In a world where wellness and lifestyle industries often overlook the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals, Steph Hamill has emerged as a beacon of innovation and advocacy.

As the founder of Divergence Supplements and Dopamine Distractions, Steph has dedicated her career to creating an ecosystem tailored for divergent thinkers, blending science, empathy, and community-driven feedback. Her mission goes beyond just selling products—it’s about reshaping narratives, empowering individuals, and sparking meaningful change. With accolades like being named one of the Top 50 Women in Tech and affiliations with organizations such as the UN and RSA, Steph’s impact resonates far beyond her groundbreaking ventures.

In this interview, we delve into her journey, the science and heart behind her businesses, and her vision for a more inclusive future.

Nicolle: Your mission to revolutionise the neurodivergent market is inspiring. What inspired you to start Divergence Supplements and Dopamine Distractions, and how do these ventures complement each other?

Steph: Thank you! It’s such an honour to be part of something that feels so close to my heart, Nicolle. Divergence Supplements, and Dopamine Distractions, were born from a personal and professional journey where I saw, and felt, a significant gap in how products were being created for divergent thinkers and neurodivergent individuals, like myself. The typical wellness market wasn’t quite tailored to the needs that many of us experience every day.

We wanted to create something that truly understood our challenges. Divergence Supplements addresses the holistic wellness aspect, using carefully crafted ingredients to support focus, mood and cognition, whilst Dopamine Distractions brings small sensory tools into the fold that foster focus and calm. Together, they complement each other in creating an ecosystem where individuals can thrive in their daily lives. It’s not just about selling a product; it’s about changing the narrative around our needs and providing truly useful tools that people can actually use to improve their day-to-day experience.

Nicolle: Divergence Supplements has been hailed as a 2024 game-changer by Evening Standard. Can you share more about the science behind the products and the potential clinical study you’re exploring?

Steph: Absolutely, we’re incredibly proud of this recognition. We’re gathering support from all corners; Gordon Smart, the editor of Men’s Health, is a big fan of our stress toys, particularly the peas, and Royce Pierreson, of The Witcher and Judy fame (jokingly) said Gamma Focus saved his marriage. The science behind Divergence Supplements is rooted in neurobiology and the understanding that divergent-thinking individuals often experience different cognitive and sensory processing.

Our formulations are designed based on this insight, using ingredients that have been deeply researched for their ability to support brain health, mental clarity and emotional regulation. If you go to our site, we don’t gatekeep, we have direct links to the peer-reviewed studies, most of which are meta-analyses. We’re exploring a clinical study to further validate what we are providing, and push the boundaries of what supplements and nutrition can do in the neurodivergent space, supported by leading UK-based neuroscientist nutrition specialists, behavioural scientists, and I can share that we’re now affiliated with The University of Nottingham. This journey has never been just about creating a product; it’s about ensuring that it really works and brings real benefits to people’s lives.

This is the beginning of something much bigger, and we’re setting a standard that can actually support individuals in a meaningful way.

 

Nicolle: Dopamine Distractions focuses on enhancing focus and calm through sensory toys. How do you approach product design to ensure they meet the specific needs of individuals with sensory processing challenges?

Steph: With Dopamine Distractions, we focus deeply on listening to the needs of the neuro-inclusive community. We are guided by input from people who experience sensory needs, from parents and teachers to adults in the workplace. We select each product as not only functional but also beautiful and durable, understanding that form and function must work together. We researched different textures, shapes and colours that have boosting or calming effects, and we’re constantly iterating based on feedback from our audience.

The goal is simple; create tools that are not just effective but also engaging and enjoyable to use. It’s about offering more than just an item in a store, it’s about empowering individuals with the right tools to feel in control and calm when they need it most. We’ve had a huge response from schools and large corporations, proactively asking us to source more specific tools than just fidget spinners. 

Nicolle: You’re creating an ecosystem that empowers neurodivergent individuals. How do you envision this ecosystem growing and impacting the wellness and lifestyle industries in the future?

Steph: I’m truly excited about where we’re headed. We’re just getting started. This ecosystem is about creating more than just products, it’s about building a go-to-hub. As we develop, I envision a network where people have access to not only products that work for them, but also up-to-date resources, tools, apps, recommendations and links to the world’s leading support, products, charities, services and communities.

At the moment, we (the community) need to actively seek out credible sources, and we’re saturated with a sea of content to sift through. We’re aiming for collaboration and advocacy with the most credible sources, leading to greater awareness and change in industries beyond wellness. This ecosystem could not only help the wellness space but also how we think about work, education and social participation for neurodivergent people. The future of wellness and lifestyle should include neurodivergent individuals in every conversation and I’m proud to be a tiny part of that shift.

Nicolle: Being named a Top 50 Women in Tech and affiliated with organisations like the UN and RSA highlights your influence. How have these experiences shaped your approach to business and advocacy for neurodivergent individuals?

