Episode 5

full
Published on:

2nd Jul 2025

Neurodiversity and Soft Skills: Navigating Sales and Communication with Autism

In this episode of The Power of Soft Skills in Sales, host Evgeniy Kharam sits down with Brian Laing, a cybersecurity veteran and high-functioning autistic professional, to explore the unique intersection of neurodiversity and soft skills in business.

Brian shares his personal journey—from technical roles and partnerships to navigating communication challenges in professional settings. He breaks down what "masking" means, why social environments can be overwhelming, and how he’s learned to build relationships through self-awareness and adaptation.

This episode is essential listening for anyone in sales, leadership, or people-facing roles who want to better understand how neurodivergent individuals navigate communication—and how we can all become more inclusive and effective communicators.

Topics Covered:

  • What soft skills mean for someone with autism
  • The concept of masking and its emotional impact
  • Practical strategies for improving communication
  • Why empathy and literal language matter
  • Building professional relationships as a neurodivergent person
  • How companies and individuals can be more inclusive

🔔 Subscribe and tune in for real stories, powerful lessons, and human connection through the lens of soft skills.

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About the Podcast

The Power of Soft Skills in Sales
From Tech to Trust
"From Tech to Trust: The Power of Soft Skills in Sales" is a podcast that dives deep into the transformative impact of soft skills in the world of technical sales. Hosted by Evgeniy Kharam, the show brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and sales professionals to discuss how mastering soft skills can enhance communication, build stronger relationships, and ultimately drive sales success. Inspired by Evgeniy's book Architecting Success: The Art of Soft Skills in Technical Sales, this podcast serves as a valuable resource for sales professionals, founders, and anyone looking to unlock their full potential in the business world. Tune in to learn actionable insights and strategies that will help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sales with confidence and trust.

About your host

Profile picture for Evgeniy Kharam

Evgeniy Kharam

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekharam/
Evgeniy has the opportunity to spend more than 40,000 hours working in cybersecurity,
providing pre and post-sales support in various technologies and later as an architect and principal consultant.
Evgeniy is very passionate about technology, vendors, and architecture. He brings a lot of knowledge about VAR, MSSP, and technical pre-sales. He believes in connected infrastructure that there is a significant need for vendor consolidation and the ability for security control to integrate and share information.
Evgeniy is proficient in speaking on most cyber security technical domains, which include: Endpoint Security, Network Security, SIEM/SOC/SOAR, SASE/SEE, VMS, and many more.
In 2020, Evgeniy co-hosted a Security Architecture Podcast. The podcast format focuses on architecture and vendor integration into the customer environment
In 2022 he founded the Cyber Inspiration podcast; the podcast explored the minds of CTOs and CEOs when they started their cyber security company!
Personal: Evgeniy has four kids, a daughter, a son, and twins (boy and girl) . Twins are a great way to learn to multitask, and nothing scares me anymore :)(besides snakes)
Hobbies: Photography, podcasting, public speaking, snowboarding, whitewater canoeing, SUP, mountain biking, motorcycles, breathing techniques, and gadgets