Genius Finder: The Story Behind Our Latest Version of the Profiler

Clare Mottram,Principal Psychologist and Researcher, on the story behind developing Genius Finder V5.

There are some projects that stay with you long after the work is done. For me, I already know Genius Finder ® V5 is going to be one of them. 

Over the past 18 months, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the development of the latest version of our Genius Finder ® platform alongside the inspiring Dr Nancy Doyle, and an incredibly talented team of Psychologists, digital developers and a range of neuroinclusion champions from different specialities. As we reach this milestone, I’ve been reflecting not only on what we’ve built, but why it matters. 

What makes me most proud isn’t just the technology itself (although I’m a big fan!). It’s the expertise, evidence and passion that have shaped it, and the impact it will have on the people it was designed to support. 

At Genius Within, everything we do starts with a simple belief: people perform at their best when they understand themselves and have access to the right support. 

For many neurodivergent people, that support can often feel difficult to access. Too often, individuals are left navigating challenges alone, waiting for assessments, searching for answers, or struggling to explain their experiences to others. 

Genius Finder ® V5 takes another important step towards changing that. 

We have expanded the range of skills explored within the profiler while also strengthening the psychometric foundations that underpin the experience. To help people better understand themselves, the insights we provide must be robust, evidence-based and meaningful. 

Alongside these enhancements, we have completely reworked the user journey. V5 guides people through a structured process of self-discovery and action. Users can move from completing the profiler, to exploring personalised strategies, creating practical action plans, and generating reports for themselves or others if they choose. 

This is important because insight alone rarely creates change. Real impact happens when understanding is translated into action. 

By connecting self-awareness with practical next steps, V5 helps people not only recognise their strengths and challenges but also identify the adjustments, strategies and support that might help them thrive. 

That might sound like a small thing, but feeling seen can be transformative. 

When people have language for their experiences, practical strategies that work for them, and confidence in their own strengths, they are better able to thrive at work and beyond. 

Projects like V5 are never the work of one person. 

I’ve been fortunate to work alongside colleagues who brought expertise, creativity, challenge, lived experience and commitment at every stage. Their collective passion and dedication have helped create something that I genuinely believe will make a difference. 

Nancy shared her reflections on this too:

Working on V5 has reminded me how powerful it is when talented people come together around a shared mission: helping more people understand themselves and access the support they need to succeed. 

Importantly, Genius Finder® has never been just about individual insight. 

While the platform helps people better understand themselves, identify strategies that work for them and advocate for the support they need, at an aggregated level it also provides organisations with valuable insights into the strengths, experiences and support needs that exist across their workforce. 

What excites me about V5 is that it expands the range of skills being explored, creating opportunities for organisations to discover strengths they may not have previously recognised, as well as challenges that might otherwise remain hidden. This richer understanding can prompt important conversations about how work is structured, how people are supported, and where changes to processes, environments or culture could help more people succeed. 

Rather than focusing solely on individual adjustments, organisations can use these insights to think systemically about inclusion. Sustainable change rarely happens one person at a time. It comes from creating environments where more people can thrive by design. 

Importantly, we know that Genius Finder® will not be sufficient for everyone, and it was never designed to be. Some people will benefit from additional specialist coaching, assistive technology, workplace needs assessments, or diagnostic pathways. The purpose of Genius Finder® is not to replace those interventions, but to help people access the right support at the right time.  

What gives me confidence in this approach is the evidence behind it. In a previous research project with an occupational health provider, we found that Genius Finder® and the strategies it generated were sufficient support for around 50% of individuals. Around 40% went on to benefit from coaching, while only 10% required more complex interventions or diagnostic assessments. 

Those findings reinforce something we have long believed: many people can make significant progress when they are given practical, personalised insight and strategies early enough. With its enhanced coverage, richer strategy recommendations and redesigned journey from insight to action, V5 strengthens our ability to provide that early support. For those who need additional support, Genius Finder® can help signpost the next step in their journey. 

At Genius Within, our mission has always been bigger than individual products or services. 

We are working towards a world of work where people can thrive sustainably; where support is proactive rather than reactive, where differences are understood rather than misunderstood, and where everyone has the opportunity to contribute their best work without unnecessary barriers. 

V5 moves us another step closer to that vision. 

By helping more people access personalised support earlier, understand themselves better, and advocate for what they need, while also helping organisations create more inclusive environments, we create opportunities not only for individual success, but for healthier, more sustainable workplaces. 

That is what makes me proud. We have created something with the potential to improve people’s everyday experiences at work. Something that helps individuals better understand themselves, gives them practical ways to take action, and supports organisations to create environments where people can perform at their best. 

I’m grateful to everyone who contributed to making V5 a reality and excited to see the impact it will have in the months and years ahead. 

You can learn more about Genius Finder here.