From Hyperfocus to Global Impact
Janine Teo is the CEO of Solve Education!, an edtech nonprofit delivering gamified, AI-powered learning to underserved youth. A passionate advocate for education, gender equality, and poverty alleviation, she has received global recognition for her impact. Diagnosed with ADHD in 2023, Janine now embraces her neurodivergence as a source of creativity, drive, and purpose. Her journey of self-acceptance fuels her mission to transform education for millions worldwide.
Quotes
“ADHD isn’t just a set of challenges — it’s also a different way of thinking that can be incredibly powerful.”
“We don’t have to live a conventional life to be successful. Follow your flow, embrace your difference, and you might just find a life with more energy, purpose, and joy than you ever imagined.”
“Many of us with ADHD grow up feeling like we’re too much, or not enough. The truth is: we don’t have to live a conventional life to be successful.”
Early Struggles
I didn’t grow up thinking I might have ADHD. I wasn’t hyperactive, and I wasn’t easily distracted. Instead, my challenge was hyperfocus. I could dive so deeply into something that I’d lose hours, forget to eat, and completely burn out. But when it came to tasks that didn’t interest me, my brain simply refused to cooperate.
In school, surrounded by high performers, I often felt like I was falling short. My report cards were full of comments like, “She needs to pay more attention in class.” I internalised those remarks and became incredibly harsh on myself, wondering why I couldn’t keep up the way others seemed to.
Diagnosis and Self-Acceptance
It wasn’t until late 2023 that a close friend, who had recently been diagnosed with ADHD, gently suggested that I might have it too. That nudge led me to seek a formal diagnosis — and it changed everything.
My first reaction was grief. I mourned for my younger self, who had struggled without understanding why. I had blamed myself for so long for things that weren’t failings, but neurological differences.
Eventually, grief gave way to relief and clarity. I began to accept myself more fully. I stopped forcing myself to be good at things that didn’t come naturally, and instead built systems and communities that complemented my strengths. Even small changes — like moving fruits and vegetables to eye level in the fridge so I wouldn’t forget them — made a big difference.
Finding My Flow
I realised I had already been building coping systems long before my diagnosis. I use project management tools like GitLab, Asana, and spreadsheets to track tasks. I keep strong morning and evening routines, including journaling to clear my mind for restful sleep.
Most importantly, I’ve learned to follow my flow. Instead of forcing productivity when my energy is low, I lean into inspiration when it strikes. I always carry a notepad and a voice recorder to capture ideas before they disappear.
Reading has also been transformative. Books like Driven to Distraction and Scattered Minds gave me the language to reframe years of self-judgment with compassion.
A Turning Point in Jakarta
Before founding Solve Education!, I worked in the hospitality industry, including a period with Marriott International/Starwood in Jakarta. One night, I saw children outside the hotel selling sweets and cigarettes. They were still out late when they should have been in school. That image never left me.
It became a quiet turning point — one that pushed me to leave hospitality and dedicate myself to education. I wanted to make learning accessible, engaging, and empowering for every child, no matter their circumstances. That vision became Solve Education! which has since delivered over 30 million gamified lessons to nearly 2 million learners worldwide.
ADHD Strengths in Action
ADHD isn’t just a set of challenges — it also gives me strengths I now recognise and embrace. I am intensely creative, quick to learn, and able to generate unexpected insights by seeing problems from different angles.
Being neurodivergent gives me a deeper appreciation of how different brains learn — insight that directly shapes how we build technology, design programs, and serve communities at Solve Education!
Reflections and Recognition
If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say: You are not broken. You are wired differently, and that can be powerful. Bring your loved ones along on the journey too. Since my husband and I began learning about ADHD together, our relationship has grown stronger.
Many of us grow up feeling like we’re too much, or not enough. But the truth is: We don’t have to live a conventional life to be successful. Follow your flow, embrace your difference, and you might just find a life with more energy, purpose, and joy than you ever imagined. Alongside this journey, I’ve been humbled to receive global recognitions — from the International Intellectual Benefits to Society Award by Mensa International, to being listed in Harper’s Bazaar Power List, named an Ashoka x Google.org Changemaker, and most recently nominated for the Tatler Asia Front & Female Awards 2025. These honours remind me that the very traits I once saw as flaws — my intensity, creativity, and non-linear thinking — are also the ones that fuel lasting impact.
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