When High Ability Meets ADHD: Delayed Diagnosis and Midlife Transformation with Lisa Lackey — ADHD-ish™ ADHD Business Strategy for Busy Brains

What happens when high ability and late-diagnosed ADHD intersect in midlife? In this episode, Diann Wingert sits down with licensed psychotherapist Lisa Lackey to explore the unique journey of a high-achieving business owner with ADHD receiving a diagnosis later in life. High intelligence often masks executive function struggles for decades until life transitions like menopause make traditional coping mechanisms unsustainable.

For every ADHD entrepreneur exhausted from compensating for hidden challenges, this conversation offers clarity and validation. Discover how ADHD business coaching, self-compassion, and intentional community foster sustainable success and elevate neurodivergent leadership without burnout.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Delayed ADHD Diagnosis in High-Achieving Women

06:45 - Why High Ability Can Hide ADHD

13:30 - ADHD, Perimenopause, and Midlife Changes

20:15 - The Second Knowing: Rediscovering Yourself

27:30 - Redefining Success Beyond Society’s Expectations

34:45 - Black Women, Burnout, and Legacy Healing

42:00 - Sankofa, Identity, and Midlife Transformation

48:30 - ADHD, Self-Acceptance, and Neurodivergent Strengths

Guest Bio: Lisa Lackey (she/her)

Lisa Lackey is a licensed psychotherapist, coach, and speaker with decades of experience supporting high-achieving individuals facing addiction, anxiety, depression, and now, navigating the complexities of neurodiversity and midlife transitions.

After being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Lisa transformed her approach—creating supportive spaces for women, particularly Black women, to rediscover their authentic selves, reclaim joy, and build community in the second half of life. Lisa is passionate about spiritual growth, legacy work, and helping others write their own rules for fulfillment.

Episode Highlights – What You’ll Learn

Why ADHD is often missed in high-achieving women, and how self-awareness—and even reading the “right” book—can be a game changer.
How hyper-competence, overachievement, and the ability to "make it work" can hide ADHD symptoms for decades.
Understanding how hormonal changes bring ADHD and identity struggles front and center for so many women in midlife.
Lisa’s concept of the “second knowing”- waking up in midlife, letting go of societal shoulds, and connecting to your true purpose and inner wisdom.
How women—especially women of color—can build new definitions of success, heal generational burdens, and lift each other up.

Connect with Lisa Lackey

Website: Inside Out Recovery
LinkedIn: Lisa Lackey on LinkedIn

Mentioned by our guest:

Driven to Distraction by Ned Hallowell, MD - the book Lisa read in 2 hours & recognized her own ADHD

Bell Hooks - Black author, best known for her work on race, feminism & social class

Sankofa - a word in the Twi language of Ghana, meaning “to retrieve”

If something in this episode struck a chord, share it with a friend, leave us a review, or drop a comment on Spotify about your own late diagnosis and mid life awakening.