeply lived.

As a Global Keynote Speaker, Author, Mentor, Coach, and Award-Winning Podcast Host, I support boards, executive teams, and institutions in building sustainable high-performance cultures.

I also host invitation-only executive leadership immersions and programs for senior leaders navigating complexity, responsibility, and long-horizon sustainability.

Keynotes | Board Briefings | Executive Workshops | Executive Leadership Immersions | Mentoring & Coaching | Advisory

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March 16, 2026

1,417 | Valeriya Hjertenaes Reframes Neurodiversity in the Boardroom

1,417 | Valeriya Hjertenaes Reframes Neurodiversity in the Boardroom Valeriya Hjertenaes is a PhD level expert in neurodiversity and sustainability leadership, working at the intersection of human performance, social sustainability, and leadership in complex systems. As a neurodivergent leader with lived experience of OCD, she approaches leadership through the lens of cognitive diversity, structural resilience, and decision intelligence. Her work reframes neurodiversity not as an inclusion topic but as a performance advantage that strengthens ethical leadership and long term value creation. Valeriya is the founder of the 5E Enablers Method™, a sustainable leadership framework built on five strategic principles: Empathize, Evolve, Evaluate, Enhance, and Empower. The model equips boards and executive teams to translate human complexity into measurable resilience, better decisions, and sustainable performance. With more than 15 years of cross cultural leadership experience ac…