Cortex Leadership Consulting Video Library Learning and Growing with the Help of a Mentor Read More Motivating Yourself to Exercise Read More Smile or frown: Are emojis okay at work? Read More How to create a business chemistry Read More How to make your side hustle your full time Read More Oversharing can put your career in limbo Read More Risks and rewards of starting a business Read More SWVA business owners to unveil big plans Pt. 1 Read More What is it really like to open your own company? Read More Virginia At Work: Escaping the social media "Echo Chamber" Read More Are you stuck in a social media bubble? Read More How coaching your team makes all the difference at work Read More How to make sure you get a pay raise Read More Happiness in the workplace Read More Three steps to building your confidence muscle Read More The Power of Understanding People Read More How to create positive change in the workplace Read More How much money makes you wealthy? Read More How to balance work life and home life Read More Coffee with a Coach and the 5 faces of Anger Read More BulletProof Coffee to Boost Your Brain to Become a Better Leader Read More Your New Years "To Don't" List Read More How to Handle Gossip at Work Read More The Difference between Appreciation and Recognition at Work Read More Nine Lies About Work Read More Courage in Lexington Read More Dealing with a Bad Boss Read More DEV Day Read More Would You Get Chipped? Read More Risk and rewards of starting a business Read More Interpretations of your boss could be based on perception Read More The cost of gossip at work Read More Smile or frown: Are emojis okay at work? Read More Don't Fall In Love With Your Plan Read More Perks and risks of working from home Read More SWVA business owners to unveil big plans Pt. 2 Read More Creative Collaborations: How to make them work Read More Why working solo can backfire Read More Virginia at Work: How to Create Defining Moments Read More How to Land a Job in Your desired Field After Graduation Read More NCAA Brackets Turning the tounament into a team building activity Read More Virginia At Work: Helping Veterans find Jobs Read More How to get your worth at work Read More Side jobs grow in popularity Read More The skills you need to be marketable in the future Read More Management: What Makes Work Fun Again Read More How to Change your Focus: Asking the right Questions Read More Coffee with a Coach - Virginia Women's Conference 2018 Preview Read More The Importance of Morning Routines Read More Get BIG results from making small changes - Coffee with a Coach Read More Top 4 Reasons why Employees Quit their Jobs Read More How to Deal with Conflict at Work Read More The Cortex Solution to Tough People Problems Read More Handling Conflict in the Workplace Read More OmniSource Retreat Read More Check Out Our YouTube Channel

Latest News Jan 14, 2026 Local and National Business Leaders Gather Tonight at Roanoke's Science Museum for Immersive AI Leadership Experience Tonight, Wednesday, January 14, from 5:00–6:30 PM, Cortex Leadership Consulting will host an immersive leadership experience inside The Eye Planetarium at the Science Museum of Western Virginia, welcoming participants from across the country for AI Strategic Leader Cohort 3 and the inaugural EPIC 2.0 leadership program. Read More Oct 31, 2025 Cortex Leadership Consulting CEO Lynda Foster to Deliver Wrap-Up Keynote at the Emerging Technology Conference Cortex Leadership Consulting CEO Lynda Foster to Deliver Wrap-Up Keynote at the Emerging Technology Conference Read More Jul 11, 2025 Cortex Leadership Launches “The AI Leader Brief” to Equip Executives for Rapid AI Disruption Roanoke, VA — July 1, 2025 — As artificial intelligence continues to reshape decision-making, operations, and strategy in every sector, Cortex Leadership Consulting has launched a new tool to help leaders adapt. The AI Leader Brief, a weekly executive digest, is designed to equip organizational decision-makers with timely, actionable insights at the intersection of AI, leadership, and strategy. Read More Jun 20, 2025 Leadership Experts Urge Global Business Shift from VUCA to BANI Framework to Navigate Chaos of the 2020s Roanoke, VA & Cologne, Germany – In a bold and timely call to action, Lynda McNutt Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting, and Holger Heinze, Director & Partner at O'Donovan Consulting AG, have co-authored a powerful new thought leadership piece titled “From VUCA to BANI: Leading in Today’s Chaotic World.” The article challenges today’s business leaders to move beyond the now-outdated VUCA framework and embrace a new, more relevant leadership model: BANI – Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible. Read More Jun 8, 2025 How AI Will Change Your Job—And What You Can Do About It Live Small Group and One-on-One Demo Experiences Show Leaders and Everyday Workers How to Stay Ahead of AI's Disruption Read More Mar 14, 2025 Five Years Later, This Leadership Training Stuck and It's Still Paying Off With clients across the globe, Cortex Leadership Consulting equips leaders with the skills to strengthen their teams, improve communication, and drive company success. Read More Feb 7, 2025 Professionals Graduate EPIC Leadership Program More than two dozen professionals from across Virginia gather to celebrate graduating from the EPIC Leadership Program. Read More Dec 16, 2024 Kimberly Eakin Earns TED Certification to Elevate Client Success with Cortex Kimberly Eakin, a valued Mentor and Coach on the Cortex team, has achieved certification in The Empowerment Dynamic (TED*) Read More

