Small Biz Insider: 5 Takeaways from Jeff Miller, CEO of Potentia

Published May 23, 2019 by Maggie Martin

The Small Biz Insider podcast is part of a digital series from the Greater Houston Partnership, where we highlight the innovative business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders of the greater Houston area making a big impact in the small business community.

On this episode of Small Biz Insider, host Maggie Martin sits down with Jeff Miller, CEO of Potentia. It’s a technology-focused recruitment firm that connects top employers with tech leadership candidates, and also has a passion for autism employment when working on more junior tech roles.

Here are 5 takeaways from our conversation with Jeff Miller:

For college graduates on the autism spectrum, the unemployment rate is 80%. Miller said this statistic was one of the key points that led him to start Potentia.
Companies can make their environment more inclusive from the onset of the hiring process. Miller said interviewing is really critical, and it’s important for employers to identify the skills really needed for the job and to isolate those for job candidates. The interview environment should be one in which individuals feel free to share what they can do best. That may be providing interview questions ahead of time or stretching the interview out a little bit.
Disclosure is key. Autism is considered a disability, so some individuals on the spectrum will need accommodations. If individuals are looking for an accommodation in the workplace, they are required to present your disability and their reason for needing the accommodation. And the individual always owns disclosure, which means it’s their responsibility to determine how much they want to share with their employer.
Most accommodations cost employers nothing. Miller said 70% of accommodations cost $0 and could be as simple as providing headphones to an employee to help them focus better in the workplace.
Chambers of commerce are an incredible asset to small businesses. The Partnership represents more than 1,000 companies in the greater Houston region, 60% of which is made up of local small businesses. Miller said he’s still building his network here in Houston, and being a member of the Partnership is a great opportunity to tap into the network and learn what other thought leaders are doing.