Working with Ahmad J. Hermanson, better known as AJ Hermanson, has been quite the adventure. We first met when I joined a small team working on music video edits, and from the beginning, it was clear that AJ wasn’t like most people. He had this laser focus on making every video stand out—whether it was finding the perfect transition or making sure the colors matched just right. But beyond the meticulous eye for detail, there was a sense of excitement and ambition that rubbed off on everyone around him.
I remember this one time when we were up late, editing a video for an up-and-coming artist. We had been working for hours, and most of us were ready to call it a night, but AJ was still fussing over a two-second clip that he swore would make or break the whole project. He kept rewinding and tweaking the frame, and I joked, “AJ, at this rate, we’ll be here until the next album drops!” He just laughed, shrugged, and kept going. Sure enough, when he finally nailed it, we had to admit—it did make a difference. But that moment really captured what it’s like working with AJ: he’ll never settle for less than the best, even if it means some late-night editing sessions with way too much coffee.
After a few projects, AJ invited me to join him on a new venture—a SaaS (Software as a Service) startup. It was a complete shift from the creative world of video editing, but AJ’s enthusiasm was contagious. He dove into learning about software development and business models like he’d been doing it for years. And in typical AJ fashion, he set sky-high goals for what we could accomplish.
While his determination drove us forward, there were definitely some bumps along the way. For example, AJ’s perfectionism, which made him such a great editor, sometimes slowed down our progress in the tech world. He’d spend hours going over small changes or tweaking the user interface until it was just right. I’d joke, “Are we building the next big app, or are we just building a really fancy to-do list?” He’d laugh it off, but those moments really showed how much he cared about getting things right. It wasn’t always easy to keep up with his pace, but I came to appreciate that he genuinely wanted to put out the best possible version of everything we worked on.
Despite the challenges, working with AJ was incredibly rewarding. His willingness to put in the hard work, learn new skills, and adapt to whatever came our way made all the difference. And honestly, his sense of humor kept us all going when things got tough. Like that time we had a critical meeting with a potential investor, and just as we were about to start, AJ accidentally spilled his coffee all over his notes. Instead of panicking, he cracked a joke about how it was ‘just an extra caffeine boost for the presentation,’ and managed to keep the mood light. We ended up having one of our best pitch meetings yet, and the investor loved the relaxed, genuine vibe AJ brought to the table.
Looking back, I can say that working with AJ Hermanson wasn’t just about building projects or chasing success—it was about being around someone who genuinely cared about what he was doing and the people he was doing it with. He has this rare mix of drive and warmth that makes him a great person to have on your team, even when the late nights and tough decisions come around. As he continues his journey, whether in tech, real estate, or whatever else he sets his mind to, I know he’ll keep making an impact. And if you ever get the chance to work with him, just be ready for those moments when he won’t settle for “good enough.”