Level 4: Executive Leadership Coaching to Organizational Peak Performance Your leadership impact will be greatly affected by the competencies you are able to build a foundation for and enhance as you adjust to changing working environments and market conditions. Deciding which ones you will need the most in the coming 1-3 years is a critical success factor in achieving the outcomes you want you, your team, and your organization to achieve. Review the following information to ensure an understanding of each competency, complete the spreadsheet provided, and then review it with whom you report to so that you can ensure alignment. This information will be used to create your Cortex Leadership Development Plan that you will utilize during your executive coaching journey. Step 1: Review the Leadership Competencies Selection and Instruction Guide Guide Step 2: Review the Executive Leaders Mission Statement Mission Statement Step 3: Complete the Value Portion You will need this Value List to complete Part one of the Leadership Mission Statement exercise. Values Exercise Step 4: Complete the rest of the Mission Statement Step 5: Leadership Competencies Consider your Top 4 Leadership Competencies and why developing those are the most important in the coming year. Assessment Step 6: Review with your Supervisor It is best, when you complete this exercise, to review it with who you report to in order to get their feedback.

De-Escalation & Conflict Management These resources were created to address your teams Conflict Management by Lynda McNutt Foster Effective leadership requires the ability to navigate conflict with confidence and clarity. Your upcoming Conflict Management Workshop provides your team with the tools to assess their conflict tolerance. Step 1: Take the Cortex Conflict Mastery Assessment Assessment Step 2: Read the Cortex Conflict Mastery Scorecard Scorecard Step 3: Read the Cortex Conflict Mastery De-Escalation Article Article Step 4: Listen to the Cortex Conflict Mastery Prep Corecast Episode Step 5: Print out the workbook and bring with you to your live session Workbook

8 Statements That Will Change Everything About Recruiting and Retention at Your Company June 6, 2019 Lynda McNutt Foster “We came to realize what is perhaps the biggest problem of all with the idea of culture: it doesn’t help us understand what to do more of, less of, or differently. For that, we must take you to where the experience lives: to your team, and network of teams, and their leaders. That’s what matters most,” Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall in 9 Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World. Two decades worth of research about why and how people perform well at work has culminated in this book. I am convinced about the research and the impact it can have on companies that are struggling to recruit and retain the best workers because Marcus Buckingham is not only an expert in this space, the research mirrors what we have been studying for the last 7 years from our goMonti data sets. The main conclusion that the research in 9 Lies About Work demonstrates is good news. It states that “what people care most about at work is within your team leader’s control.” As they state, a team leader can’t always set corporate policies, but what they can do is: Set clear expectations for their team members Position each person to play to his or her strengths every day Praise the team for excellent work Help people grow their careers Build trust with the people on the team that they serve The focus should be on helping grow the abilities of team leaders to: Give their team member’s a sense of universality – all of us together Recognize each team member’s uniqueness In other words, magnify what we all share and to lift up what is special about each of us. How can you measure how your teams are doing within your organization and determine future sustained or increased performance and retention? There are 8 statements that should be asking and gauging responses for regularly (once a month or at least once a quarter) to measure what matters the most to measure the aspects that drive performance, voluntary turnover, lost work days, accidents on the job, and customer satisfaction. The 8 statements are grouped into two themes. The first is the team member’s communal or “we” share experience at work or rather the “Best of We,” and they are: I am really enthusiastic about the mission of my