EP 135: Disability Joy and Persistent Leadership: Honoring Our Full Humanity with Tiffany Yu

The Unburdened Leader

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25d ago 1:16:00

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We persist for what matters most—for the people we lead, and the people we love.

But persistence can start to feel like just another weight to carry, another demand that drains us.

And people are tired. So many of us are balancing caregiving, leadership, advocacy, a constant firehose of urgent crises, and maybe sneaking in some rest. So sure, persistence sounds good, but how do we keep going without flaming out?

We learn how to prune our proverbial gardens.

Pruning, whether a tomato plant or an out-of-control to-do list, requires focusing on the present so we can remove what no longer serves, while protecting what still has life in it. It’s persistence in action. It’s what keeps us from burning it all down and walking away or from our commitments taking over our lives.

Today’s guest offers us a masterclass in persistence. She started small. When resistance showed up, she didn’t just push through. She revisited her vision. She stayed in relationship with mentors and worked in community. And over time, she has built a global movement for disability, visibility, equity, and justice.

On today’s 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Tiffany Yu shares a reminder that persistence isn’t about doing it all right away or quitting when it’s too much. It’s about staying focused, refining our vision, and staying connected to supportive people and your mission.

Tiffany Yu is the CEO and Founder of Diversability, a 3x TEDx speaker, and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. She started her career at Goldman Sachs and was named to the 2025 Forbes Accessibility 100 List. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled as a result of a car accident that also took the life of her father.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How the seeds of Tiffany’s disability activism were sown during her time at Georgetown
How Tiffany’s delayed processing of her grief and trauma impacted her ability to connect with disabled joy
Why it matters that all of us get invested in prioritizing accessibility and inclusion for the disability community
Why accessibility is about more than just utility and needs to address the wholeness of people with disabilities
What leaders can do now to craft more accessible and inclusive spaces and events
The importance of community and using your influence to build bridges in the face of setbacks

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