As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Noor Y. Syed, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA/LBS of Anderson Center International.
Noor Y. Syed, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA/LBS is the Director of Anderson Center International (ACI), an affiliate of Anderson Center for Autism. In this role, she works with scholars from all over the globe, who come to Anderson’s main campus in Staatsburg, New York for a 12–18 month training program. During that period, the scholars acquire knowledge and skills necessary to establish evidence-based programs for autistic and neurodivergent individuals upon return to their home countries. Syed and her team are then available to scholars in an ongoing way for consultation. She has consulted with autism clinics in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Romania, and Uganda, among others — and recently presented at the United Nations during the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I’m so honored to be here! I came to the field of autism, developmental disabilities, and supporting individuals from under-resourced areas through my cousin, who sadly passed away a few years ago. He was born with profound to severe needs, into a geographic region where resources and knowledge were limited when it came to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Autism and special education were topics that were not well-understood in his home geographic region at that time. As a result, my aunt and uncle felt compelled to bring him to the United States so that they could seek out the help he needed. They were subsequently convinced to sign my cousin up for an experimental surgery.
My aunt and uncle, who didn’t primarily speak English, were from a culture in which they were taught to listen to authority figures without questioning the advice being given. I don’t think that they really had a strong understanding of the risks that were associated with this experimental surgery, and just very much thought, OK, we’re going to go ahead and do the things that the professionals advise us to do. However, as the direct result of this experimental procedure, my cousin lost all of the skills that he had previously, and became a ward of the State until he passed away a few years ago.
That experience has of course made a lasting impact on myself and my entire family. It undeniably shaped who I am today and the professional journey I have chosen.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
It is a great privilege to be a part of organizations such as Anderson Center International (ACI) and the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education and Supports (CAARES); every day is interesting and exciting in some way.
When we first started CAARES, our primary initiative was to help build an autistic supportive institution. However, we initially received some pushback, including from the autistic community. The resistance was centered around concerns that a behavior analyst like myself would not be the right fit for a leadership role given the challenging discussions surrounding behavior analysis. It was, honestly, incredibly difficult for me to process the fact that someone (and/or more than one person) was distraught at the idea that a behavior analyst would be part of CAARES and potentially do more harm than good.
And so, frankly, worry set in as I considered whether or not I truly was the right fit for the role. I began to internalize the concerns others were having about a behavior analyst like me taking the lead. It was a crucial moment in my career where I had to make a choice: brush off the misgivings that others were expressing, knowing that I had the best interests of the program and people we would serve at heart — or stop, listen, and learn from the community by exploring those concerns. I opted to do the latter, which became a pivotal moment. I began reaching out and simply saying, “Thank you for sharing. We’re so grateful to you, and I’d love to learn more about your perspective.”
Those conversations became the spark needed to solidify our commitment to community-informed initiatives at CAARES. This, in turn, helped shape the way we approach decisions and program development at ACI. The initiatives on which we choose to embark, the strategies we are implementing, the work that we are choosing to do, and the resources that we’re developing align with those which have been identified by the community as being areas of need. Hearing from and working hand-in-hand with scholar practitioners from various regions around the world, who openly convey to us what their communities most need and want, helps us determine direction and prioritize certain aspects of our work at ACI.
For example, through these conversations at ACI, we have discovered that efforts to support autistic people and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from around the world is critical — along with helping their families and communities learn how to engage in culturally appropriate practices rooted in science which cultivate acceptance and inclusion.
I am so grateful for the enlightening conversations with colleagues in the autistic community and our ACI scholars; not only have they made me a more successful, confident leader, but I have developed meaningful relationships with people who continue to help me learn and grow.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
There have certainly been many mistakes along the way, and I am sure I will continue to miss the mark at times! My goal, of course, is to learn the lessons that come from each one of those experiences.
One example that comes to mind immediately was when I had the fortune to travel to Uganda to consult with an autism clinic. When I arrived, I had this idea that I knew which skills were important for the autistic students to learn, and I was quite honestly feeling confident that I had the expertise to help. After a day or so of observing, I went to the Head of School and said, “I really think the students could use some work on developing daily living skills. We need to buy certain supplies and to help them work on this as soon as possible.”
The Head of School very kindly and gently replied, “You know, thanks, Noor. I appreciate your thoughts, but the priorities that you’ve just described are just not at all priorities within this community. It is simply not something that is important here culturally, and it is really not something that is important to our students at this time. They have other major concerns to consider, in terms of their livelihood and what’s next. And while I appreciate that you want to work on these daily living skills, it’s frankly an area that is not a top priority or concern because there’s so much else we have to do and we don’t have access to those resources that you’ve just asked for.”