company. In my team, I am surrounded by people who share my values. My teammates have my back. I have great confidence in my company’s future. The second set of statements are themed as the individual’s experience at work or rather, “Best of Me”. They cover a team member’s internal questions like, “What is unique about me? What is valuable about me? Do I feel challenged to grow? And they are: 5. At work, I clearly understand what is expected of me. 6. I have the chance to use my strengths every day at work. 7. I know I will be recognized for excellent work. 8. In my work, I am always challenged to grow. From Chapter One of 9 Lies at Work, the first lie at work is that people come to work for companies. The research is sound on this, and that statement is not true for most people. What is true is that people care which team they’re on and which company they join. Need help executing these concepts? Find out how your team members would score on the 8 statements. Wondering how your team members would score on these 8 statements? goMonti is currently conducting local research and can issue this employee engagement and team performance survey at no charge for current clients. If you are an existing client, contact us for more information at info@cortexleadership.com . If you are not a current Cortex client, one or more of your teams may qualify to have us issue the survey at no charge. To receive information about our new Employee Engagement Surveys and how they can transform your teams, contact info@cortexleadership.com . Watch this short video from Coffee with a Coach, A Cup of Confidence, about the 8 statements and how team leaders can use them to gain powerful insights.

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.

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Kimberly Eakin Earns TED Certification to Elevate Client Success with Cortex < Back Kathlynn Stone Dec 16, 2024 Kimberly Eakin, a valued Mentor and Coach on the Cortex team, has achieved certification in The Empowerment Dynamic (TED*) Cortex Leadership Consulting is proud to announce that Kimberly Eakin , a valued Mentor and Coach on the Cortex team, has achieved certification in The Empowerment Dynamic (TED*) framework. Completing an intensive 10-week course with The Center for The Empowerment Dynamic, Kimberly is now certified to guide leaders and teams from reactive behaviors to intentional, empowering actions using this proven methodology. At Cortex, we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of leadership and team development. This certification underscores our commitment to investing in the professional growth of our team members, ensuring every coaching engagement is impactful, tailored, and results-driven. Kimberly’s achievement further strengthens Cortex’s ability to help clients thrive in dynamic and challenging environments. Lynda Foster, Founder and CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting, highlighted Kimberly's exceptional commitment to professional growth and the impact it has on clients, stating: “Kimberly, a cornerstone of Cortex for nearly 14 years, continues to elevate client success through her dedication to continuous learning—this certification adds yet another tool to her coaching toolkit to drive even faster results." The Coaching with TED Foundations course emphasizes integrating key principles of The Empowerment Dynamic into coaching practices. Participants learn to embody the roles of Creator, Challenger, and Coach, enabling clients to transform drama into empowerment and achieve sustainable growth. Kimberly described the program as transformative, sharing: "This impactful training equipped me with the tools to help leaders and teams shift from reactive behaviors to intentional, empowering actions. By mastering the 5-step process of Awareness, Pause, Focus, Respond, and Sustain, I am prepared to guide our clients in navigating challenges with clarity and fostering stronger, more effective relationships." Through Kimberly's certification, Cortex further deepens its commitment to empowering leaders and teams, fostering a culture of growth, respect, and resilience. For more information on how Cortex Leadership Consulting can support your organization’s development through innovative coaching strategies, please visit cortexleadershipconsulting.com . Previous Next

