BARDO's
Neuro-Inclusive Maturity Model TM
Working with Our Brain Biology - Not Against It
Many EDI efforts have laid essential groundwork, raising awareness, shaping policy, and creating space for important conversations.
But even well-intended approaches can sometimes stall:
-
Policies exist, but practice doesn’t always follow
-
People fear “getting it wrong” more than they feel safe to grow
-
Inclusion gets reduced to tick boxes, rather than becoming a lived culture
Most people want to do better.
What’s often missing isn’t the will, it’s a way that feels:
-
More human, less corporate
-
More curious, less critical
-
More embedded, less performative
That’s where NIMM comes in.
It’s not just a framework, it’s a neuroscience-informed approach to culture change that’s designed to be practical, human, and sustainable. By understanding how habits are formed and how the brain resists or embraces change, we break the cycle of unconscious bias thinking patterns and build inclusion that lasts.
Wilful Blindness (Heffernan, 2011) has often kept organisations from confronting the systemic barriers to inclusion, while compliance-driven initiatives can create resistance rather than real change.
The BARDO Neuro-Inclusive Maturity Model TM takes a different approach—one rooted in neuroscience and anthropology. Research shows that while the brain defaults to unconscious bias, it is also capable of extraordinary neuroplasticity (Rock, 2008; Lieberman, 2013). By combining this with psychological safety (Edmondson, 1999) and shared relational ties (Dunbar, 1992), we can drive inclusion in a way that aligns with how humans naturally think, feel, and connect.
This model also challenges The Myth of Normal (Maté, 2022), shifting the focus from ‘fixing’ individuals to transforming systems of people and behaviours. Inspired by Dr. Brené Brown’s work on courage and vulnerability, it prioritises connection over compliance and trust over tokenism.
By embedding habit formation (Dispenza, 2012) and behaviourally informed coaching, we move beyond outdated, box-ticking approaches.
NIMM is neuroscience-informed, not to flatten the moral urgency of justice, but to give you tools that work with how people actually change, not how we wish they would. It’s for people who want to go deeper than performative pledges or one-off workshops. It’s for those who want to embed justice into the fabric of a system in a sustainable way. In a biological way. In a way that stops the cycle of injustice through cultural scaffolding that lasts.
There are three key parts to NIMM:
-
A Developmental Online Programme through the Maturity Model
-
A Knowledge Hub full of Resources, Tools & Templates
-
An Online Community of Practice for Peer Learning
This is inclusion redefined, working with our brain biology to create real, lasting change.
You can download the prepared business case for NIMM here:
Find out how to use NIMM in your organisation.
Brains Behaving Badly (and Brilliantly)
Mind Tricks are part of the course!
Join us for a few fun glitches in the matrix of your mind! These courses are packed with clever mind tricks, hilarious illusions, and “wait… what?!” moments that reveal just how weird and wonderfully strange your brain really is.
You’ll catch your bias in action, giggle at your own mental shortcuts, and discover how your neurons have been sneakily calling the shots all along.
It’s science, with a side of sass, and all in service of becoming a more inclusive, aware, and brilliant version of you.
The NIMM Domains
NIMM is a neuroscience-informed framework for inclusive cultural change, from the inside out.
And while it stands for NeuroInclusive Maturity Model, it also reflects the pillars it's built on: five (yes, there is an extra M!) powerful domains that shape how we think, relate, and lead.
NEURO
Understanding how the brain shapes behaviour, bias, and belief.
MUTUALITY
Building two-way trust, relationships, and collaboration across difference.
IDENTITY
Exploring how people experience the workplace through the lens of who they are and how they are seen.
MOMENTUM
Embedding inclusive habits into systems, strategy, and everyday working life
MEANING
Connecting people’s purpose and values to their work, and making inclusion emotionally relevant.
Why does it matter?
Together, these domains form a maturity model, helping organisations see where they are, where they want to be, and how to get there. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about moving forward, from fear to flow, from stuck to strong, from Fixed → Flourish.
Why not find out more about one of the NIMM tools - NeuroNudges?
The Levels of the Maturity Model
What is the BARDO Neuro-Inclusion Maturity Model?
A Neuroscience-Based Framework for Lasting Inclusive Culture Change
The BARDO Neuro-Inclusive Maturity Model (NIMM) is a science-driven, membership-based framework designed to help organisations embed inclusion through the biology of behaviour. Grounded in applied neuroscience, NIMM helps individuals and organisations rewire habits, shift cultures, and future-proof their leadership.
Where traditional EDI strategies rely on compliance, targets, or awareness training, NIMM works with how the brain changes, through safety, repetition, and emotional connection.
