S5E8: Dear Dyslexia - Transforming Struggles into Strengths, with Gil Gershoni

Your Next Stop with Juliet Hahn

As a dyslexic, I can see from the creative, to the manufacturing, to the economic, to the distribution, to the end result in a blink of an eye. And I can tell you where there is a discord. I might not be able to tell you right away why, but I can tell you for sure that's where it is. - Gil Gershoni

Discover the surprising journey of Gil Gershoni, a dyslexic entrepreneur who turned a childhood passion for magic tricks into a thriving creative agency. Embracing dyslexia as a superpower, Gil's radical collaboration approach has redefined the way we solve problems and foster inclusivity. But here's the unexpected twist: Gil's dyslexic design thinking has not only led to groundbreaking creative solutions but has also sparked a global movement through the "Dear Dyslexia" postcard project. Want to know how dyslexia can unlock creativity and resilience in the business world? Get ready to be inspired and join the conversation. Stay tuned for more insights and surprises.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unleash your passion and turn it into a thriving business.

• Harness the power of dyslexic design thinking for creative problem-solving.

• Overcome dyslexia-related challenges in education and thrive.

• Start and grow a successful creative agency from the ground up.

• Discover the meaningful impact of the "Dear Dyslexia" postcard project.

My special guest is Gil Gershoni.

For over 30 years, Gil Gershoni has been bringing together cutting edge ideas and keeping brands like Google, Apple, Spotify, and Nike ahead of the curve. After immigrating to the United States from Israel and supporting himself through a brief stint as a magician, Gershoni founded Gershoni Creative, a San Francisco-based creative agency, in 1996.

As the agency expanded, Gil realized that his dyslexia had benefits within the creative process that helped his team and clients innovate and thrive. Through his work and advocacy, Gershoni is helping others discover something he’s long known: there’s a little bit of magic in dyslexic thinking.

In 2017, Gil founded Dyslexic Design Thinking, a program that teaches people how to leverage strategies that come naturally to dyslexics to enhance how they work, think, create, and problem-solve. His mission is to educate people about dyslexia and move away from the traditional – and incomplete – perception of the condition as a debilitating limitation. For Gil, dyslexia is a hyper-ability, not just a disability. Dyslexics are often able to make surprising connections and find solutions in unexpected places – and Dyslexic Design Thinking can help linear thinkers unlock their creative potential.

Dyslexic Design Thinking has grown to include the Dyslexic Design Thinking podcast and The Bigger Picture with Amazing Dyslexics, a virtual salon series that explores how dyslexics and non-dyslexics alike can use big-picture thinking to create and innovate across different fields.

In October of 2022, Gil executive produced Dyslexic Dictionary, an exhibit in San Francisco showcasing works by dyslexic artists and leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Twitter logo designer Martin Grasser.