That really was a powerful situation in that it helped me see that I had been making assumptions rather than working collaboratively or asking, “What do you care about? What do you need?” So, I learned a valuable lesson which has stayed with me since, and will continue to inform future conversations. Another poignant reminder that we have to listen, learn, and work together.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
At Anderson Center International (ACI), we have the great honor of working with scholars from all over the world. They travel to the United States for a fully-paid 12–18 month training that we offer, which educates them on the evidence-based practices which can optimize the quality of life for autistic individuals and their families. Upon return to their home countries, these scholars have all of the skills and knowledge needed to launch programs for autistic individuals who live in underserved areas. ACI is a robust, wonderful, and impactful training program that we established and continue to grow. We are now building capacity with alumni around the world, with a focus on community-informed practices, working collaboratively on developing strategic plans, building autism centers, and providing training, touching the lives of countless people who have long been in desperate need of programs and services.
To date, we have had the pleasure and privilege of working with approximately 200 scholars from about 40 countries — so the impact is quantifiable, and of course extends far beyond those numbers! ACI offers an incredible opportunity to learn from highly talented individuals who come together from all different walks of life and parts of the world to collectively ask, “What is important? What are those top areas of need that we can identify around the world, and how can we best address those needs?”
In addition, ACI’s impact is illustrated through its consultative status with the United Nations. We hold Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status, as well as associative status with the Department of Global Communications; that said, we are presenting in front of world leaders, doing our part to help shape policy by sharing expertise and weighing in on new developments in our field.
In addition, ACI supports a free ProjectECHO training focused on supporting autistic individuals and their families. This is essentially a digital global community which allows for information and idea sharing, professional development experiences, and more. Anyone can attend and present, regardless of geographic location.
Through all of the aforementioned initiatives, ACI is bringing conversations about autism and other neurodiversities to a broader scale and engaging families, scholars, alumni, and colleagues who work together with incredible humans from around the world to build lasting, sustainable solutions.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One of our wonderful ACI alumni, Richard Rakesh, lives in India and has been truly inspiring. After he completed our ACI program, Richard traveled back to India and started sharing the evidence-based practices he learned, educating the community on how to best support autistic people and their families.
He is working on opening an autism center that is primarily or initially focused on adolescents and adults, two age groups that he and his colleagues determined to be the most in need of services. ACI is working collaboratively with Richard on developing that autism center, focused on building capacity and developing a training protocol for the direct support professionals who will work for Richard’s organization, along with creating curricula for those who will be served by the center.
Richard is focused so strongly on inclusion and building acceptance, and is instrumental in leading advocacy efforts in India. He is making an incredible difference; he was empowered by ACI, and now he is going to make a world of difference in the lives of so many others.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Hear from the community, invest in our people, and do so by building partnerships that are focused on sustainable solutions.
Again, it’s so important not to assume that we know what the top priorities are for the autistic community. We must focus on hearing from the community about what’s most needed and where we should allocate resources. For example, I would love to see increased attention given to gainful employment, as well as quality of life and mental health support needs, all of which have been identified by the autistic community as significant areas of need.
“What matters to you?” is one of the most important questions we need to ask. I would love for us to always start there, and then invest resources into supporting the autistic community the way they want to be supported… and to do so collaboratively.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Building off the previous question, I would define or identify leadership as incredibly complex, nuanced, and full of constant learning and humility.
I have learned that leadership is a skillset; it is continuously growing and evolving, and it is important to recognize mistakes and learn from them.
Bidirectional feedback also plays a significant role; asking questions like “How do you feel things are going? What are ways that I can improve? In what ways can I grow?” This bidirectionality builds trust; a growth mindset reminds us that we are all works in progress. If we listen and learn with our communities, reflect deeply and set the stage for ongoing bidirectional feedback, we engage in community informed work. And we are going to find that place where the priorities come together — and that’s where we’re going to start.
Leadership, for me, is asking questions, learning, and not presuming that I have all the answers or that I know the best way to go.
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What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Leadership is learned; embrace your mistakes. When I first started out, and still at times, it can be so hard to say that I made a mistake or I messed up, especially as I am beating myself up! But it is so much more powerful to be open and honest. And it is so much easier to do when you are surrounded by people who care deeply about the same issues that you do. That shared sense of purpose goes a long way, as does having a growth mindset. Also, rather than expecting to be perfect at leadership right off the bat, we’ve got to learn how to be a leader. At times I feel there is a presumption that someone is going to instinctively know how to lead, but I think that is inaccurate. We can tap into resources that teach leadership, and likewise mentor emerging leaders; we are all learning.