Steph: These experiences have been a true privilege and they’ve reinforced the importance of creating change at every level, whether through innovation or advocacy. Positive disruption is the starter for ten. Working with a plethora of organisations has given me a global perspective on the challenges and opportunities for divergent thinkers. These platforms have given me the chance to not only create businesses that directly support people’s lives but also influence policy and practice at a broader level.

In fact, I’ve just received an invitation to the Houses of Parliament for a specific task force. It’s taught me that real change happens when you combine influence with action, whether that’s building products, influencing industry standards, or advocating for better support systems. It’s not just about leading a business, it’s about creating long-lasting change.

Nicolle: Balancing inclusivity and innovation can be challenging. How do you ensure your products and branding resonate authentically with the neurodivergent community?

Steph: Inclusivity and authenticity are at the core of everything we do. We ensure that our products and branding are designed with the neurodivergent community in mind by actively listening; from development to strategy.

We engage directly with people who experience sensory and cognitive divergence, taking their feedback seriously and using it to improve our offerings. It has enabled our clinical study outline to happen organically, as an obvious next step. This community-driven approach ensures that we’re not just “checking a box” but genuinely resonating with the people we aim to serve. It’s a constant feedback loop, one that makes sure we’re not just creating ‘stuff’ but also creating a brand culture where people feel seen, heard and valued.

Nicolle: Your businesses blend human-centred approaches with empathy. What role has community feedback played in developing your products and shaping your brand identity?

Steph: Community feedback is everything. It’s the foundation upon which we build our products and brand. We didn’t get this right at first. We focused on expert opinions, which wasn’t the right choice. Now, we ask a lot of questions, we actively listen and we pivot when necessary, something we are actively in the middle of with range development, taste and flavour profiles and alternative consumption methods.

With Divergence Supplements, for example, the community’s feedback about flavour and effectiveness gave us invaluable feedback, helping us refine and improve the formula. The same goes for Dopamine Distractions, we didn’t just guess what sensory products would work; we asked real people, tested prototypes and adjusted based on their experiences. Our brand identity reflects this ethos of listening and adapting, which is why people trust us. We don’t just talk the talk, we're always ready to evolve based on our community’s ask.

Nicolle: With so much focus on neurodivergent individuals in your work, what steps do you take to ensure representation and understanding at every level of your businesses?

Steph: Representation is critical in everything we do. We make it a priority to ensure that the people we work with and the voices we amplify represent the diversity within our community. Whether it’s through partnerships or working with ND voices in our marketing, we’re constantly ensuring that the community is represented in ways that feel authentic and empowering, for example, we’re big fans of neurodivergent-friendly dating app, Mattr and have a partnership with them.

This is also something I speak on, most recently at Channel 4 and EY. We try our best, and are on a long-term journey, focusing on accessibility, and making sure our products are designed with everyone in mind, regardless of their specific challenges. Ensuring representation goes beyond just visuals, it’s about having divergent thinkers in decision-making roles and ensuring that their voices guide decisions.

Nicolle: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who want to create meaningful change for underserved markets while maintaining a strong business foundation?

Steph: Well, that’s why I’m heading to the Houses of Parliament. We want more positive disruption in business. My advice would be, to stay focused on your “why” and trust your instincts. If something or someone isn’t a good fit, nip it in the bud, you have to be mission-focused and aligned.

Meaningful change often starts with a deep passion for the problem you’re solving, but it’s easy to get lost in the noise of business metrics. I’m so tired of the antiquated “it’s just business” approach. That couldn’t be further where business should and could be for so many. Balance passion with strategic, critical thinking, and build a strong foundation that allows you to sustainably scale while staying true to your values.

Also, always remember that success doesn’t come overnight. It’s a journey, there will be many hiccups, hurdles and massive challenges; you need to stay resilient, lean into feedback, and failures and constantly evolve. No matter what happens, you have to keep going. I’ve worked with over 300 founders, and seen so many give up too soon. Be under no illusions, if you’re creating something that genuinely serves an underserved market, the payoff will come, but it’s about staying committed to your mission, even when things get tough. Oh, and it’s MUCH harder than having a day job until it’s not…

Steph Hamill’s work is a testament to the power of combining innovation with empathy, proving that businesses can create meaningful change while remaining mission-focused. As Divergence Supplements and Dopamine Distractions continue to grow, so does the potential to redefine wellness and inclusion for neurodivergent communities. Steph’s journey is just beginning, and her impact is set to ripple far and wide.

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Nicolle Knapova is a little bit of everything. She is a freelance translator, content creator and social media executive for The C Word Mag. She loves indie music and is always browsing through Spotify to find the next amazing artist to obsess over. Her love for storytelling means she’s always writing something and she’s not afraid of any genre. Her biggest dream is to be a published author. If she’s not writing her fan fiction, she’s writing her poetry and sharing it on her Instagram @elisecaverly.