About Herrmann

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Better Thinking for a Better World

Our Mission: Better Thinking for a Better World

At Herrmann, we aim to empower organizations and individuals to unlock their full potential through cutting-edge technology solutions and innovative thinking. We strive to be a trusted partner, providing transformative tools and insights that drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving business landscape. 

By democratizing Whole Brain® Thinking tools, we empower continuous learning, adaptation, and collective breakthrough for individuals and teams in organizations of all sizes — from the Fortune 500 to small and medium-sized businesses.

Our commitment is to deliver excellence in every aspect of our operations. We are dedicated to understanding our client's unique challenges and goals, and tailoring our solutions to meet their needs. By leveraging our expertise in technology and deep industry knowledge, we aim to revolutionize how businesses operate, enabling them to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Our Purpose: Harnessing Cognitive Diversity at Scale

We support the growth of teams and organizations so that their collective abilities exceed the sum of their individual talents and so their collaboration is energizing and productive rather than frustrating. 

Our solutions are grounded in over 40 years of applied use by over 4 million users around the world. The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) and Whole Brain® Thinking Model have profoundly helped teams and organizations to be more effective and individuals to feel more included and accepted.

At Herrmann, we are building a future where everyone can unleash the full potential of their thinking to better understand and apply knowledge about themselves and how to best excel in their careers. We combine human cognition with artificial intelligence, honed by our scientifically proven Whole Brain® Thinking methodology. The result is a transformation of how we work, learn, and collaborate as individuals, teams, and organizations.

Our innovative Herrmann Platform, powered by the pioneering HBDI® profile, uncovers the intricacies of individual thinking and delivers at scale how their thinking applies to the comprehension of others. The purpose of Whole Brain® Thinking is to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and leveraging individuals' different thinking preferences and cognitive styles. It recognizes that people have unique thinking preferences — and that leveraging these preferences can enhance problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and decision-making processes. 

By understanding and leveraging the Whole Brain® Model, individuals and teams can apply it in various ways to enhance their effectiveness. 

  • Self-Awareness: Gain insight into your thinking preferences, and understand how they influence your behavior, problem-solving approaches, and decision-making. This awareness can help you play to your strengths and develop areas for growth. 
  • Team Collaboration: Recognize and appreciate the thinking preferences of others on your team. By embracing diverse perspectives and leveraging the strengths of each thinking style, teams can enhance collaboration, communication, and problem-solving capabilities through our team accelerator toolkit. 
  • Problem-Solving: Use the Whole Brain® Model to approach problem-solving from multiple angles. Consider a challenge's analytical, practical, relational, and experimental aspects to generate well-rounded solutions. 
  • Communication: Tailor your communication style to engage individuals with different thinking preferences. Adapt your language, visuals, and examples to resonate with diverse audiences, ensuring your message is understood. 
  • Leadership: Apply Whole Brain® Thinking to leadership by creating an inclusive environment that values and leverages diverse thinking styles. Encourage creativity, collaboration, and open dialogue, allowing individuals to contribute their unique perspectives and ideas.
  • Learning and Development: Utilize the Whole Brain® Model in training and development programs to enhance learning experiences. Design activities and exercises that engage participants across different thinking styles, promoting a holistic and comprehensive learning environment. 

Our approach drives a metacognitive revolution that will forever improve teamwork, reshape organizations, and catalyze global change. Join us in unleashing your potential and contributing to better thinking for a better world.

Our Values

diversity

EMBRACE DIVERSITY. PROMOTE EQUITY. FOSTER INCLUSION

We are committed to creating a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. By prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we unlock our employees' full potential, drive innovation, and build a stronger, more inclusive company.

creativity

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY

We value the generation of new ideas, creativity, and innovative thinking. Employees can unlock their full potential by fostering an environment that supports and encourages creative thinking. 

learning

CONTINUOUS LEARNING

We promote lifelong learning and personal development. We recognize the value of ongoing education and acquiring new skills and knowledge to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

partnership

COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP

We emphasize collaboration and partnership, both within our organization and with our customers. We value building strong relationships, working together as a team, and fostering a supportive and inclusive culture. 

results-oriented

RESULTS-ORIENTED APPROACH

We focus on achieving tangible results for our customers and aim to provide practical Whole Brain® Thinking tools, strategies, and solutions that improve individual and organizational performance.

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Our History

Herrmann International is a global company helping individuals and organizations improve their thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. The company was founded in the 1980s by Ned Herrmann, an American scientist and author.

Herrmann was a pioneer in the field of brain research and its applications in the business world at General Electric. He believed that understanding and leveraging the different thinking preferences of individuals could lead to improved performance and creativity. Drawing upon his extensive research, he developed the HBDI®, an assessment tool that measures thinking preferences based on his brain research. 

