Katie Brown, a business owner with ADHD, runs three companies. She views ADHD as her superpower, helping her multitask, think creatively, and stay competitive. By embracing strategies like time management and project tools, she thrives in business despite challenges.
When you know, you know. 
Katie Brown was destined to be a business owner.
She’s at the head of not one, not two, but THREE companies. 
I guess the fact that she convinced people to pay for parties at her dad’s place to fund a year in Canada at the humble age of 16 was a dead giveaway.
So, what makes someone willingly juggle three full-on companies? It takes a special person. And Katie’s “special something” might surprise you.
It's being women in business with ADHD.
Interestingly, a few episodes ago, Jodine from Social Smarty also said her ADHD traits allowed her to do things that would sink other people in an instant. (You can find that episode here.)
It got me thinking. With so many adults now being diagnosed, I had to learn more.
But before we dive into that, let's get to know Katie’s 3 businesses!
Katie’s 3 Businesses
Remember the "Unite Against Covid" campaign?
That was Katie. With a degree and a career in marketing, she was already soaring, but she wanted to make a difference.
That's how Social Good was born. If managing social media and digital channels feels like trying to catch a slippery fish 
, Social Good does the heavy lifting for you and helps your team build confidence.
Next up is Te Hapori Matihiko, which means "the digital community" in Māori. This company came about from Katie’s desire to support Māori in tech and digital spaces. The company hosts the Matihiko Awards and manages a growing community for Māori in tech.
And then there’s Te Ao Matihiko, a parent company providing board-level oversight for Te Hapori Matihiko and Te Matarau (a Māori tech association). It helps keep everything aligned and accountable.
So, where does Katie fit into all this? She’s the founder and director of Social Good, CEO of Te Hapori Matihiko, and sits on the board of Te Ao Matihiko.
Her team of four works remotely, with staff floating between the businesses depending on the needs.
Feeling dizzy yet? 
Same here. But Katie’s cool as a cucumber.
When I asked her how she manages it all, her answer? She’s a business owner with ADHD.
That was the point where all my plans for this episode went out the window.
ADHD: The Unexpected Superpower
Wait, what?
How does someone run a thriving business with ADHD when just hearing about it makes most of us feel overwhelmed?
Katie’s ADHD doesn’t just come with challenges. Contrary to what you may think, some traits are actually advantages that make her a business powerhouse.
Let's break it down.
Business Owner With ADHD: Multitasking Extraordinaire
Katie explains that the Māori word for ADHD is “aroretetini”, or “mind on many things”. It’s Katie’s superpower. It makes her highly adaptable and capable of managing complex, multifaceted roles, especially in dynamic environments.
Depending on how you look at it, being a female entrepreneur with ADHD could mean a lack of focus, and impulsiveness … OR it can explain why Katie’s name successfully features on the team members' list of several companies.
Where others struggle, she thrives.
Business Owner With ADHD: Creative Problem Solving
Katie’s ADHD brain thinks broadly and expansively, often allowing for big dreams, creative problem solving, and visionary plans. Just look at her career and you know what I mean.
Out of all the traits an entrepreneur needs to poses, out of the box thinking probably scores extremely high on the list of desired qualities.
Business Owner With ADHD: Empathy On Full Blast
Women in business with ADHD often care deeply about people and causes. Empathy fosters strong client relationships and contributes to a compassionate leadership style.
For Katie, it’s also an explanation for the sort of business she chooses to serve.
Business Owner With ADHD: Super Competitive
Ever raced the dishwasher? Katie has! Her competitiveness pushes her to work smarter and faster every day.
Katie’s ADHD Diagnosis
Although she’s now embraced ADHD as her strength, that wasn’t always the case.
When she was diagnosed a year ago, there was shock at first, but soon after came a big sense of relief. Finally, it all made sense. She realised her brain wasn’t wrong—it was just different.
Katie now sees what used to feel like a burden as an advantage. However, now that she's pregnant 
and off medication, she’s had to lean even more on strategies to run a thriving business with ADHD.
Strategies For A Successful Entrepreneur With ADHD
With a mix of self-awareness and practical tools, Katie keeps things running smoothly. As a business owner with ADHD, here's how she does it:
1. Time Management and Structure
Katie explains that most ADHD people will have lots of different talk-tracks happening in their brain all at once. She calls them her simmering pots, all asking for attention.
- Having a daily and weekly routine is an obvious place to start your strategies for a successful entrepreneur with ADHD.
- Katie also uses time-blocking techniques for focused work. The alarm on her phone is her best friend, and when it’s focus time, it’s banned from her workspace.
- Deadlines make Katie’s brain sing. It provides structure and a sense of urgency to help her combat procrastination and distraction.
- Likewise, breaking up large tasks into small manageable tasks is essential in managing ADHD symptoms without the aid of medication.
2. Project Management Tools
Trello is Katie’s go to for keeping tasks organised. Each project gets a Trello card with due dates and responsibilities clearly laid out.
To an often chaotic brain, this ensures nothing is overlooked.
3. Task Flexibility When All Else Fails
Sometimes, structure and boundaries are just not enough to run a thriving business with ADHD.
When Katie gets overwhelmed, she is kind to herself.
Instead of forcing herself to stick to the planned task, she switches to another, also necessary task (like tidying the lounge or folding laundry) and returns to the original work later. This way, she still makes progress without feeling stuck or frustrated.
Productivity maintained, ADHD tendencies managed. (
and )
4. Medication
Katie’s natural ADHD tendency is to follow a non-linear path to complete her tasks. She describes it like this: Normally I’ll have 10 pots simmering and I’ll be jumping from one pot to the next. When I’m on medications, I have no trouble to attend to one pot at a time.
Now diagnosed, Katie realised this is a strength as much as a challenge.
When she needs a clear and focused approach, Katie’s medication allows her to hyper-focus. (Gasp! 
THIS is what other people’s brains are like? )
5. Mindfulness of Her Energy Levels
Katie calls herself a "Lamborghini engine in a Toyota car" 
.
The trick for women in business with ADHD for who medication is not an option is to figure out how to put the brakes on the Lamborghini so that it works with the Toyota.
To make sure her mind and body are in sync, she tackles her toughest tasks in the morning when her energy is highest. Exercise also helps reign in the Lamborghini.
Women in Business With ADHD
ADHD often looks different in women than men. For guys, it might be the typical hyperactivity. For women like Katie, it’s all happening in the mind, and it can come with endless worry. She’s constantly questioning whether she’s doing enough or doing things right.
But now, with her diagnosis in hand, Katie’s learned to accept her brain’s quirks and roll with it. Her message to others: this is just how some brains work, and that’s okay.
Katie’s story is a great reminder that sometimes the things we think hold us back can actually push us forward. If you’re a female entrepreneur with ADHD (or even if you’re not!), Katie’s story shows that there’s always a way to turn challenges into opportunities. 
Feeling inspired by Katie’s story? If you’re a female entrepreneur with ADHD let us know how you harnessed your unique strengths and turned obstacles into opportunities. Because the more we talk about the challenges we face, the more we can help others overcome them. 
Connect With Katie Brown
Social Good is a wāhine-Māori owned digital communications agency specialising in marketing, social media, and digital training. Katie and her team use strategic, system-wide thinking to empower your teams, and deliver impactful communications that benefit both people and the planet. 
Explore more about Social Good:
Email: katie@socialgood.co.nz
Te Hapori Matihiko is a global community for Māori working, or aspiring to work in the digital or tech industries.
Discover more about Te Hapori Matihiko:
