ADHD-Driven Dev Practices with Paige Watson

# ADHD-Driven Dev Practices:

ADHD can feel like chaos — a mind racing with ideas, a desk full of cold, half-drunk coffee cups, and a to-do list that’s both overwhelming and strangely invisible. For years, I struggled to stay afloat as a developer, battling hyper-focus, memory issues, and constant distraction. Then I discovered something surprising: the practices that help teams write better code — like Test-Driven Development (TDD), Collaborative Programming, and Discovery Trees — also helped me work with my brain, not against it.

In this talk, I share how ADHD shaped my journey as a developer and how quality coding practices became career-saving coping mechanisms. These tools helped me focus, manage complexity, and collaborate better — all while reducing burnout and improving the code we shipped. Whether you live with ADHD or just want to work smarter in a world full of distractions, you'll walk away with practical techniques and a fresh appreciation for how neurodiversity can be a powerful asset in tech.
### Learning Outcomes

• Understand how ADHD traits such as hyper-focus, memory challenges, and emotional sensitivity affect software development — and how these traits can be turned into strengths with supportive practices.
• Learn how Test-Driven Development (TDD), Mob Programming, and Discovery Trees reduce cognitive load and enhance productivity — especially for neurodivergent developers.
• Discover practical strategies for creating a neurodiversity-friendly team culture that benefits everyone by promoting structure, collaboration, and sustainable work habits.

About the speaker:
I recognize the importance of embracing 'Quality Software as Craft' principles.
Crafting software is a multifaceted challenge that demands exceptional talent to address not only problem-solving but also to ensure the software is designed for ease of maintenance and future growth. My experience includes guiding numerous teams in developing well-crafted software solutions and evolving their processes to become high-performing, scalable units.
I am dedicated to elevating developers into cohesive, high-performing teams capable of swiftly delivering top-tier software that meets the evolving needs of clients.
I am also an active speaker and educator, conducting workshops at various corporations and conferences around the globe to share insights and strategies for excellence in software development.