September 30
Celebrating the 300th Episode with a Special Guest—My Son, Markus.
For this milestone episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, I wanted to do something meaningful and personal. So instead of interviewing a high-profile guest, I invited my son, Markus. While we usually only feature women, there have been a few exceptions—like Dr. Ned Hallowell, my husband, and Markus, who has been on twice before.
Now, Markus is at a different stage in life. He’s just graduated from college after navigating a challenging academic journey with ADHD and dyslexia, including attending three high schools and changing majors multiple times. Despite being told he wasn’t “college material,” Markus has proven that those labels mean nothing in the long run. He’s thriving in his first job in recruitment consulting and has gained a lot of wisdom along the way.
In this episode, Markus shares advice that blew me away. He talks about what it means to take risks, to stay hungry in a fast-paced career, and how to push through setbacks with resilience. His story is not just about overcoming challenges, but about thriving and finding success on his own terms.
Join us for this special conversation, filled with lessons on embracing discomfort, managing ADHD in academic and professional settings, and building resilience in both life and work. You may even catch a glimpse of yourself or your children in Markus’s story.
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"When you're very young, you should enter industries that generally involve more risk. However, I also believe that certain personality types find risk important."
- Markus Stefani
"If you can sell anything to anyone, you're smarter than everyone."
- Markus Stefani
"I never saw it as a reason to give up if someone didn’t believe in me or told me to do something differently."
- Markus Stefani
"Giving up never occurred to me. I just focused on finding different ways to accomplish the same goal.
You shouldn't view life as that restrictive. It should be seen with a much broader perspective."
- Markus Stefani
"If you're negative, you won't last in competitive industries. You have to be resilient and keep moving forward."
- Markus Stefani
"The best three things you can have in life are your own freedom, being your own boss, and controlling your own income."
- Markus Stefani
- Markus, Tracy Otsuka's son, discusses his new job in recruitment consulting, which involves both client and candidate-side work.
- He emphasizes the importance of taking risks in his career, influenced by his family background and belief in betting on oneself.
- Markus reflects on his college experience at NYU, including his decision to stay despite initial challenges, and how changing his major helped him enjoy his time there.
[20:00 - 40:00] Adapting to New York City and Handling Rejection
- Markus shares his journey of adapting to life in New York City, from initial dislike to appreciation of the fast-paced environment.
- He discusses the intense job rejection process in his industry (sales and finance) and the importance of persistence and understanding the industry.
- Markus attributes his resilience to his ability to handle rejection and maintain belief in his own abilities, emphasizing the importance of a broad perspective.
[40:00 - 50:59] Career Development and Advice for ADHD Students
- Markus explains how his sociology degree provides valuable insights for his career, offering a broad understanding of systems and human behavior.
- He offers advice for students with ADHD and dyslexia, emphasizing the importance of organization, consistency, and finding methods that work for the individual.
- Markus advises parents to allow their children to explore different paths and face challenges, highlighting the importance of experiences and being comfortable with discomfort.
