We've been growing so you can, too. Sign up for online self-learning courses in our cortex-courses site. Each contains videos from our coaches, activities, and exercises in bite-sized, achievable chunks. Shift Lynda McNutt Foster is a certified practitioner of TED* The Empowerment Dynamic and can make shifts happen with your team, no matter what type of drama your team is experiencing. 360 surveys are assessment tools that provide leaders and employees with feedback about their performance.  The surveys’ subject is rated in areas such as leadership, communication, productivity, and technical skills. Check it out The Cortex Team Strengths full day session is designed to tackle a leadership team's biggest challenge and give them a model they can use in the future. The session includes a Cortex Team Strengths assessment that will help leaders/managers better understand which of the 4 phases of a project cycle they prefer to work within. Grow EPIC is a turn-key, coaching and mentoring program to build emotional intelligence in the area of self-awareness and leadership skills of highly engaged professionals. Explore If you take your leadership training with a side of ridiculous, we've got just what you ordered. Get untied with Lynda McNutt Foster and Brett Sharp in this groundbreaking podcast. Listen Now Conducted with small groups in a highly interactive format, this program is designed for seasoned leaders and those accepting the role and responsibility of leadership. Lead Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

What We Provide The types of challenges we have helped leaders tackle include: Leadership Teams Creating leadership teams that communicate effectively with coworkers, clients and customers. Time Management Training leaders to map, measure, and design their time for maximum results. Succession Planning Executing a strong succession plan that evenly distributes the strengths and experience of senior and emerging leadership for continued success. Culture Kits Recognizing and stopping the lack of accountability within teams, departments, and divisions and creating a culture of ownership and proactivity. Employee Retention Creating a culture of coaching within your organization to develop and retain you best and brightest employees. Keynote Speeches Here are just a few organizations Lynda Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting and her team members, have recently given keynote or customized workshops for Agility Training Developing more agile project teams that can innovate, plan, and execute important initiatives. Hiring Identifying and hiring the best talent to fill the right seats on your organizational bus to ensure desired outcomes are achieved. Conflict Mastery Managing and mitigating organizational crises as they arise to reduce their short and long term impact. What We Use 01. Assessments Learn more 02. Virtual Self-Learning 03. Workshops, Training, and Coaching Learn more 04. Leadership Programs Learn more

Intentional Communication with DISC Cortex DISC Training is an interactive workshop designed to equip leaders with a deeper understanding of their strengths, challenges, and communication styles. Using personalized DISC reports, this session will explore behavioral preferences—both yours and those of others—while providing actionable strategies to enhance leadership effectiveness and team dynamics. After taking the DISC and Driving Forces Assessment, please print your report and bring it with you to the session. What Is The DISC and Motivators Assessment, and Why Am I Taking It? Your DISC and Driving Forces Assessment: DISC Assessment Your DISC Guide: DISC Guide DISC Training Agenda: Agenda

Mastering AI Collaboration AI Guide Book: A comprehensive playbook designed to help leaders develop Conversational Intelligence for collaborating effectively with AI. Including frameworks, real-world prompt evolution examples, and step-by-step instructions for transforming basic AI prompts into strategic, emotionally intelligent dialogues. Guide Book SuperHuman AI Newsletter: Get the latest AI news, learn must-know AI tools, and keep up with tech news in just 3 minutes a day. Join 1 million+ readers growing their skillsets with this newsletter. SuperHuman AI Newsletter Corcast Episode: Your personal guide to Conversational Intelligence with AI

From Reactivity to Resilience Unlocking Your Leadership Potential You already know that great leadership isn't about reacting - it's about responding with clarity and confidence. But how often do you find yourself caught in stress, frustration, or self-doubt? This session will help you recognize when you're triggered, understand your DISC-driven stress responses, and apply proven techniques to shift from reactive to resilient. Step One - Self-Assessment: Take the Cortex Resilient Leader Index: Measuring Your Response Agility Assessment Assessment Step Two - Read the Scorecard: Empowered Response Scorecard: Recognizing and Elevating Your Mindset to better understand your score Scorecard Step Three - Read the Article: Read how your DISC style influences reactivity and resilience Article Step Four - Prep-Podcast: Listen to a short episode on reactivity vs. intentional leadership

Measure your AI confidence. Measure your AI confidence. Measure your AI confidence. Measure your AI confidence. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. As part of your VAFCC Annual Conference registration, you have complimentary access to the AI Confidence Snapshot - a quick, 7-minute reflection designed to help you see where you are with AI and how to lead smarter with it. Click HERE to Take Your Complimentary AI Confidence Snapshot Why Take the Snapshot? Leaders everywhere — including nonprofits — are being asked to do more with less. AI is rewriting how we plan, communicate, and lead. This quick snapshot helps you: Gauge your readiness and confidence with AI. Spot fast wins to save time and sharpen communication. Learn simple, safe ways to use tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. Turn what you learn at the conference into real impact back home. About This Collaboration About This Collaboration About This Collaboration About This Collaboration The AI Confidence Snapshot was developed through a partnership between VAFCC and Cortex Leadership Consulting, a national firm specializing in leadership research, coaching, and applied AI for organizations. Together, we're helping Virginia's nonprofit leaders turn learning into lasting impact - one insight at a time. This complimentary assessment is available only to registered VFACC Annual Conference attendees. All data collected is used solely to personalize your experience and provide aggregate insights that help VFACC design future programs that serve you better. Your data of information will not be sold or provided for any other purposes. scorecard

