The Manager Effect:
What’s Needed to Build and Sustain Neuroinclusive Workplaces that Benefit All Employees
Join NEXT for AUTISM at this in-person panel event on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the University of California, Los Angeles (Tamkin Auditorium).
Hear from autistic leaders and engage in conversations about how businesses, especially managers, can build neuroinclusive workplaces that will have long-term benefits for the entire team. We will also share findings from NEXT's recent survey of autistic employees, "Inside the Autistic Workforce," on the importance of trust and psychological safety.
At right, a clip from the 2025 panel discussion with Kelli Fisher, Social Media Manager, Spectrum Designs and NEXT Gen board member.
This will be the 4th in-person panel hosted by NEXT and The Anita Bhatia Foundation for Tomorrow. These discussions bring together top voices in the autism community, business leaders, and organizations looking to make a difference. Email [email protected] with any questions you may have.
Moderator
Dr. Kerry Magro, Ed.D., Award-winning Autistic Professional Speaker, Best-selling Author, Nonprofit leader, and Entertainment Consultant
Dr. Magro was nonspeaking until age 2.5 and diagnosed with autism at age 4; he did not begin speaking in complete sentences until age 7. Today, he has spoken at more than 1,500 events, including two TEDx Talks and a Talks at Google presentation, sharing his lived experience and expertise on autism, neurodiversity, inclusion, education, employment, and self-advocacy.
Kerry serves as an autism consultant for Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning Love on the Spectrum U.S. and HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher, and he was hired as a writer for PBS KIDS’ Carl the Collector, which features PBS KIDS’ first autistic lead character. He is also CEO and President of KFM Making A Difference, a nonprofit that has provided more than 150 scholarships for autistic students and 27 small-business grants supporting disability employment.
Kerry is the author of several Amazon best-selling books, including Supporting Your Autism Journey and Autistics on Autism. His advocacy and community work have been featured on NBC’s TODAY, CBS News, FOX, and Upworthy, and his videos have been viewed more than 35 million times. He also regularly presents to companies on neurodiversity in the workplace and leadership.
Panelists
Christine Aurigemma, CPACC, Workforce Strategy Consultant; Former Senior Manager, Diversity Sourcing, Pfizer
Christine spent 28 years at Pfizer. Profoundly deaf since age three and self-identified as neurodivergent, she spent 25 of those years leading analytical chemistry teams in drug discovery research. In her last three years at Pfizer, she moved into workforce strategy as Senior Manager, Diversity Sourcing, leading the company's disability and neurodiversity inclusion initiatives. She drove the redesign of Pfizer's disability inclusion strategy and built a dedicated talent pipeline of disabled and neurodivergent college students for the company's competitive summer internship program. She created Pfizer's neurodiversity hiring program, which grew from a pilot in Digital to a scaled launch in R&D. She also co-founded the company's first global Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group (ERG), which grew to more than 1,000 members on four continents in its first year.
Today, Christine advises early-stage companies on workforce strategy, inclusive design, and hiring for specialized scientific roles. As a gubernatorial appointee to the California State Rehabilitation Council, she advises the state's Department of Rehabilitation on employment for people with disabilities. She also serves on the Board of Directors of TDI for Access, a nonprofit advocating for equal access to communication technology and media for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind.
Jillian Barber, Senior Director, Qualitative Research, Sago
Jillian is a Senior Director of Quantitative Research at Sago, where she transforms complex human experiences into high-impact strategies that drive organizational success. Over her career, she has spearheaded global research initiatives, converting intricate data into decisive, business-critical insights for top-tier brands, non-profits, and public sector leaders.
Recently, Jillian led the quantitative research for NEXT for AUTISM’s groundbreaking national workplace research initiative, directing both a study of autistic employees and the subsequent Manager Effect study of U.S. managers- a pivotal body of work that explored how workplace environments, organizational culture, and management practices shape employment experiences for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Her research consistently unlocks the precise attitudes, behaviors, and systemic conditions that drive employee engagement, positioning her at the forefront of modern workplace inclusion and employee experience strategy.
Distinguished by her rare ability to pair uncompromising analytical rigor with pragmatic, human-centered execution, Jillian is a trusted partner to senior leaders seeking to turn raw evidence into competitive advantage. Her work doesn't just measure organizational culture—it actively establishes new benchmarks for how diverse talent, leadership, and operational performance intersect. She is passionate about using research to build more inclusive workplaces where individual strengths are recognized, supported, and thrive.
Spencer Harte, Actress, Opera Singer, and Host
Spencer is an actress, opera singer, and host. She had a recurring role on the groundbreaking Netflix show, “Atypical,” and a co-starring role on NBC’s Emmy-nominated, fan favorite, “Parenthood”. Spencer has appeared in several award-winning short films and has been asked to reprise her lead role from one of those shorts in the feature film version, filming soon. She is currently in production on a Disney+Hulu show that will air in early 2027. Spencer was nominated for best comedic performance by an actress at The Hollywood Fringe Festival for her role in “Ride or Die - A Hip Hop Musical”. She has sung solo at The White House and The United Nations as well as, the Pantages Theater for the “Light Up The Blues” concert. Spencer has performed with the Los Angeles Opera Community Opera, the National Children’s Chorus and was awarded First Place in Performance at the INAP awards in Vancouver, Canada. She served as an autism ambassador when, as a Chinese adoptee, she was invited to China to perform at various venues to help spread autism awareness and acceptance. Spencer regularly hosts on the red carpet for The Ed Asner Family Center events and has had her own chat show, “Harte to Heart” on the Autism Network. When she is not at her beloved job at Funko Hollywood, she spends much of her free time advocating for the autism community, of which she is a proud member.
Kurt Iobst, Co-Founder and Global President, Neuroforce, Salesforce
Kurt is a passionate advocate and leader for Neurodiversity inclusion and empowerment. As the Global President and co-founder of the Neuroforce BRG at Salesforce, he is dedicated to breaking down barriers, fostering understanding, and paving a path for the neurodiversity community to thrive in society. A storyteller by nature, Kurt shares his own experiences as a late-diagnosed Autistic professional. Kurt is focused on creating a workspace where differences are celebrated and embraced. He draws on his backgrounds in both education and technology to provide him with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the neurodiversity community, as well as the potential they possess to contribute uniquely to the world. He has been a featured speaker at several events, not limited to but including the world’s largest tech conference CES, M-Enabling, Disability:IN, as well as Salesforce’s annual event, Dreamforce.
THANKS TO OUR GRANTEE COLLABORATORS
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR HOST
Special thanks to UCLA and UCLA-CART for generously donating their space and services for the event.
NEXT for AUTISM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2025 PANEL
Below are links to the three past panel discussions, a recent webinar on the importance of listening in the workplace, as well as free resources for employees and employers.
