Collette Divitto

Collette Divitto is a pioneering entrepreneur, disability rights activist, author, global speaker, and thought leader to anyone who’s ever been told they are not good enough or intelligent enough to pursue their dreams.

After being rejected from many job opportunities, likely due to her disability (Down syndrome), Divitto decided to launch her own cookie company. Before she knew it, the company, and her story, blew up to global status. Today, Collettey’s has sold over 1 million cookies, and stays true to her mission of creating employment for people with disabilities and advocating for change! Though Collettey’s (Collette’s nickname) began with selling cookies exclusively online, Divitto has recently developed a shelf-stable cookie that is taking her business to the next level via retail stores and markets. Divitto’s story was developed into a documentary which was given an Academy Award this year for short film! This documentary is called 17 Percent, representing only 17% of people with disabilities who have employment. Her story has been in the media over 16 countries and brings hope and inspiration to improve the lives of people with disabilities

On top of running a successful national company, Divitto also operates a nonprofit organization, called Collettey’s Leadership. This nonprofit offers workshops, webinars, and mentoring for the neurodiverse community. The leadership organization has built a coalition with an advisory board of many leaders in Washington DC. This coalition is focused on neurodiversity and employment and creating a filmed project program to help other companies hire this community. Collettey’s Cookies donates a percentage of profits each year to this goal.

Divitto has been a magnet for media attention. To date, she has been in People and Forbes Magazine, appeared on shows like "Fox and Friends," CNBC Make It," NBC's "First Look," "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir," NewsNation, and many more, including a TED talk. She stars in Shopify Studio’s reality show “Born for Business,” which is available to stream on Peacock and Crave Canada. Recently, she developed a web series and her own podcast channel on YouTube entitled “Underestimated.”

Divitto is a mogul in the making, has a heart of gold, and wants to spread her message far and wide. She hopes her journey and successes can effect great change for people with neurodiversity, especially for employment opportunities.