- Listen to your instincts. I have really started to trust my intuition when I sense that it is not the right time for me to speak, or when I feel as though what I’m going to say might not land as I would like it to. This is continuously evolving, because it involves reflection and an understanding of your own private events, but learning to trust those instincts is key. Of course they’re not always going to be right, but more often than not, I have found them to serve as a helpful guide. Listening to those instincts, trusting them, and knowing that you are always learning, growing, and discovering — and that you’re going to make the best decision that you can, given the information that you have at the time, especially after reflection.
- Be authentic. There’s so much more joy in life when work is aligned with your values, feels purposeful, contributes to the community, but also brings you happiness and enriches your life too. In our field, burnout rates are incredibly high, so it’s so important to engage in work that allows you to be true to yourself. I think that if you don’t, burnout can rear its head much faster. Remind yourself of that every day: honor who you are, celebrate your values, set meaningful intentions, and lead with gratitude.
- Practice and prepare. Time and again, I’ve noticed that when I can take the time to really prepare for a big meeting, practice a presentation, or start that first draft and then read it over again, I end up with a better product. It is worth creating some space before you go into something. For example, if you’re giving a presentation, ask yourself first: what is the story I want to tell? What are those data saying? How do I tell the story in a way that maximizes impact? Once you clarify for yourself what it is you are hoping to achieve, then take the time to practice, prepare to the best of your ability, because it will help you get to the results you desire more successfully. I will add that if you find that you don’t have the time to prepare as much as you would like, then perhaps re-evaluate whether you should be carving out time for a certain activity. It is okay to say “no” to things if you aren’t able to make space for the prep work needed to execute on them.
- We have talked about this a lot today, but listening, learning, collaborating, being humble, and having grace with yourself is so important. We can’t be everywhere, we can’t know everything, and that’s why we engage in community informed care; community is the key word! And when you’re doing things, particularly that are emotional like my work can be, know that it can take a toll on you. So embrace bidirectional feedback and lead with humility, but give yourself the same grace and compassion you offer to others.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Wayne Gretzky famously said: “You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.”
I tend to be risk-averse, so this is difficult for me. However, I know it is true that if we don’t put ourselves out there, there’s no way that we’re going to be able to move forward and better ourselves. Progress is never linear, and that is okay because we are constantly growing, constantly moving forward, and always improving from our baseline. Each step, even when it’s hard, takes us closer to your goals.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Malala Yousafzai is someone whom I admire tremendously. I am Brown, I’m Muslim, my dad is from Pakistan, and my mom is from the Philippines. Having Malala Yousafzai as a role model for everyone today is wonderful and inspiring. The way that she stood up for education and for the rights of women in Pakistan, as well as her advocacy for women’s rights around the world, is just so incredible. Her grace, her humility, and her perseverance are qualities I deeply wish to emulate.
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful” is a quote attributed to Malala Yousafzai that really drives me and drives my work. Her tireless advocacy has helped me to see that we can make a difference — and even if it feels like we’re alone at times, we’re not. I’m so grateful for the leadership and the way she has shown up to the world. One day, if I were ever to have the distinct honor of meeting Ms. Yousafzai, it would just be an incredible joy to learn from her experiences and wisdom.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
The immeasurable value of conversation. I am not the first to bring this idea to the table, nor is this a pioneer-type movement, but it is one that I think is so critical to highlight. Engaging in conversations where people are genuinely seeking to listen and to learn — where they feel safe to ask questions about what is most important to one another, and catalyze dialogue about how to work together — it is how we can live life with purpose, and how we move forward as a society.
In my work with Anderson Center International (along with my other roles), we connect with people from all different walks of life, all different political ideologies, neurotypes, identities, and backgrounds. But I have found, almost always, that if you sit and talk to someone and remember that we are all human, that we have hearts, and that we care, that we’re going to find common ground and learn from each other.
That’s where we begin to really focus on these super-important issues, such as how we can support autistic people and our communities in becoming more inclusive, and how we are making the world feel like a safe place for everybody. It all starts with conversation. When you really seek to listen and learn, there is a ripple effect, allowing us to grow and shape societies that are supportive for all.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Visit the website for Anderson Center for Autism, where you can learn more about Anderson Center International, by visiting: https://www.andersoncenterforautism.org/international/.
You can also follow Anderson Center for Autism on social media as follows:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/andersoncenterforautism
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndersonCenterforAutism
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!