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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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