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Final Dissertation Jason Cohen.pdf (905.2 KB)

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The Self-Directed Career Growth Success Factors of Autistic Business Leaders Who Serve The United States Tech Industry. A Phenomenological Study

Cohen, Jason Todd
http://orcid.org/0009-0009-7232-9714
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=frank1690801141309812

Abstract Details

2023, Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, Business Administration.
When autistic professionals in the United States secure employment, over half remain underemployed (Linden & Wiscarson, 2019). Underemployment impacts a significant portion of the U.S. population, as autism appears in 2.4% of males and 0.5% of females in the United States (Austin & Pisano, 2017). Even with a college degree, 85% of autistic Americans remain unemployed compared to 4.5% of the general U.S. population (Lyn Pesce, 2019). Employment programs have been developed for autistic people. However, these programs may stereotype autistic people as pattern-recognizing-savants and build autism employment programs centered on these stereotypes (Austin et al., 2017). Furthermore, autistic professionals, especially those lacking visible characteristics of autism, feel that a disclosure of a clinical autism diagnosis negatively affects their employability (McMahon, 2021). However, limited autism self-disclosures by prominent tech executives, such as Elon Musk (Musk, 2021), anecdotally demonstrate autistic professionals self-directing themselves to attain leadership roles. This study used qualitative research to determine 12 self-directed career growth success factors of autistic business leaders who served the U.S. Tech industry. A phenomenological approach with semi-structured interviews was used in the research to understand themes as data was collected to determine how autistic business leaders self-directed themselves to their leadership roles. The research study aims to empower autistic professionals to own their career development with or without third-party support.
Susan Campbell (Committee Chair)
Joel Light (Committee Member)
Courtney McKim (Committee Member)
151 p.
Business Administration; Business Education; Communication; Information Systems; Information Technology; Mass Media; Neurology; Organizational Behavior
Autism; ASD; career development; leadership and development; qualitative design; phenomenological approach; autistic business leaders; autistic professionals; career growth perspectives

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cohen, J. T. (2023). The Self-Directed Career Growth Success Factors of Autistic Business Leaders Who Serve The United States Tech Industry. A Phenomenological Study [Doctoral dissertation, Franklin University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=frank1690801141309812

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cohen, Jason. The Self-Directed Career Growth Success Factors of Autistic Business Leaders Who Serve The United States Tech Industry. A Phenomenological Study. 2023. Franklin University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=frank1690801141309812.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cohen, Jason. "The Self-Directed Career Growth Success Factors of Autistic Business Leaders Who Serve The United States Tech Industry. A Phenomenological Study." Doctoral dissertation, Franklin University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=frank1690801141309812

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

frank1690801141309812
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© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Franklin University and OhioLINK.