In 1981, Herrmann International was established to promote the use of the HBDI® and provide consulting services and training programs to organizations worldwide. The company initially focused on helping individuals and teams understand their thinking styles and develop strategies to enhance their innovation, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Over the years, Herrmann International expanded its offerings to include various learning solutions and tools for individuals and organizations. These included workshops, coaching programs, and customized consulting services tailored to business needs. The company worked with clients from various industries, including business, education, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Herrmann International’s approach gained recognition and popularity as companies sought to enhance innovation, collaboration, and adaptability in the rapidly changing business landscape. Its methodologies and tools improved team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and organizational performance.

In 1999, Ned Herrmann passed away, leaving behind a legacy of research and innovation in thinking and brain-based learning. Today, Herrmann International continues to offer Whole Brain® Thinking SaaS solutions under the leadership of a dedicated team of experts. The company’s Whole Brain® Model and HBDI® assessment have been used globally, translated into 28 languages, and used by over 90% of Fortune 100 organizations. 

Over 4 million people worldwide have improved their performance through better thinking. The company remains committed to helping individuals and organizations unlock their thinking potential through breakthrough AI technology to achieve sustainable success in a complex world. 

Leadership Team

Karim Morgan Nehdi avatar

CEO

Karim Morgan Nehdi

Karim Nehdi leads Herrmann's mission of better thinking for a better world by ensuring the best service experience for our clients and their thinkers. Joining Herrmann in 2014, he has 20 years of executive leadership experience in global innovation, technology integration, and team development. His leadership philosophy fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and customer-centricity within Herrmann. He believes in empowering employees, encouraging them to think outside the box, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. By nurturing a dynamic and inclusive work environment, he has fostered a spirit of creativity and excellence, leading to breakthrough innovations and solutions that have revolutionized the talent intelligence industry.

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Ann Herrmann-Nehdi avatar

Chair of the Board, Chief Thought Leader, former CEO

Ann Herrmann-Nehdi

Ann Herrmann-Nehdi leads the development and creation of thought leadership in partnership with our strategic partners and clients to maximize the team synergy within Herrmann and Herrmann clients' high-performing executive teams. Her 35+ years of experience and practical Whole Brain® Thinking applications have helped various organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized businesses, to make impactful benefits to individual thinkers, teams, and organizations worldwide.

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JT Tompkins avatar

Chief Growth Officer

JT Tompkins

JT Tompkins is the chief growth officer at Herrmann and is responsible for client expansion. He ensures that Herrmann is meeting our client’s needs in regards to account management, communications, and execution throughout the customer lifecycle. Joining Herrmann in 2015, he has 25+ years of executive leadership experience in sales, business development, and strategic partner relations.

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Jonathan Berg avatar

Vice President of Product

Jonathan Berg

Jonathan Berg is a product leader who ensures that Herrmann's products are user-friendly, innovative, meet a high degree of customer satisfaction, and are invaluable in the flow of work. Joining Herrmann in 2019, he has 25+ years of experience in product management, technical expertise, and bringing new products and services to market, creating the foundation for future business growth.

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Matthew Casey avatar

Vice President of Learning

Matthew Casey, Ph.D.

Matthew Casey, Ph.D., is responsible for helping clients gain the most significant applicable benefits from using Herrmann products through practitioner education and thinker application, use case content creation, and community development. Joining Herrmann in 2022, he has 15+ years of experience leading learning, talent management, training, coaching, and communications functions.

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Sharon DiStase avatar

Vice President of Marketing

Sharon DiStase

Sharon leads the company's efforts to accelerate the growth of our business, taking the next steps in our marketing evolution, communicating best practices and investing to drive more robust demand generation. She brings deep Saas marketing, Demand generation and ABM experience. She has 28+ years of experience in the marketing industry.

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Leslie Flack avatar

Vice President of Finance & Operations

Leslie Flack

Leslie Flack oversees the work of the global finance and operations staff, including contract management, subscription licensing, client invoicing, and IT operations. Joining Herrmann in 2007, she has 15+ years of experience driving business processes that improve efficiency, standardization, and scalability across the organization.

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Amanda Sperling avatar

Vice President of People & Culture

Amanda Sperling

Amanda Sperling leads our human capital functions by ensuring a sustainable and cognitively diverse culture within Herrmann that hires and retains quality employees who are continuously engaged through learning and career growth. Joining Herrmann in 2022, she has 20+ years of organizational development experience delivering top-quality organization-wide learning initiatives that develop and retain high-performing employees.

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