Get "Know Your Dyslexia" Guidebook + Podcast
& the Zone of Power newsletter free.
Add your name + email below:
Unlock Your Advantage!
FEEL GOOD so YOU CAN do good
FEEL GOOD so YOU CAN do good
There's power in sharing our stories.
Although our dyslexic journeys might look different, they have common challenges, triumphs, self-doubt, discovery and resilience.
Our shared experience is exactly why I started Powered by Dyslexia and the Zone of Power newsletter:
To help dyslexic professionals unlock their advantage and bridge the gap between potential and performance.
My perspective on dyslexia is different. I focus on the connection of dyslexia's emotional impact, communication and self-expression to empower LEX adults in their personal and professional lives.
I've spent the last few years developing frameworks allowing dyslexics to express themselves with an energy and spirit they've always known existed, but held back because of perceived failures or judgement from the past.
It's all based on understanding your brand of dyslexia through The Zone of Power™ - where your passion and energy meet your skills and capabilities.
The ZOP (Zone of Power) represents where you add up and make the most sense.
Discovering your Zone of Power™ creates opportunity, increases confidence and self-compassion, while stimulating self-expression - a key component of effective communication.
Finding this sweet
spot changes
your entire
world.
Finding this sweet
spot changes
your entire
world.
At 48, I discovered I was dyslexic.
This revelation changed everything - but my journey started long before that.
Picture this:
A college graduate, 13 years out of school, working as a bouncer checking IDs outside San Francisco’s second oldest bar.
That was me; a struggling potter hopping from job to job - dishwasher, shipping clerk, landscaper...
Dyslexia does not equal lazy.
Being born in Congo-Zaire/ Africa, moving to America and learning English at 8 years old is a big part of who I am...
But with a history of poor grades and an inability to pull it together after years of school, I convinced myself I had little intelligence and limited potential, regardless of where I lived.
So I adopted a self-protective strategy: "If I don't try, I can’t fail."
Shadowed by an academically gifted family with an immigrant work ethic- in school, I was labeled "lazy" and "doesn’t apply himself".
One night, an old college friend walked into the bar during my shift as bouncer/ ID checker and he saw something in me I never
knew existed.
"Claude, you're a great communicator and have a way with people" he said.
Words that would change my life.
Within weeks of that compliment, I was spending my days on the 7th floor of the historic Bank of America building in the financial district.
That college friend had offered
me a job in financial services.
Despite battling anxiety and panic attacks, I made it to the top of the leaderboard
in my 4th month.
This identity shift set me on a path to eventually consult with litigation attorneys
in Fortune 500 companies.
Me - the guy who thought he'd peaked as a bar bouncer, was on top.
A SETBACK IS A SETUP FOR A COMEBACK
There have been dark moments, including one that nearly cost me my life.
On October 24/ 2016, the years of substance abuse caught up to me.
I cashed in every ounce of willpower I had to have Uber take me to the nearest ER.
Doctors admitted me with a near fatal combo of a .30 blood alcohol level and half a dozen illegal substances in my system at 10AM that Monday morning.
I knew the ER couldn't keep me indefinitely, so I needed a plan for when they released me.
Coming clean was my only way out. Otherwise, my addiction would take me right back to where I'd just come from because that's what addiction does.
So I did what any grown man on the brink of further destroying himself should do...
CALL YOUR MOM...
A few days later, I checked myself into rehab for the second time and as gut-wrenching as the whole experience was, 30 days in rehab saved my life.
Despite the personal issues, my offer letter as partner on a new settlement recovery team awaited my signature once out of rehab on 12/1/2016.
I leaned into 2017 with a new attitude, new goals and mental health objectives.
I've lost several friends to addiction and substance abuse. Honestly, I often forget just how close I came to losing my life.
I'm grateful for the second chance I've been given and I'm committed to making a positive impact in the world.
In 2020, a random workshop led by an entrepreneur
with dyslexia shook me.
The entrepreneur (Dean Graziosi) talked about how hard it was for him growing up dyslexic in upstate New York. His stories were so rich and heartfelt that I wanted to learn more about dyslexia to better understand what Dean went through, so that I might draw strength from his experience.
AND JUST LIKE THAT!
As I read his book, the pieces fell into place. My academic struggles, difficulty holding down jobs, bouts of anxiety, challenges processing, my creative solutions, substance abuse and low self esteem - it all made sense.
IT WAS DYSLEXIA!
From that moment, I spent months learning about dyslexia from podcasts, books, researchers and psychology papers. I dove into it on social media while reading thousands of online comments to find and understand trends.
After an assessment confirmed dyslexia, I looked back at my life through a completely different lens.
I felt validation, regret, gratitude, sadness and anger:
- I remembered the embarrassment of my early years in America where I’d end up as the target of jokes I didn’t even understand
- I was reminded of the frustration of studying for hours only to forget nearly everything I learned during the test
- I recalled the shame of not wanting to ask for help at school for fear of being labeled as the dumb black kid from Africa
THAT'S WHEN IT HIT ME...
