David Flink is a globally recognized social entrepreneur, author, and expert in neurodiversity inclusion. He is the founder and CEO of The Neurodiversity Alliance, one of the country’s leading nonprofits dedicated to students who learn and think differently. Over the past 25 years, the organization has reached more than one million individuals across 1,000 schools in 30 states, transforming educational systems and shifting cultural attitudes around learning differences.
He is the author of “Thinking Differently” (2014), a guide for parents and educators supporting children with learning differences. His forthcoming book will make the business case for neurodiversity, offering employers practical strategies for unlocking untapped talent.
A dynamic speaker and advisor, David’s worked with Fortune 500 companies and major philanthropies including Ares Management, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, VMware, YPO, the Gates Foundation, New Profit, and The Ford Foundation. His advocacy and thought leadership have also earned him recognition as an Elevate Prize Winner, a CNN Hero, and a GQ Man of the Year, along with numerous other awards for leadership and social impact.
His work has also been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, PBS NewsHour, NPR, and CBS News. David is a frequent guest lecturer at Harvard University, Columbia University, and Brown University, and is a previous Ashoka Fellow, Prime Movers Fellows, and Pahara Fellow. He continues to champion a world where neurodiversity is understood as a competitive strength that drives innovation, inclusion, and human potential.
David earned a master’s degree in dis/ability studies in education from Columbia University and bachelor’s degrees with honors in education and psychology from Brown University.