The AI Strategic Leader Program The AI Strategic Leader Program The AI Strategic Leader Program The AI Strategic Leader Program AI Strategic Leader Program The AI Strategic Leader Program, limited to only 14 leaders per cohort, is an immersive experience built for today’s fast-paced, AI-driven world. Over two in-person days, two virtual labs, and a personalized coaching session, leaders strengthen their ability to set a clear vision, lead conversations that drive results, and apply AI with confidence to real decisions. In a small cohort with hands-on practice, participants gain practical tools to break silos, accelerate innovation, and mobilize teams under pressure. Grounded in global research and decades of leadership expertise, the program equips you to harness AI as a lasting strategic advantage—building the confidence, agility, and foresight your organization needs to thrive in the future. Contact Us Why This, Why Now Executive Brief Program Guide Why This, Why Now Article Welcome Deep Dive Conversation: Client Participant Reviews Lee Morgan, President & CEO, PenAir Credit Union "We are sharpening the axes here - taking the time to sharpen ourselves so we can organize our operations more efficiently and cut through challenges quicker. Over years of partnership, we have built an unshakeable trust, allowing us to use Cortex as a high-level tool - much like AI or Excel - to supplement our internal coaching and productivity. What you can't get anywhere else: Real-World Impact: Apply AI-driven strategies directly to your own leadership challenges, ensuring every session translates into measurable results Personalized Experience: The entire program is personalized for you, your role, and your challenges. It is state-of-the-art in its methods and delivery, and guaranteed to provide results. Exclusive Frameworks: Gain access to Time Mastery 2.0, The New Playbook of Teamwork, and the AI Traveler Framework—tools developed and proven with thousands of leaders, unavailable in any other program. Materials for Course Time Mastery 2.0 The New Playbook of Teamwork Additional Resources (e.g., Prompt Guide & Role Awareness) Location of Sessions Virtual or Live Join leaders like these who are currently attending the brand-new AI Strategic Leader Program that launched this Fall. What is the core problem the AI Strategic Leader Program aims to solve? The program exists to bridge a critical capability gap in leadership, particularly in the face of rapid change and disruption. Many leaders lack the ability to create a compelling vision, inspire and align teams, and collaborate effectively under pressure. While strong technically or operationally, they often lack structured methods for leading through change. Global research indicates that decision cycles are compressing, and the ability to lead high-quality conversations and combine strategic visioning with collaborative problem-solving are now key differentiators. The program is designed to develop these capabilities. Why does the AI Strategic Leader Program emphasize "Live, Small-Group, Cross-Organization Learning"? This learning format is a deliberate and proven accelerator for learning and long-term impact. It provides real-world perspectives by exposing leaders to diverse thinking patterns from various industries and cultures, challenging assumptions. The small, high-trust environment fosters psychological safety, encouraging risk-taking and candid feedback. Live sessions enable immediate, hands-on application of new skills with peers. Participants also build a valuable network of strategic thinkers for ongoing insights and collaboration. Research supports that peer learning in diverse small groups improves retention and application of new skills. What is "AI Conversational Intelligence through Co-Thinking" and why is it crucial for modern leaders? "AI Conversational Intelligence through Co-Thinking" is a new framework that integrates strategic intelligence, AI conversational intelligence, and AI literacy. It teaches leaders to "think with AI, not just use it," treating AI as a "thinking pair" or "partner." This is crucial because today's leadership challenges require faster, smarter, more human decisions made collaboratively. While many organizations use AI, few integrate it into core leadership workflows due to behavioral barriers like fear or overwhelm. Co-Thinking helps leaders facilitate high-quality conversations, surface hidden assumptions, and design workflows that reduce friction, ultimately enhancing judgment and improving human-centered, strategic transformation. What are the key competencies developed in the AI Strategic Leader Program? The program is an acceleration engine for critical leadership competencies. These include: Vision Creation, AI Conversational Intelligence through Co-Thinking, Leadership Level Communication, Strategic Collaboration, Decision-Making & Problem-Solving, Delegation & Implementation, Influence & Change Leadership, Executive Presence, Facilitation, and One-on-One Coaching. Participants apply these skills to a real leadership challenge within their own organization. How does the AI Strategic Leader Program integrate real-world challenges into the learning process? A distinguishing feature of the program is its "Real Challenge Integration." Each leader selects a real, high-stakes challenge from their organization (e.g., strategy execution, team transformation, innovation). All the learning, from AI-enhanced co-thinking sessions to targeted coaching and peer collaboration, is directly applied to this chosen challenge in real-time. This ensures measurable return on investment (ROI) is visible within the program itself and promotes immediate business application. What