- Dyslexics are top-down learners
- Our learning style allows us to understand the context and purpose before honing in on specific details
- It's a strength that helps us make connections, see patterns, and approach problems from a holistic perspective
IT’S YOUR CLAIM TO FAME = BIG PICTURE THINKING.
Yet, a lot of adult dyslexia content focuses strictly on cognitive development: Executive functioning, working memory, sequencing/ processing and other detailed-oriented skills.
While key, these are hard for dyslexics who naturally prefer The Big Picture First.
Dyslexic adults (top down learners) are being taught, led and influenced through bottom up learning (neurotypical) techniques, then wondering why we’re
not rising to our next level...
"We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them" - Einstein
That’s when I realized that if I, someone who once believed my future was limited to being a bouncer, could become a partner in a legal services firm and consult for Fortune 500 companies…
What could other dyslexics achieve, if they better understood their strengths and used top down learning methods that respected how they learned?
It guts me to see others suffering in professional or social situations because I've been there - It's why I do this.
Driven by a built-in desire to lessen people’s struggle, I created Powered by Dyslexia to share the tools and unique Regulation-Results Readiness™ strategies you won’t find elsewhere.
My mission has always been to start from the heart, not the head.
Focus on dyslexia's emotional impact to bridge the disconnect between potential and performance.
Help LEX professionals break through limitations to find where their passion and energy meet their skills and capabilities - so they can gain the trust, respect and understanding needed to succeed on their own terms.
Powered by Dyslexia flips the traditional cognitive development-first model by meeting
you where you are. This puts the focus on the person
- not their dyslexia symptoms.
- Prioritize emotional empowerment
- Respect your natural top down learning style
- Unlock your personal and professional advantage
REGULATION - RESULTS - READINESS™
Why Starting From the Heart Works
REGULATION
Emotional regulation serves as a solid foundation for growth and learning because it lets you manage your emotions and respond appropriately to challenging situations.
The benefit is that this creates the emotional stability needed to tackle these next two critical components effectively.
RESULTS
Providing proof, through "results in advance visualization" or actual results, breeds motivation and boosts belief in one's ability.
The benefit is that increased motivation and self-efficacy
then fuels your engagement in more activities, including those that improve cognitive functions. Motion creates positive emotion.
READINESS
Continual strengthening of cognitive skills helps dyslexics process info more efficiently, remember better, and manage tasks more effectively - especially when emotionally stable.
The benefit is that this ensures a more sustainable path towards self-improvement and reaching your goals and milestones.
When dyslexics feel emotionally secure and understood, our cognitive functions like memory and problem solving
improve - which boosts motivation, pride and agency.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
What Others Are Saying About Claude
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
"Claude, your story really resonated with me. I remember for many years I was told that I would never be able to work in certain professions and do many things. I love how you flip this thinking and show how people like us can see the world through different lenses.
Thanks for your course; I’m in my zone of power and love the concept. I highly recommend your programs to any dyslexic professional."
- MIKE EMPOLGADO
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
“Before our sessions, I struggled w/ self-confidence & speaking with people. Now, I feel more confident and my fear has decreased. I’ve gained new positive beliefs and believe I have a purpose. This transformation has been life-changing.
Thank you so much Dr. Claude"
- frances s.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
“I want to give a big shout out to Claude and his amazing course. I've mentioned how much change I’ve experienced. But it has been amazing to have these tools when having a recent crisis in the family.
But with the help of Claude’s Empowerment course, I've been able to manage my emotions and as well my tasks while keeping my confidence up as I maintain running my school. Just a big big thank you to Claude Mudimbe”
- JESSICA SANDHOLM
POWERED BY DYSLEXIA
BRIDGE THE GAP
Professionally, I started in financial services where I worked with homeowners, then moved into advising small to medium sized businesses, followed by legal services consultation with litigation, finance, IT and procurement teams for some of the largest corporations in the world.
In 2024, we launched the Free "Powered byDyslexia" newsletter, delivering next-level insights to dyslex6 over 30 on Tuesdays (Newsletter) and Fridays (Podcast).
Stay close for this year's exciting launch of our Membership HUB - the Zone of Power.
Since my "late" dyslexia discovery, I've hosted multiple workshops, coached LEX adults 1X1, built a global community, created courses, workshops, been featured in Marcia Brisset's (global neurodiverse influencer) 2023 book - Black, Brilliant and Dyslexic, blogged, spoken live, guested on podcasts and contributed materials to a diversity training for Life Moves in Silicon Valley and much more.
It all started with someone believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. They recognized my potential and raised my performance to levels I had no idea I could reach and today, I'm making a positive and lasting impact in the lives of dyslex6 everywhere.
While it hasn’t been easy, it’s led me to this moment; meeting you here and possibly playing a role in helping you find or tap further into your Zone of Power.
Connect,
Claude
