Shea Belsky
Autistic Advocate and
Engineering Leader.
Creating equitable workplaces for neurodivergent professionals to thrive and belong.
I am an Engineering Manager at HubSpot, managing a team of software engineers working on Help Desk & Conversations Inbox. Previously, I served as the Chief Technology Officer at Mentra, a hiring platform designed for neurodivergent jobseekers backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Alongside my technical leadership, I currently serve on the Board of Directors for AANE (the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity).
Featured In & Trusted By
My Story
My journey into the tech industry began with a unique set of challenges. Diagnosed with autism at age two, I was nonverbal until I was four years old. Growing up with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), I frequently struggled to understand and make sense of the world around me.
Through the support of my community and educators, I eventually found my footing. I attended Cornell University, where I thrived academically and personally, graduating to become a meaningful contributor in the professional workforce.
My early experiences navigating these educational and social systems ultimately drove me to join Mentra, allowing me to apply my engineering background to directly bridge the hiring gap for neurodivergent jobseekers across the country. Today, I use those same lessons to lead teams at HubSpot and advocate for equitable environments universally.
Advocacy & Community
My core focus as an advocate is creating equitable environments for everyone. I work with corporate leaders and HR teams to rethink how they recruit and support neurodivergent professionals through keynotes, workshops, and direct consulting.
To expand this conversation, I host the Autistic Techie podcast, a space dedicated to the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals navigating the technology sector.
Beyond the corporate stage, I stay deeply engaged with my local community. In addition to my board work with AANE, I run as an adaptive athlete with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. I recently completed the 130th Boston Marathon with Dougie's Team, raising more than $9,000 to date for autistic people and their families to lead meaningful, connected lives.
130th Boston Marathon
Dougie's Team for Autism
Autistic Techie
A podcast for neurodivergent professionals in tech - engineers, designers, PMs, and leaders - who think and work differently. Exploring how to navigate the tech world on your own terms.
The Funny Thing About Feedback
Ever received tough feedback and wanted to defend yourself immediately? There's no WAY you could have done it wrong or caused a problem...right? Neurodivergent employees who are good at sticking to processes can be shut down if they do something even a little differently than normal. Trying to pick apart what someone means is hard when it's hostile, too. The only thing equally tough is giving it too. How can you step back and actually process what you're hearing? And then how can you be confident when it's your turn to give feedback? Feedback is social construct with lots of weird layers and hidden subtleties. In this episode we're going to dive into feedback: Giving, receiving, and processing it!
Interested in Hearing More?
Whether you're planning a keynote for your next company all-hands, organizing leadership workshops, or looking to collaborate, let's start the conversation.