is the "Co-Thinking Model" and how does it relate to strategic empathy? The Co-Thinking Model, rooted in the ability to navigate complexity through multi-perspective reasoning facilitated by intelligent systems, is applied directly to the role of operational and executive leaders. High-performing leaders integrate Co-Thinking through three core practices: Awareness (recognizing the need for higher-level thinking), Willingness (accepting that current habits must be tested), and Capacity (developing the conversational, emotional, and AI literacy to lead change). This model helps leaders translate strategic insight into people-focused outcomes by fostering more empathic communication, reducing emotional friction, and preempting conflict through improved clarity, essentially creating a "strategic empathy." What makes this program "different" from other leadership development initiatives? The AI Strategic Leader Program differentiates itself through several key aspects: small cohorts (14 or fewer) for high accountability and direct feedback; real challenge integration where leaders work on their mission-critical issues for visible ROI; a research-backed methodology combining proven leadership models with emerging AI research; a pace designed to accelerate behavior change and application from months to days using AI-enabled co-thinking; and a fractional investment model providing high-touch executive development at a lower cost than global leadership academies without compromising rigor or outcomes. Who is Lynda McNutt Foster and what is her role in the program? Lynda McNutt Foster is the CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting and leads the AI Strategic Leader Program. She brings over 30 years of leadership growth experience, including scaling organizations to significant revenue. She has designed and facilitated leadership programs for over 10,000 leaders and created the proprietary goMonti AI Conversational Intelligence model. She is also the author of several books on leadership and time mastery. Her extensive background and expertise are foundational to the program's design and delivery. Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us First name* Last name Email* Company * Position* I am interested in learning more about the AI Strategic Leader Program March 2026 Cohort May 2026 Cohort July/August 2026 Cohort I am interested in learning more about a Cohort for my team 1:1 Coaching Package AI Essentials Launch Pad Program for AI Rookies Submit

EPIC Library - Technical Orientation and Lunch with a Leader Recordings EPIC Library - Technical Orientation and Lunch with a Leader Recordings EPIC Library - Technical Orientation and Lunch with a Leader Recordings EPIC Library - Technical Orientation and Lunch with a Leader Recordings Cohort 10 Graduation Cohort 11 Orientation Program Overview What to Expect Who to Contact Structure and Format Cohort 11 Orientation December 18th, 2025 Program In Depth What to Expect Who to Contact Structure and Format Mentors Lunch with David Auchter Vice President Corporate Marketing The Haskell Company January 21st, 2026

Cortex Leadership Consulting is a consulting firm based out of Virginia working with businesses and individuals worldwide. Our Team. About Us. Cortex Leadership Consulting partners with leaders and their teams to solve their toughest people problems. Our interactive and customized approach is based on proven methods and practices to guide leaders to more effectively and efficiently reach their business objectives and desired outcomes. Our team of expert coaches is dedicated to providing high-quality executive coaching services that are tailored to meet your unique needs. We believe that every client deserves individual attention and personalized coaching that is designed to help them achieve their goals. Lynda McNutt Foster CEO & Founder Named a Business Icon by Valley Business Front magazine, Lynda McNutt Foster, is a recognized leader in executive coaching and organizational transformation, specializing in guiding leaders and their teams through successful digital transformations. As the CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting, Lynda combines years of research, training, and over 10,000 coaching sessions that provide leaders with practical strategies and tools for achieving impactful results. Lynda's strategic expertise and that of her expert team, extends beyond coaching, as she actively facilitates leaders in their digital transformation journeys through proven change management, talent acquisition, and training techniques. Her approach has been instrumental in transforming outcomes for numerous clients, ensuring that their organizations are equipped to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. In addition to her role at Cortex, Lynda has contributed to Forbes and served as an expert commentator on WFXR's Coffee with a Coach series for more than four years. She has written over 400 articles, blending her own insights with the latest research in building