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Christal Wang
CEO @ Shimmer | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Inc. Female Founder | YC | Ex-Bain | MBA/MPH
Christal Wang is the Co-founder and CEO of Shimmer, a behavioral health technology platform focused on ADHD coaching for adults. Diagnosed with ADHD in 2022, she founded Shimmer to address the lack of affordable and culturally competent ADHD care. The platform combines science-backed methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) with personalized coaching, peer support, and accountability. Shimmer was launched publicly in October 2022 after being accepted into Y Combinator, a prestigious startup accelerator.123
Christal is a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur and a strong advocate for neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, AAPI, and women/non-binary communities. She has a background in social impact and consumer-focused work, having served as a consultant at Bain & Company and led international operations at Drop. She also holds an HBA from Ivey Business School and is currently on leave from pursuing an MBA and MPH at UC Berkeley.345
Under her leadership, Shimmer has become the #1 ADHD coaching platform for adults, emphasizing inclusivity and empowerment for neurodivergent individuals.46
Highlights
Shining a light on AuDHD experiences is crucial for demystifying and destigmatizing the intersection of Autism and ADHD. Today, Shimmer hosted an AuDHD panel (hosted by our very own Trina Haynes) and it was incredible, vulnerable, and insightful!
The #1 question we got from the audience was "what is it like to be AuDHD?"; here are a few perspectives from the panel:
Michael Ruffin talked about navigating social situations while managing sensory overload. 'If I go to an event that's too loud, I know I'll need time to recover afterwards,' he noted, pointing out the common struggle with overstimulation among those with AuDHD.
Adrienne Marcellus, LCSW shared her journey from being diagnosed with ADHD as a child to discovering her autism later in life. 'I used hyperactivity to mask my autistic traits, but internally I felt like I was operating from a different book than everyone else,' she explained, highlighting the complexity of masking in the AuDHD experience.
Ben de Pfeiffer-Key discussed the emotional aspects of living with AuDHD and how it affects his relationships. 'The emotional regulation challenges can be intense. Learning to communicate effectively about my needs has been crucial,' he shared, underscoring the importance of clear communication in managing social interactions.
Molly Brooks shared her perspective on the sense of relief and uncertainty that came with her diagnosis. 'It felt like I was living a double life, but once I was diagnosed with autism, everything fell into place. It was a journey of rethinking how I viewed myself,' she said, reflecting the personal transformation often accompanying an AuDHD diagnosis.
These insights are just a glimpse into the complex and varied experiences of those living with AuDHD. At Shimmer, we're committed to supporting this community and promoting conversations that foster understanding and inclusion. Stay tuned for more panels and discussions on AuDHD and other neurodiversity topics.
Let us know about your AuDHD experience in the comments 👇
Shimmer is growing rapidly and looking for more ADHD coaches to join our team! Check out our job posting below, and apply directly to https://lnkd.in/gqXES8Vs if you're interested. Share widely!!
