What does it mean to balance career ambitions while raising a child on the autism spectrum? In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, I sit down with Ajita Shashidhar, National Editor at Fortune India and mother of two sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Ajita opens up about the emotional labour of raising a neurodivergent child, the constant advocacy required, and why she chose not to give up on her professional career despite the challenges.

We talk about the emotional labor of advocacy, the challenges of education systems, sibling dynamics, and why holding onto one’s professional identity is vital for personal sanity. This conversation is a candid yet deeply personal look at resilience, empathy, and courage needed to support neurodivergent individuals. Ajita’s honesty about the struggles and triumphs of parenting while leading a newsroom makes this one of our most moving episodes yet.