culture, conversational and relationship intelligence, time mastery, team alignment, peak performance, engagement, and conflict resolution. Lynda is a certified coach in Emotional and Conversational Intelligence® and a Certified Trainer for The 3 Vital Questions®. She is an expert in integrating the sciences of DISC, Motivators (Driving Forces), and Cortex Team Strength assessments, providing predictive people analytics essential for organizational growth and role alignment. As the co-founder of goMonti, a technology company dedicated to personalized coaching and team engagement, she continues to push the boundaries of leadership development. Her work is further highlighted by her co-authorship of the whitepaper A Leader’s Guide to More Fresh, High Quality Ideas from Their Teams, published by the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. She is also the author of 4 Keys to More Effective Leadership and Time Mastery: 7 Simple Steps to Richer Outcomes, and the creator of the EPIC program for high performers, Leading a Winning Team, and Coaching for Peak Performance. Lynda’s clients have included: Metis, PenAir Credit Union, Carilion Clinic, City of Roanoke, County of Roanoke, The Glebe, ValleyStar Credit Union, Real Chemistry, Snow Peak, Orvis, Warm Hearth Village, Harmony Senior Services, Home Instead Senior Care, Kissito/Pace Health Care (now Innovage), Delta Dental VA/Corvesta, Excel Truck Group (VA, NC, SC), CMG Leasing, Federal-Mogul, Roanoke College, Roanoke Rescue Mission, MB Contractors, Better Building Works, Quick Fix Real Estate, HH Hunt, and many others. Lynda's international clients have included: The Haskell Company, Yokohama. Originally from Miami, FL, Lynda now calls Roanoke, VA home, where she balances her professional life with being a mother to an empowered daughter and wife to an incredibly supportive husband. She enjoys weekend gardening, day hiking, and bird watching. Lynda’s unique blend of strategic acumen and practical experience makes her an invaluable resource for leaders looking to drive successful digital transformations. Her insights into change management, talent acquisition, and leadership coaching have consistently delivered measurable results, making her a must-listen speaker at conferences. Allen Foster Vice President & Co-Founder 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: allen@cortexleadership.com Jeanne (Jackson) Newby Principal Consultant Jeanne is a dynamic HR leader with over 20 years of business and HR operations with fortune 500 companies. Jeanne provides insight into how to structure and maximize the effectiveness of the HR function to develop talent and align to the company vision and goals. Jeanne is passionate about coaching top talent, helping managers foster a highly engaged, motivated workforce, and developing employees to achieve their full potential. Jeanne is highly proficient in using tools and technology to assess leaders and their teams, providing feedback and coaching to increase communication and teamwork that drive desired business outcomes. Jeanne is facilitator of the EPIC Leadership Program. This contemporary, fast-paced, interactive experience provides a launching pad for leadership learning for the highest engaged team members in an organization looking to lead in the future. Provided in small group coaching experiences, Jeanne facilitates a virtual experience that can propel ambitious professional careers forward. Contact: jeanne@cortexleadership.com Kim Levings Coach & Master Facilitator Kim Levings is an experienced leadership development professional with over 35 years of expertise in people and leadership development. With career experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors in the USA and South Africa, Kim provides training facilitation, leadership development, and coaching services. She has held executive leadership roles in Human Resources, Manpower Development, Training, and Operations and has partnered with leadership teams and consulting firms to help scale development teams and programs. As a Master Trainer and certified partner in Everything DiSC® and 5 Behaviors® of Effective Teams, Kim equips individuals to bring their best selves to life, building healthier teams and cultures. Offering services globally and remotely, Kim spends part of each year in South Africa, continuing her work with leaders and teams around the world. Originally from South Africa, Kim has always been passionate about helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. Through her years of leadership in Human Resources and Operations, she saw firsthand the challenges leaders face. These experiences inspired her to focus on leadership development, training, and coaching to create lasting impact. With a candid, transparent approach, Kim aims to connect with people in meaningful ways, building trust quickly. Whether working with organizations like River Ranch Foods, Nex-gen Pharma, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, or facilitating programs like Thinking into