At 14 Michelle Shavdia’s world feel apart when her dad died. Considered an at-risk young person Michelle was overcome with grief ‘My dad dying was one of the most devastating things I’ve had to suffer but looking back, it was the catalyst for me to set up, my own business.” Find Your Spark is an award-winning business delivering life changing support to children, adults, parents and professionals with and without ADHD. Established in 2011, the launch came out of a scary experience, The London Riots. Michelle said, “Being caught up in the London Riots was one of the scariest things I’ve ever had to endure however it was a pivotal, turning point in my life as I realised that a lot of these young people were using their talents and skills in destructive as opposed to constructive ways as they were unaware of their purpose.’
Michelle should know as prior to that; she had spent most of her life engaged in reckless behaviours and addictions. She added that ‘it is a wonder I am not dead given the amount of trauma I have experience and self-destructive behaviours I therefore exhibited as a result!!’ However, little did she realise that all the traumas would lead to an award-winning business inspiring the next generation. Now Colchester based Michelle continues to deliver life transforming coaching and brief therapeutic support; that she began delivering in London to schools and youth centres such as the Prince’s Trust, to children, adults and parents here in Essex schools and privately.
Michelle herself, it turns out was misdiagnosed many times and spent the first 37 years unaware she had ADHD. Which looking back explains in part why she displayed such destructive behaviours when she was young. This means she lived her entire life to this point not knowing or understanding herself and how ADHD impacted on her life. Michelle, like many misunderstood ADHD believing it was something that only ‘naughty’ boys had as this was the main message portrayed and there was no education or support for females or adults in general. This has given Michelle the passion and drive to raise awareness in neurodivergence and support parents, adults and children, giving them what she needed and what she was looking for when she was growing up. Her vision of creating a society which is more aware and understanding and therefore accepting of neurodivergent differences is her purpose. “Looking back at all the trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictions in hindsight I can see it as having been necessary pain, for me to be able to empower and transform the next generation. If I can help just one person not suffer the way that I have done, then the pain would have been worthwhile’.
Michelle is now a finalist for a start-up award thanks to the support of Mandie Holgate from the Businesswomen’s Network based in Mersea. Michelle is hosting two upcoming groups in order to fill the gap she noticed when she was trying to find out what was different about her and trying to navigate the minefield of the adult neurodivergent system: ADHD Awareness Group Tickets, Mon 19 Jun 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite ADHD Awareness Group Tickets, Mon 26 Jun 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
She also delivers one to one ADHD coaching if this is preferred – further details can be found here on the website: www.findyourspark.co.uk
Please book via the Eventbrite link or email amanda@findyourspark.koala-digital.co.uk for further details. And if you would like to hear more about Michelle and Find Your Spark, she will be speaking on The Aspie World podcast and spoke on BBC Essex with Rob Jelly on Tuesday 23rd from 6-7pm about all things ADHD, which you can still catch on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fkxxrt