A Structured, Brain-Based Pathway
NIMM guides participants through three levels of neuro-inclusive maturity, supported by online learning, practical tools, and optional coaching:
-
Delta – Build foundational awareness using brain-based principles
-
Alpha – Embed inclusive habits into daily behaviours and systems
-
Gamma – Sustain cultural change and lead it at scale
Each stage includes separate pathways for leaders and employees, allowing for tailored development across your organisation.
What You Get at Every Level
-
Neuroscience-informed online courses for senior leadership and employees
-
Customisable templates, practical tools, and habit-building scripts
-
Access to a supportive online hub and community of practice
-
Optional coaching and guided facilitation by certified BARDO coaches
Flexible Membership Options
1) Essential – Core training, tools, and access to the NIMM community
2) Advanced – All Essential features plus tailored consultancy and strategy support
3) Enterprise – Includes all of the above plus:
-
Train-the-trainer programme and internal licensing
-
External impact review and progress measurement
-
A verified BARDO digital badge to recognise externally validated change
Participants earn a BARDO Badge at each level, a visible marker of progress. Enterprise participants receive an additional verified seal, confirming external impact assessment and rigour.
Who Is NIMM For?
-
Businesses & Organisations – Seeking measurable culture change grounded in science
-
HR & Leadership Teams – Ready to replace outdated models with brain-based leadership
-
Practitioners & Coaches – Eager to work with biology, not bureaucracy
-
Social & Climate-Driven Organisations – Aligning inclusion with systemic sustainability
Just Getting Started?
If you are not sure, why not start with a taster course via the BARDO Academy? These short, science-backed modules, Inclusive Thinking and Inclusive Leadership, are perfect for individuals or organisations exploring the approach before committing to the full NIMM pathway.
NIMM helps you change not just what people think, but how they think.
It’s not a charter. It’s not a checklist. It’s the neural architecture of transformation.
What can you expect at each level?
Why Neuroscience Matters for Inclusion
Neuroscience tells us that bias is not just a social construct; it’s a cognitive shortcut. If we want to rewire bias, we must focus on habit formation, neuroplasticity, and social cognition rather than just awareness training.
-
Bias Training Alone Doesn’t Work → Studies show that traditional unconscious bias training has limited long-term impact (Forscher et al., 2019). The key is embedding bias-interrupting habits into workplace systems.
-
Psychological Safety is Critical → Dr Amy Edmondson’s research on psychological safety proves that inclusive cultures drive innovation and performance, not just compliance.
-
Social Threats & Rewards Shape Behaviour → Dr David Rock’s SCARF model demonstrates that inclusion efforts fail when employees feel socially threatened (e.g., status loss, uncertainty). The BARDO model integrates strategies to minimise threat and maximise engagement.
Copyright & Content Use
All content on this website, including text, graphics, frameworks (yes, we’re looking at you, NIMM), downloads, course materials, and charming turns of phrase - is the intellectual property of BARDO Inclusive, unless otherwise stated.
You may not reproduce, share, adapt, distribute, or commercially exploit any part of this content without express written permission. That includes copying our neuroscience-based magic, rebranding our visuals, or using our materials in your own training, even if you love them. (We’re flattered, but also legally protective).
We do allow fair use for personal, internal and community of practice learning - in fact, we actively encourage it! But if you're planning to share BARDO resources beyond your own organisation or in public, we ask that you get in touch and ask first. It’s only fair.
Copyright © BARDO Inclusive. All rights reserved.
Let’s keep innovation flowing and credit where it’s due.
UK University
"Working with BARDO was truly transformational. Georgina shifted the narrative around EDI, moving beyond compliance to meaningful, neuroscience-backed change. Her approach fostered open, progressive conversations across the organisation, creating a culture where inclusion became everyone’s responsibility. Her impact was immediate, and her presence was in demand at every level of the institution."
How the BARDO Model Transforms Your Organisation
✅ Leadership & Culture: Leaders are equipped with neuroscience-backed techniques to foster inclusion through behaviour, not just words.
✅ Talent & Progression: Bias is mitigated not through training, but by redesigning systems and culture to drive fairer outcomes.
✅ Performance & Innovation: Inclusive environments, built on psychological safety and cognitive diversity, boost collaboration, problem-solving, and agility.
Ready to Move from Good Intentions to Lasting Impact?
The BARDO Neuro-Inclusion Maturity Model isn’t just another framework; it’s a scientifically grounded roadmap for creating workplaces where inclusion is automatic, effective, and deeply embedded through HABITS.
Let’s talk about how we can help your organisation reach the transformative stage. Contact us today to start your journey.