Welcome to Cortex Coaching Cortex coaching is deeply rooted in neuroscience and behavioral science, integrating tools and methods that help leaders understand why they react the way they do under stress, how habits are formed, and how to rewire behavior for sustainable change. This approach leads to real, measurable transformation, not just temporary motivation. Step One: Fill out the Cortex Coaching Intake Form Intake Form Step Two: Take the Cortex Team Strengths Assessment Assessment Step Three: Review the Cortex Team Strengths Scorecard Scorecard Step Four: Read A Leader's Guide Article Article Step Five: Listen to The Idea Advantage Corcast Episode

Meet Your Coach Allen Foster Allen Foster is Vice President and co-founder of Cortex Leadership Consulting, a leading firm dedicated to executive coaching, talent acquisition, and organizational training. Allen’s extensive experience includes customized 1-on-1 coaching, strategic consulting, talent acquisition specializing in benchmark and search, and the facilitation of over 1,000 leadership training/facilitation sessions. As Cortex’s lead trainer and facilitator, Allen is a Certified Trainer in DISC (CPBA), Driving Forces (CPDFA), and The Empowerment Dynamic, 3 Vital Questions. His expertise further extends into customized workshops focused on DISC, Team Alignment, Conflict Resolution, Team Values Creation, Team Building, Time Mastery, and Problem-Solving strategies. Before co-founding Cortex, Allen launched his professional career in retail management, quickly distinguishing himself by leading successful multimillion-dollar store openings and renovations, eventually becoming one of the youngest store managers at a major national big-box retailer. Driven by a passion for marketing, Allen later joined his wife, Lynda, in her advertising agency. Over 15 years, he guided numerous businesses on their marketing and advertising strategies, eventually leading the agency to significant growth. He continues to support select long-standing clients in their advertising efforts today. Allen holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Virginia Tech. He is married to Cortex CEO and co-founder, Lynda McNutt Foster, and is the proud father of Melody Kappler. A passionate Virginia Tech football and wrestling fan, Allen is also an avid reader with particular interests in history and science. In his leisure time, Allen enjoys hiking and can regularly be found exploring the Roanoke Greenway or Mill Mountain trails with Lynda. Allen’s wealth of hands-on experience, combined with his deep knowledge of behavioral assessments and training methodologies, makes him a trusted resource for organizations looking to enhance leadership capabilities, optimize team performance, and drive sustainable growth. Contact Let's connect.

Intentional Communication with DISC Cortex DISC Training is an interactive workshop designed to equip leaders with a deeper understanding of their strengths, challenges, and communication styles. Using personalized DISC reports, this session will explore behavioral preferences—both yours and those of others—while providing actionable strategies to enhance leadership effectiveness and team dynamics. What Is The DISC and Motivators Assessment, and Why Am I Taking It? Your DISC and Driving Forces Assessment: DISC Assessment Your DISC Guide: DISC Guide

De-Escalation & Conflict Mastery Mastering Conflict for Stronger Leadership These resources were created to address your teams Conflict Mastery by Lynda McNutt Foster Effective leadership requires the ability to navigate conflict with confidence and clarity. Your upcoming Conflict Mastery Workshop provides your leadership team with the tools to assess their conflict tolerance. Step 1: Read the Agenda - Gain an overview of the key themes and objectives covered in the workshop to set the foundation for learning. Agenda Step 2: Take the Cortex Conflict Mastery Assessment Assessment Step 3: Read the Cortex Conflict Mastery Scorecard Scorecard Step 4: Read the Cortex Conflict Mastery De-Escalation Article Article Step 5: Listen to the Cortex Conflict Mastery Prep Corecast Episode:

Measure your AI leadership. Measure your AI leadership. Measure your AI leadership. Measure your AI leadership. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. Expand your impact. As part of your RBTC Emerging Tech Conference, you have complimentary access to the AI Leadership Snapshot - a quick, 5-minute reflection designed to help you lead AI change, utilize what you learn, and help us serve you better during the conference. Click HERE to Take Your Complimentary AI Leadership Snapshot Why Take the Snapshot? Leaders everywhere are being asked to do more with less. AI is rewriting how we plan, communicate, and lead. This quick snapshot helps you: Gauge your current use and ability to lead yourself and others with AI. Suggestions for going to the next level with AI in your role. Learn simple, safe ways to Co-Think with LLMs like Microsoft Copilot. Turn what you learn at the conference into real impact back at work. About This Collaboration About This Collaboration About This Collaboration About This Collaboration The AI Leadership Snapshot was developed through a partnership between RBTC and Cortex Leadership Consulting, a national firm specializing in leadership research, coaching, and applied AI for organizations. Together, we're helping local leaders turn learning into lasting impact - one insight at a time. This complimentary assessment is available only to registered RBTC Emerging Technology Conference attendees. All data collected is used solely to personalize your experience and provide aggregate insights that help RBTC design future programs that serve you better. Your data of information will not be sold or provided for any other purposes. scorecard