Cortex Culture Kits Cortex Culture Kits Cortex Culture Kits Cortex Culture Kits Everything a leader needs to conduct tailored, relevant, meaningful, and impactful, 1-hour team experiences that build trust and cohesion. How Culture Kits Work How Culture Kits Work How Culture Kits Work How Culture Kits Work All Culture Kits are designed as a six-part series spanning over 12-months. Already been through a series before through a Cortex Workshop? You have the option to mix & match! By mix & matching, you have the opportunity to design a Culture Kit experience for you and your team that addresses your teams needs specifically. Once choosing or mix & matching your Culture Kit follow these steps: 1 Schedule 6 team meetings with your team spanning over 12-months 2 Notify your Cortex Coach on what your Culture Kit includes and that you have scheduled all sessions with your team 3 Two weeks prior to your scheduled meeting, you'll receive an email with the landing page of each month's materials relating to your Culture Kit What We Offer Cortex Culture Kits Grow Your Team! Stressed for Success Stressed for Success is a guided Culture Kit designed to help individuals understand and manage stress and anxiety. It explores the neurological roots of stress, different types of anxiety, and introduces practical tools to "quiet the bully in your brain." Participants engage in short, spaced-out learning modules paired with simple, repeatable exercises aimed at rewiring stress responses. By consistently practicing the techniques, users can expect to reduce anxiety triggers, improve sleep, gain emotional control, and experience a greater sense of calm and clarity. This Culture Kit is available as a six-part series spanning over 12 months. The DISC Culture Kit series guides teams through a dynamic journey of self-awareness, communication mastery, and collaboration using the DISC behavioral model. Over six one-hour sessions, participants learn to identify their own DISC style, understand and adapt to others, and use this awareness to improve teamwork, manage conflict, and give effective feedback. Each session builds on the last through interactive activities, guided discussions, and practical application tools. By the end of the series, team members will be equipped to leverage their behavioral strengths, flex for better connection, and lead with greater emotional intelligence. *Already been through a couple of these? You can mix and match between all culture kits to best fit your teams needs!* Appreciation The 6-part Appreciation Culture Kit is designed to help teams build a stronger, more connected workplace by practicing meaningful, personalized appreciation. Through the lens of the 5 Languages of Appreciation, participants learn how to recognize and express gratitude in ways that truly resonate with their teammates. Each one-hour session blends science-backed insights with practical tools and guided discussions that deepen trust, increase engagement, and reduce turnover. By the end of the series, teams walk away with a shared understanding of how to make appreciation a natural, everyday part of their culture. Conflict Resolution The 6-part Conflict Resolution Culture Kit helps teams develop the skills to navigate tension with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Each session guides participants through a progression—from recognizing personal conflict styles and emotional triggers, to mastering active listening, respectful expression, and behavioral adaptation using DISC. Teams will learn how to transform difficult conversations into growth opportunities and strengthen trust through accountability and repair. This practical, interactive series creates a psychologically safe environment where healthy conflict leads to stronger collaboration and better results. Want More? Check back periodically to see updates to the Culture Kits we offer! Have questions? Feel free to email info@cortexleadership.com

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

Coaching Packages Flexible. Personalized. High-Impact Coaching. Cortex Coaching Packages are designed for leaders and professionals who want ongoing, expert guidance without committing to a full-year engagement. Whether you're looking to sustain momentum, navigate new challenges, or prepare for your next level of leadership, our flexible packages offer a high-value option to receive focused, personalized coaching at a rhythm that fits your schedule and goals. Using proven, researched, and best practices methods that help an leader see a situation from a different perspective and provide the right questions, at the right time, to help unlock their highest-level thinking, Our coaching packages include: 1 1-hour Coaching Sessions 1-hour coaching sessions 1:1 with your executive coach either in person at our offices in Roanoke, VA or via Zoom video calls. Best for: Mid-level leaders, rising executives, or alumni of full coaching programs Frequency: Use six 1-hour coaching sessions over a 12-month period Flexibility: Schedule monthly, bi-monthly, or as needed—your coaching, your pace Custom Coaching Package (upon request) Best for: Organizations or leaders needing a unique cadence or specialized support Options: Bundle coaching with team assessments, training, or supervisor check-ins Availability: Customized by scope and goals 2 Monti, Coach in Your Pocket Three text-based coaching prompts per week, including reflective questions, micro-insights, and optional journaling. 3 Cortex Coaching Portal, Pre-Session Development Questionnaires, Tailored Coaching Plan Portal access to view additional learning resources. Pre-Session Development Questionnaire to clarify areas and goals Tailored Coaching Plan aligned to your objectives and leadership development stage Optional: Supervisor Summary to support alignment with your manager or supervisor 4 Targeted Tools & Templates DISC, Driving Forces, EQ, and Leadership Competencies assessments

Training with Cortex Creating Leadership Teams Creating leadership teams that communicate effectively with coworkers, clients and customers. Mapping and Measuring Results Training leaders to map, measure, and design their time for maximum results. Establishing Proactive Ownership Recognizing and stopping the lack of accountability within teams, departments, and divisions and creating a culture of ownership and proactivity. Identifying Talent Identifying and hiring the best talent to fill the right seats on your organizational bus to ensure desired outcomes are achieved. Developing Agile Teams Developing more agile project teams that can innovate, plan, and execute important initiatives. Closing Skill and Resource Gaps Identifying and closing the gaps in skills and resources to enable your organization to grow at its maximum potential. Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

