Brent Darnell

Brent Darnell was born in Mobile, Alabama. Growing up he was surrounded by construction.  Brent’s father worked in the business and his summer jobs centered on construction projects.  Brent graduated from Georgia Tech in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduating, he held numerous positions in the construction industry as a Senior Project Manager and Mechanical/Electrical Coordinator on many construction projects.

While working in the construction industry, Brent observed that it had become a very difficult, very rigid business made worse by all the people problems. This led him to the study of emotional intelligence, specifically how people in technically trained fields tend to have a deficiency in this area that can lead to costly business consequences. Brent had insight into how it he could help companies work on their potential by addressing their employee’s emotional quotient or EQ so he started his own company. He subsequently authored a book called The People-Profit Connection: How Emotional Intelligence Can Maximize People Skills &

Maximize Your Profits that was published in 2004 and it became an international best seller. The second edition was published in 2007 and is currently available.

Brent believes a person's emotional intelligence is one of the most important predictors of ultimate success for individuals and companies, and his proven program creates fundamental behavioral shifts in employees, improving their performance, and increasing the company’s bottom line. 

Brent’s philosophy and his book have made him the leading authority in the field of emotional intelligence and a pioneer of its use in the construction industry. In addition to his speaking engagements, Brent also holds comprehensive training programs. They entail EQi evaluations, followed by the creation of individual development plans using proven strategies to improve the weak areas. There is follow-up and coaching for every individual ever 3-4 weeks. At the end of the program, there is another EQi evaluation and one-on-one feedback is given. The

final session focuses on how to create a passion for lifelong learning.

Brent has helped to improve the social competence of thousands of people working with over 70 companies in more than 15 countries around the world. He is fluent in English and conversational in Swedish and Spanish.

Brent lives in Atlanta with his wife Andrea and their dog Ginger