Get to Know Alex
Thanks for checking out Cape-able Consulting! I’m the founder, Alex (Alexandra) Gilbert. Here are a few other important details about me:
I ❤️ NY. Born and bred.
My perfect day would involve the following activities: yoga class, brunch, ordering a cold brew coffee, collapsing on the couch with the Met’s game on
I can recite every line of every episode of Friends
My astrological sign is a Cancer and… well, it makes a lot of sense
I’m a wife, mom, daughter, aunt, sister, and friend
I have several learning disabilities and ADHD
Because of my learning disabilities, I’ve had to explore and navigate a world that is not all that accommodating. Hurtle after hurtle, succeeding in school, at work, and in life continued to be a challenge. I thought differently, I worked differently, and I am just made differently— but the expectations are the same.
I was often misunderstood and thought of as stupid because I didn’t fit the mold. It was frustrating that my effort didn’t always equal positive results. I was ridiculed endlessly which fueled my motivation. It also forced me to continue to adapt and create new ways to succeed.
At the same time, I recognize that I have tremendous privilege. I had endless resources in a highly regarded school district and two parents who could provide for my well-being and invest in my education with tutors and support. I absolutely recognize that this is not the case for many people who struggle with learning disabilities and/or ADHD.
And yet, having endless resources didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t read and I couldn’t spell. I often joke that I’m extremely resilient, I just don’t know how to spell it. But hey, I actually just aced it without having to spell-check. That’s a first.
Eventually, I got into a rhythm in school and found the right resources to help me keep up with my peers. But in the workplace, I realized those resources didn’t exist and my self-advocacy skills really needed to put to the test. I not only struggled with my daily tasks, but my mental health suffered as well. It was physically and mentally exhausting keeping up and I was always terrified that I would fail.
As I climbed the ladder in different organizations, the tasks grew more demanding and the visibility was that much greater. I succeeded beyond expectations almost every time but it was so frustrating that no one really knew how much effort it took for me to do something simple. And I was burning out quicker than everyone else.
While not everyone is comfortable doing so (and understandably so), I spoke openly about my disabilities and ADHD because I feel like it gives me superpowers. I think out of the box, I can create programs out of thin air, and I can see the big picture and tiny details all at once. My instincts with leadership development are spot on. However, what I struggled with the most was not being supported in the way I needed. Partially because I didn’t know what my needs were in these new environments, and partially because I didn’t know I could ask. I always felt my employers only saw part of my best work because I wasn’t set up to succeed to my highest potential.
Fast forward to 2020: I was among the millions of people who were laid off from their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of jumping back into a different corporate role that might have the same obstacles, I took the time to re-evaluate and go back to my roots. I have always had a passion for helping people with learning disabilities and/or ADHD succeed. It seemed like the right next step.
While getting my undergraduate degree at Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!), I created the Peer Undergraduate Mentor Program (P.U.M.P.) which is a mentor/retention program created for students with disabilities to alleviate the effects of their disabilities adjusting to college and increasing the graduation rates.
Now, a little over a decade later, I feel the need to support people with learning disabilities and/or ADHD is that much more important. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, everyone has had to make adjustments, and people with learning disabilities and/or ADHD face additional challenges in work/life balance and accommodating their needs.
I started Cape-Able Consulting because I want to change the perception around having learning disabilities and/or ADHD, and I want to empower those who have them. As someone who has navigated school and a busy career with learning disabilities/ADHD, I feel I am uniquely qualified for the job.
Ultimately, I would love to be able to help people at all life stages manage their learning disabilities and/or ADHD, but as of right now, I will be working 1:1 Coaching for adults who are struggling to manage their career or “adulting.” I hope you will join me on this journey of helping people with learning disabilities and/or ADHD make a greater impact and showing the world what we are Cape-Able of!