Our Clients - Their Words "I've always, always hated conflict. Until I found DISC and found Lynda's training. " Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

Time Traps Time Traps Time Traps Time Traps The Meeting Trap Are Your Meetings Helping or Hurting Productivity? The Overload Illusion Why Doing More Is Making You Less Effective Time Metabolism Aligning Your Energy with Your Most Important Work The Delegation Dilemma If You Want It Done Right, Do You Have to Do It Yourself? The Drama Distraction Are You Leading or Getting Lost in Office Politics? The Perfectionism Trap Stop Overthinking & Start Executing The Reactive Leader Are You Running Your Day, or Is Your Day Running You? The Productivity Myth Why Overload Leaders Lose Their Edge The Attention Drain How to Reclaim Your Focus in a World of Constant Pings

A Leader's Time Metabolism - It's Not the What, It's the When September 19, 2019 Lynda McNutt Foster It’s not the what, it could be the when. In my ebook, Time Mastery: 7 Simple Steps to Richer Outcome , in our Leading a Winning Team coursework, we provide an assessment that allows leaders to determine what I have termed as their time metabolism. Simply stated, your time metabolism is a measurement of your physical and mental energy throughout your day. To master your time, as a leader, you can optimize your strengths by measuring when your energy is highest throughout the day and when the low points are. Completing your most difficult tasks, for your behavioral style and skillset level, at times when you have the most energy can be key to being in your “flow” zone more of the time (a state where you are working within your strength zones that bring you the most amount of creative and strategic output as a leader). The more time you spend in your flow zone, the higher level contributions to your team and organizations you can make. Some leaders love to get to work by 6am and knock out lots of tasks that any other time of the day would be difficult to complete due to distractions and perhaps a low desire to complete them. The higher your energy level, the more chance you have of completing difficult tasks. When your energy is low your willpower to be tenacious wanes. To optimize your time metabolism, try doing the hardest things when you have the most mental and physical energy and the things you like to do, complete when you have the least (because doing those will tend to give you extra energy). If you are a people person, even when you are tired you will find the energy to interact and connect. If you like to complete tasks more than you like talking to people, do those things when your energy isn’t at it’s highest because you will be energized by the quietness and solitude of checking things off a list and knowing they are done! What’s your time metabolism? When are you the most likely to tackle and solve the toughest challenges your team or organization is facing?

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 Kimberly Kolb Eakin Professional Mentor/Coach Kimberly Kolb Eakin is a seasoned leadership consultant and founding leader at Cortex Leadership Consulting, where she has over 12 years of experience guiding organizations in leadership development, strategic growth, and organizational effectiveness. A retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class, Kimberly has an extensive background as an instructor in the military, training soldiers, cadets, and peers in marksmanship, tactical operations, and leadership skills. Her military career instilled a commitment to resilience and precision, which she now channels into helping global clients cultivate strong, cohesive teams and foster collaborative cultures. Beyond her work with Cortex, Kimberly was instrumental in the creation and direction of The Gauntlet, Virginia’s largest business program and competition, showcasing her commitment to supporting small businesses and innovation. Known for her strategic insight, creativity, and ability to inspire growth, Kimberly’s experience spans from empowering emerging entrepreneurs to coaching established leaders on a global scale. Through a blend of DISC assessments, mindfulness techniques, and tailored consulting practices, she equips her clients with the tools to navigate complex challenges while building trust and driving impact within their organizations. Contact: kimberly@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

Contact Cortex Leadership Consulting's office and executives Contact Us Roanoke, VA Phone: (540) 776-9219 Contact Tech

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

Subscribe Subscribe: AI Leader Brief Developed by Cortex CEO and executive strategist, Lynda McNutt Foster, in response to what she calls “an urgent need for clarity” amid the AI boom. “Leaders are bombarded with noise and buzzwords,” said Foster. “This brief delivers what they actually need—what’s real, what’s working, and what to watch next.” September 15, 2025 Listen to the Clip Read the Brief Read the Brief August 25th, 2025 August 11th, 2025 August 4th, 2025 July 27th, 2025 Listen to the Interview Read the Brief Listen to the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Listen to the Brief Listen to the Brief July 21st, 2025 July 14th, 2025 July 8th, 2025 June 30th, 2025 Listen to the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief What Our Clients Say Laura Barody, AVP of Subsidiary Accounting "I’ve been fortunate to have early access to the AI Leader Brief, and it’s quickly become a go-to resource. Each edition offers a concise, strategic view of what’s happening in AI—without the noise. It’s helped me stay current and think more critically about how AI impacts the way we work. Highly recommend for anyone in a leadership or decision-making role."

The Drama Distraction Are You Leading or Getting Lost in Office Politics? Drama Is a Leadership Distraction You Can't Afford The best leaders don't manage gossip-they eliminate it. If your day is filled with: Office politics that take priority over real work Passive-aggressive team conflicts Constant damage control ...then drama is draining your leadership energy. Here's how to stop the cycle: Set a zero-tolerance policy for unproductive conflicts. Train your team to communicate openly & address issues directly. Refocus energy on performance, not politics. Want to take back control? Watch this 1-minute leadership insight.