About the Uncertainty Initiative

Three right-pointing chevrons in a gradient of pink to orange to yellow.

Studying What It Means to Lead When the Future Isn’t Clear

Uncertainty is no longer a temporary disruption.
It has become a structural condition of modern organizational life.


The Uncertainty Initiative is a research and leadership platform dedicated to understanding how individuals, leaders, and organizations experience sustained ambiguity and how they can respond with clarity, resilience, and strength.


We believe uncertainty is not just something to survive.

It is something to understand.

Phase One: The Uncertainty Study


Our first phase is a multi-sector survey launching this spring in partnership with Wartburg College.


This foundational study will examine:

  • How people perceive environmental volatility
  • The psychological impact of prolonged ambiguity
  • How leadership communication influences stability
  • Organizational adaptability under sustained change


Survey findings will inform:

  • Academic research
  • Leadership frameworks
  • Articles and conference presentations
  • Practical tools for organizations


The survey is available under the “Survey” tab (coming soon!).


Our Commitment

The Uncertainty Initiative is more than a single study. It is a long-term commitment to researching and leading the conversation on uncertainty in the workplace.


Our work includes:


Rigorous Research

Developing evidence-based insights that bridge psychology and organizational leadership.


Practical Application

Translating research into actionable tools for leaders across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, nonprofits, and corporate environments.


Thought Leadership

Publishing articles, presenting at academic and professional conferences, and contributing to national conversations about organizational health in uncertain times.


Measurement & Benchmarking

Building toward the development of an Uncertainty Index — a structured way to measure how environments, individuals, and organizations experience and respond to sustained ambiguity.


Cross-Sector Collaboration

Partnering with faculty, practitioners, and leaders to ensure our findings are both academically grounded and practically relevant.


Why This Work Matters

When uncertainty increases, cognitive load increases.
When clarity decreases, reactivity increases.
When leaders struggle to interpret ambiguity, organizations feel it.


Understanding uncertainty allows us to:


  • Reduce unnecessary strain
  • Strengthen decision-making under pressure
  • Improve communication clarity
  • Build adaptable cultures
  • Protect long-term organizational health


This Initiative exists to bring structure to what often feels unstructured.


Who We Are

The Uncertainty Initiative is led by:


Dr. Celina Peerman

Organizational Psychologist and leadership strategist, known for translating complex psychological concepts into actionable leadership practices.


Dr. Mel Gonnerman

Tenured faculty member and Industrial-Organizational Psychologist at Wartburg College, specializing in research and measurement within workplace systems.


Together with the team at The Peerman Group, we are committed to combining rigorous research with practical leadership application.


Looking Ahead

In the coming years, the Initiative will:


  • Publish annual findings
  • Expand longitudinal research
  • Develop structured measurement tools
  • Contribute to academic scholarship
  • Support organizations in strengthening their capacity to lead through ambiguity


Uncertainty is not disappearing.

But our ability to understand and navigate it can grow.