Autism and Leadership: a “FELI-Good” Story

There are moments in life when two parts of your world, parts that have shaped you, challenged you, and defined you, suddenly collide in the most meaningful way. This week’s podcast episode of Strength Happens was one of those moments for me.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Lindsey, a mom, advocate, and participant in the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute (FELI). On the surface, her story is about a class project, engineers coming together to fund an inclusive playground for children with autism at Autism Inspired Academy in Clearwater, Florida. But it’s so much more than that.

Where It All Started for Me

FELI isn’t just another leadership program in my world. It represents one of the first leadership spaces I stepped into during one of the hardest chapters of my life. When my dad became ill with cancer, everything shifted. And when he passed, I found myself stepping into roles and responsibilities I wasn’t sure I was ready for, both personally and professionally.

My dad’s company, People Map, wasn’t just a business. It was his legacy. Built around understanding people, how they think, lead, communicate, it shaped the way I view leadership to this day. That season pushed me into rooms like FELI, where I began learning how to lead not just with knowledge, but with resilience, vulnerability, and purpose. So sitting across from Lindsey, hearing about her FELI 2026 experience - it felt full circle.

A Project That Became a Mission

Lindsey didn’t just show up to FELI to bring her leadership skills into her personal life. But when during the first class, her cohort began to share ideas for a class project. At first she was quiet….then she spoke up. She shared her experiences as a mom to a child with Autism and the potential need for support at local school for kids with Autism.

As a mom she understood that something as simple as a playground is not simple at all when your child can’t access it. And instead of accepting that reality, she spoke up.

What followed was the power of leadership in action, her FELI class coming together, using their skills, influence, and networks to raise funds and build an inclusive playground.

The Moment That Stayed With Me

There was a moment in our conversation that stopped me in my tracks.

Lindsey said:

“My daughter is going to get to swing because of this class.”

It’s such a simple sentence. But if you’re a parent in the disability community, you know, it’s not simple at all. It’s everything. Because it’s not just about a swing. It’s about access. It’s about inclusion. It’s about a child being seen.

That moment hit something deep in me.

Because it brought together two things that are incredibly close to my heart:

• The world of leadership and engineering - where ideas turn into action

• The disability community - where those actions change lives in very real, very tangible ways

The Kind of Leadership That Matters

We talk a lot about leadership in professional spaces, strategy, innovation, outcomes. But this is the kind of leadership that stays with you. The kind that listens. The kind that notices who is being left out. The kind that says, “We can do better,” and then actually does something about it. Lindsey and her FELI class didn’t just build a playground. They built belonging.

Why This Story Matters

This episode reminded me why I care so deeply about both of these worlds. Because when leadership is done right, when it’s rooted in empathy, lived experience, and courage, it has the power to change everyday moments in extraordinary ways. Like a child getting to swing. If you want to support the project, click here.

If you haven’t listened yet, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to hear Lindsey’s story. It’s a reminder that change doesn’t always start with big systems, it often starts with one person willing to speak up.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes to create something that will impact countless families for years to come