# KRW International

> KRW International is a global leadership consulting firm that treats character as a measurable business input, not a soft one. Built around the seven-year Return on Character research led by co-founder Fred Kiel, the firm uses proprietary assessments and predictive analytics to help CEOs, senior teams, and boards close the gap between who they intend to be and how they are actually experienced. Its pitch - coaching based on data, not opinion - reframes integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion as habits that correlate with returns, engagement, and reduced risk.

- **Founded:** 1991
- **Headquarters:** Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- **Founders:** Fred Kiel (Co-founder, author of Return on Character (d. 2020)), Kathryn Williams (Co-founder), Eric Rimmer (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** ~35 employees
- **Products:** Return on Character (ROC) Leadership Assessment, Executive & CEO Coaching, Team Dynamics Assessment & Team Coaching, Board Assessments & Solutions, C-Suite Onboarding & Leadership Development Programs
- **Notable:** Produced the seven-year Return on Character study linking senior-team character to nearly 5x greater returns and 26% higher workforce engagement., Published Return on Character (Harvard Business Review Press, 2015), a widely cited leadership title., Fred Kiel's TEDxBGI talk 'Psychopaths in the C-Suite' brought the character-and-performance thesis to a broad audience.

## Products & services

- **Return on Character (ROC) Leadership Assessment** — A 360-style assessment measuring four character habits - integrity, responsibility, forgiveness, compassion - and quantifying the gap between a leader's intent and their reputation.
- **Executive & CEO Coaching** — One-on-one coaching grounded in ROC data and predictive analytics, focused on identifying a single high-leverage 'Keystone Habit' to change.
- **Team Dynamics Assessment & Team Coaching** — Assessments and facilitated development to align senior teams and improve collective effectiveness.
- **Board Assessments & Solutions** — Evaluations and advisory work aimed at improving board effectiveness and governance.
- **C-Suite Onboarding & Leadership Development Programs** — Structured onboarding and multi-session leadership series, including the Accelerator Leadership Series for Teams.
- **Coach Certification in ROC Methodology** — Training and certifying external coaches to deliver evidence-based Return on Character programs, extending the method's reach.

## Achievements

- Produced the seven-year Return on Character study linking senior-team character to nearly 5x greater returns and 26% higher workforce engagement.
- Published Return on Character (Harvard Business Review Press, 2015), a widely cited leadership title.
- Fred Kiel's TEDxBGI talk 'Psychopaths in the C-Suite' brought the character-and-performance thesis to a broad audience.
- Reports 98% of clients noting improved leadership effectiveness and 94% reporting positive ROI (self-reported).
- Extended a Fortune 500 research method into emerging-market leadership curricula in Romania and Moldova.

## Latest updates

- **2015-02** — Return on Character published by Harvard Business Review Press; company records a $100K seed round the same month.
- **2020-01** — Co-founder and lead researcher Fred Kiel passed away; the firm honors him via an In Memoriam page and continues the ROC method.
- **2024-01** — Refreshed brand and website, listing ten offices (Berlin, Boston, London, Madrid, Minneapolis, New York, Paris, Toronto, Tulsa, Washington DC).

## Links

- Website: https://krw-intl.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/krw-international
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/krwintl
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/Return-on-Character/912709742107262

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/krw-international
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-04