About the Co-Hosts

Gino Akbari

Gino Akbari is a global citizen with a passion for understanding the human experience. Having lived across multiple cultures and worked in a wide range of industries—from military training to acting, politics, and entrepreneurship—Gino has developed a deep appreciation for how people think, behave, and thrive within their environments.

With over 12 years of experience training military personnel, he brings discipline, adaptability, and leadership into every space he enters. A multilingual speaker and lifelong learner, Gino’s journey has also led him to the performing arts, where he owns a dance company and embraces movement as a form of expression and connection.

Today, Gino is a certified life coach with credentials across various disciplines. His mission is simple yet powerful: to explore what it means to live a truly full life—and to guide others on their own paths of growth, purpose, and continuous self-improvement.

Karen Habashi

Karen Habashi, a mother of three, was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 40.

Originally a dentist, she transitioned to writing, which fuels her passion for storytelling while also deepening her understanding of the science and research behind neurodivergence.

An Egyptian residing in Vancouver, BC, Karen aims to raise awareness and provide more education to her community.

Her writing encompasses a wide range of topics, including mental health, the experiences of BIPOC and immigrants, motherhood with a chronic illness, and many others.

You can find her work here or follow her on Instagram to delve deeper into the topics she shares.

Karen Habashi

https://karenhabashi.wixsite.com/karen-habashi

Letara Couto

Letara is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent voices, drawing from both lived experience and her work in accessible education.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 12, she faced years of academic and personal challenges before finding her footing in college---when starting ADHD medication, it transformed her ability to learn, focus, and thrive. That shift inspired a deeper journey into accessibility and inclusive education.

After studying Accessible Media Production in 2018, Letara began working at Accessible Learning Services within her college. Now a full-time Learning Strategist and Adaptive Technologist, she spends her days helping students understand their unique learning styles and adapt technology to support their success.

Letara is also a proud mom to two incredible neurodivergent kids: an 11-year-old son with ADHD and Autism and a 9-year-old daughter with ADHD and anxiety. Her personal and professional experiences continue to shape her commitment to advocacy, empathy, and creating spaces where neurodiversity is not only accepted but celebrated.

As a co-host of the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, Letara brings heart, insight, and a deep belief in the power of sharing our stories.

Sadiya Nazir

Sadiya Nazir is a multidisciplinary creative, strategist, and entrepreneur from Calgary with a background in biology, political science, and advocacy. With over a decade of experience in branding, design, calligraphy, and animation, she specializes in crafting bespoke signatures, hand-lettered logos, and animated branding for individuals and businesses. Currently working in technology education, she is passionate about making complex concepts more accessible and fostering curiosity through innovative storytelling.

Sadiya’s own journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition that remains poorly understood within neuroscience. Often described as the nervous system shutting down due to stress overload, FND presents unique challenges, yet resources and support systems remain limited. Navigating this landscape firsthand, she encountered significant gaps in existing frameworks for those with emerging neurological conditions.

Despite these challenges, she was able to establish a new normal. The struggles with her experience deepened her commitment to advocacy, particularly for those who struggle to access the support they need. She is now part of the Neurodiversity Voices podcast, using storytelling and open dialogue to raise awareness, amplify marginalized voices, and foster collective compassion.

Sadiya believes that collaboration is the catalyst for meaningful change. Whether through policy work, technology, or education, she is dedicated to reshaping systems to be more inclusive and effective. By leveraging her expertise in design and storytelling, she aims to create impactful solutions that empower individuals and communities.

Dr. Tayaba Khan

Dr Tayaba Khan is a dental surgeon, a medical editor, a coach & trainer, and a health management and communications professional. She has over 20 years of experience in clinical dentistry, management, healthcare communications, training and teaching, and ethics pertaining to advanced healthcare aspects such as stem cell research and patient involvement in healthcare.

Dr Khan has extensive experience in liaising with researchers and industry, managing university partnerships, developing health IT companies, contributing as a patient advisor, training medical postgraduates, and conducting project management for startups. She coordinated and executed the annual Aga Khan University International Ethics Thinking Group meetings in 2018 (London) and 2019 (Lisbon), actively contributing towards discussions on stem cell research and future human ethics perspectives with world renowned leaders, theologians, scientists, and lawyers.

Dr Khan is currently a faculty at Bow Valley College, Calgary Alberta. Prior to this, Dr Khan supported Alberta Health Services as a credentialed EPIC trainer for the launch of ConnectCare, providing training for OPTIME modules, and contributed during the Calgary launch phase of this historical provincial healthcare change.

She is currently a Board Member for Imagine Citizens Network; Member at International Advisory Committee of Strategic Patient-Oriented Research Evidence Alliance (SPOREA); and a Member of the Patient Advisors Network (PAN), Canada.

In her various roles and capacities, she demonstrated skills in coaching and training, medical writing, editing, and healthcare communications, public engagement, mentoring, and grant development.

Dr Khan is passionate about patient advocacy and creating solutions bridging information gaps between various stakeholders in the healthcare industry, with patients at the heart.

Livia Ward

Livia Ward is a dedicated and versatile professional with a strong academic background and diverse work experience. She recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, with a double major in English Literature and Psychology.

Livia has gained valuable industry experience, showcasing her adaptability and commitment to excellence. She worked as a Multimedia Writer for the Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society, where she wrote research articles, conducted interviews for documentaries, and presented findings at monthly salons. She is a Supervisor at Dunbar Theatre, managing ticket and concession sales, handling cash and credit transactions, operating projectors, and promoting events through newsletters and social media.

Livia is also actively involved in volunteer work, contributing to organizations such as the Vancouver Comics Festival, The Ubyssey, and The Writer’s Exchange.

With her academic background, professional experience, and volunteer contributions, Livia Ward demonstrates a passion for creativity, community engagement, and personal growth.