Revealing the Underground

In September 2025, Seequent and Unlock Innovation founded a research project with the University of Canterbury, to investigate a link between the deliberate inclusion of dyslexic minds in teams, and increased innovation.

Our previous research concluded in 2023, points to establishing an organisational culture that understands, supports and leverages neural differences. Advantaging both the individual and the company.

Dyslexic minds, on which we focus, are estimated to number one in five globally. Historically, dyslexia has been narrowly defined as a reading and writing difficulty, which led many organisations to overlook the broader capabilities of dyslexic individuals.

What has emerged recently, is a picture of thinking differences that bring with them, strong future focused attributes, rather than a concentration of deficits. Most organisations still over emphasise conventional skills, underestimating the innovative potential that comes from diverse ways of thinking.

Our clients are organisations that are beginning to realise different skills are required in the 21^st century. The question is, what are they and where do you find them?

A quick look at the World Economic Forum’s top 10 skills of 2025, demonstrates the broad skillsets offered by the dyslexic brain but only if they are understood and supported. A non-exhaustive list of these skills include creativity, originality, critical thinking, complex problem solving, active learning and learning strategies, analytical thinking, innovation, connecting and resilience.

Our client Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company, developed insights with the help of Unlock Innovation. They are on a journey to not only optimise the skills of dyslexic thinkers but also to foster a deeper understanding of dyslexia that benefits everyone. By creating a more inclusive work environment, they ensure that all individuals, regardless of their thinking style, can thrive and contribute their best. 

Seequent builds world-leading technology that is at the forefront of Earth sciences, evolving the way mining, civil engineering, energy and environmental organisations work with a better understanding of the underground.

Unlock Innovations research and consulting to date, has uncovered the importance of integrating different mindsets. Some neurodiverse people, in their defence, claim to have superpowers. We contend that super thinking can only be successfully implemented if paired with neurotypical problem solving, which critically includes sequencing, prioritising and detail management.

The future of innovation will belong to organisations that not only respect difference but deliberately design for it.

Seequent’s work, making the unseen visible to their customers, aligns with Unlock Innovation’s goal to uncover hidden talent and thinking styles visible, valuable, and integrated across the organisation.