An entrepreneur and transformational business leader, Halden Zimmermann specializes in strategically positioning his companies to outperform the market by a wide margin. Often recognized for his leadership capabilities and his impressive international experience, Mr. Zimmermann developed a simple strategic approach that fosters innovation and growth in a significant way. Mr. Zimmermann has drawn on his foundational experience in lean manufacturing and operations strategies to drive cost management while applying growth tools and investment to accelerate growth of businesses.
Mr. Zimmermann’s academic career has played a significant role in the success as a professional. As an undergraduate, Mr. Zimmermann attended Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, earning a degree in engineering and management and another degree in mechanical engineering from the University’s School of Engineering and Science. While working for Valeo — first as a manufacturing engineer and in many other operations management roles — Mr. Zimmermann earned acceptance into the MBA program at the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, New York, earning his Master of Business Administration degree from the prestigious program.
Despite his consistent success as a professional, Mr. Zimmermann has continually pursued any opportunity in which there is the possibility to sharpen his leadership skills or to further his knowledge and understanding of the industry in which he works. As a result, Mr. Zimmermann is certified by the George Group as a Six Sigma Black Belt; has been named a Continuous Improvement Champion due to the many Kaizen and trainings events that has led to millions in savings and growth. An innovator in every sense of the word, Mr. Zimmermann is also a patent holder on a “value-added pharmaceutical and medical product delivery system.”
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
The best course was a technology class that was taught by a retired engineer. He set up his class in a competition style and had real technology problem based grading for the class. The better the student solved the problem the more points you received and therefore your grade depended on your problem solving skill sets. T
What was your first job?
My first job out of college was as a manufacturing engineer with Valeo.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
Even though I love everything about engineering, I felt there was much more I could contribute to an organization while working in a position of leadership. I enjoyed building teams and bringing a business approach that accelerated growth.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
Having the opportunity to be involved with operations and lean manufacturing while also being charged with leadership responsibilities gave me a more holistic view of management in general.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
The best days for me are when I have a chance to make another person very successful. Allowing others to learn on their own and through your guidance is very rewarding.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
I’ve never felt the need to consciously keep myself motivated, which I believe is a product of the passion I feel for my work.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
Game changers.. ideas and innovation potential that can change how a market and business will run. Blue Ocean ideas!
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
There are a few approaches I use to attract attention, sometimes it takes very simple but effective tools to get in front of customers… when you have the opportunity to do something creative and out of the box those are always fun.. However I stress being different isn’t always the same as being effective.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of some of the teams and people I have had the chance the lead, build friendships with throughout my career and the impact I have had on their journey. Those long lasting relationships are very important to me.
What wisdom you would have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
There will be good days and there will be bad. Both will pass so savor the good and don’t over stress about hiccups.