Results and Serving Leadership, her goal remains the same: to support leaders and teams in creating healthier, more effective workplaces. As a “nomad,” Kim splits her time between the USA and South Africa, providing leadership development services to clients across the globe. Contact: kimlevings@cortexleadership.com Darryl Agee Principal, Cortex PMO Division Darryl Agee is a certified Project Management and Agile Certified Practitioner, currently serving as a Solutions Architect for Perficient, a global AI-first digital consultancy that helps leading brands transform how they connect with customers and drive business growth. In this role, he partners with product, technology, and business stakeholders to deliver strategic digital solutions at enterprise scale. With over 25 years of experience, Darryl has led software development, system modernization, and digital transformation initiatives across industries including retail, healthcare, supply chain, and high-tech. His recent work includes serving as a senior consultant embedded within the digital product organization of a Fortune-ranked retail client, helping to modernize operations, enable agile delivery, and elevate enterprise digital capabilities. Previously, Darryl served as PMO Practice Lead for More Better Technology (MBT), a Roanoke-based technology startup where he established a Strategic Realization Office and led enterprise clients through Agile and DevOps transformations. In addition to his consulting work, Darryl is an experienced educator with over 20 years of teaching experience in project management. He is a professor at Virginia Tech and teaches PMP® and PMI-ACP® prep courses at Virginia Western Community College and other institutions. He is a frequent speaker and active board member for the Southwest Virginia PMI Chapter. Darryl holds an MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery, an MS in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in English from the Virginia Military Institute. He earned his PMP® in 2006 and PMI-ACP® in 2017. In recent years, Darryl has embraced the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, integrating AI literacy and innovation themes into his client work and course instruction. His curiosity and adaptability continue to drive his passion for continuous learning and professional growth. Contact: darryl@cortexleadership.com Jenna Miilu Client & Operations Coordinator Jenna is a strategic thinker who brings a unique blend of operational excellence, team dynamics, and customer satisfaction to every project. With a deep commitment to lifelong learning, her passions span emotional intelligence, AI, and musicology—each enriching her ability to approach challenges with creativity and insight. Jenna thrives on fostering trust and collaboration, valuing direct communication and empathy as the foundation for solving complex problems. She is driven by opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals and continuously grow through shared experiences and innovative projects. Jenna supports the CEO and coaches/consultants through personalized service to the clients we serve. She is extraordinary at driving projects to deadlines with excellent results like our EPIC Leadership Program, Leading a Winning Team, and workshops. Jenna has worked alongside our CEO to develop innovative solutions that help support our coaching clients to get what they want, faster. Contact: jenna@cortexleadership.com

Yokohama Supervisor Training - Three Part Series Your Upcoming Leadership Training Strengthening Your Competencies in Leading Others The Cortex Strengthening Your Competencies in Leading Others is a structured workshop designed to help supervisors assess their leadership skills, identify key areas for growth, and develop an actionable plan for improvement. Participants will engage in self-assessments, pinpoint two competencies to focus on, and set SMART goals to enhance their leadership effectiveness. With a focus on practical strategies, real-world examples, and peer accountability, this workshop empowers leaders to build stronger teams, improve communication, and drive performance. By the end of the program, participants will have a clear roadmap for growth and a commitment to continuous leadership development. Session One Step 1: Take the Manager Skillset Assessment Assessment Print out your results Bring your results to the upcoming Cortex session Step 2: Read the Agenda for your upcoming Session 1 Cortex Training Workshop Agenda Step 3: Read the accompanying Article : Article (Optional) Step 4: Read the Three Part Series Outline: Three Part Series Session Two 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: (Optional): Read the Three Part Series Outline: Three Part Series Session Three Empowering Conversations Conflict to Appreciation to Transformation Step 1: Read the Empowering Conversations Article : Article Step 2: Listen to the Empowering Conversations Corcast Episode: (Optional) Step 3: Read the Three Part Series Outline: Three Part Series