Request Your DISC Assessment Link Fill out this form to request to have a link to take your DISC assessment emailed to you. Once you take it, your results will also be emailed to you. First name Last name Email Company Request Link

Cortex Leadership Launches “The AI Leader Brief” to Equip Executives for Rapid AI Disruption < Back Cortex Leadership Consulting Jul 11, 2025 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. The newsletter was 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. “These briefs deliver what they actually need—what’s real, what’s working, and what to watch next.” Each issue of The AI Leader Brief synthesizes critical AI developments—from advancements in generative tools to shifting regulatory standards—into leader-ready formats. It also includes tested frameworks for team communication, leadership development, and organizational integration of emerging technologies. Addressing a Strategic Gap in AI Literacy According to a 2024 McKinsey report, just 17% of business leaders feel “very prepared” to lead AI integration efforts, despite 72% reporting that AI will significantly alter their roles. The AI Leader Brief aims to close this gap, combining strategic foresight with Cortex’s 15 years of experience coaching over 10,000 leaders through transformation. Key components of the newsletter include: AI trend decoding with business implications explained in plain language Leadership messaging prompts for framing AI with teams and stakeholders Security and ethics watch-outs for executives responsible for risk mitigation Productivity updates on tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and CoPilot One-click resources for AI adoption and professional development The brief also supports Cortex’s broader programming in AI leadership , including cohort-based development programs and custom consulting engagements. A Response to Leadership Overload “Executives don’t have time for 30-minute YouTube explainers or noisy Slack channels,” said Foster. “The AI Leader Brief gives them what they need in five minutes or less—every Monday morning.” The newsletter is currently available by subscription . Organizations can also inquire about private cohorts or enterprise-level integration at info@cortexleadership.com . About Cortex Leadership Consulting Cortex Leadership Consulting is a leadership development firm headquartered in Roanoke, VA, serving organizations across North America. Known for its data-informed coaching, high-impact facilitation, and customized learning experiences, Cortex partners with executives and teams to accelerate growth, clarity, and culture transformation in high-stakes environments. Previous Next

How AI Will Change Your Job—And What You Can Do About It < Back Cortex Leatership Consulting Jun 8, 2025 Live Small Group and One-on-One Demo Experiences Show Leaders and Everyday Workers How to Stay Ahead of AI's Disruption Event Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Location: Grandin CoLab, Roanoke, VA Roanoke, VA — While national headlines warn of job loss and fear around artificial intelligence, a first-of-its-kind leadership demo event on Tuesday will flip the script, showing local professionals how to partner with AI , not fear it. Hosted by Cortex Leadership Consulting, the event—“The AI Demo Experience: Leading Through the Shift”—will show leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals how to collaborate with tools like ChatGPT, CoPilot, NotebookLM, and Gemini to save time, reduce stress, and increase quality of work without needing to be “tech-savvy.” “This is not a lecture. It’s an immersive demo where you’ll see AI work with real-world data from local businesses to solve problems in real time,” said Lynda McNutt Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership. “We want leaders to walk away with less fear, more clarity, and practical next steps they can use tomorrow.” Why This Matters (Fast Facts for Newsrooms) 44% of work skills will be disrupted by 2027 , according to the World Economic Forum. Only 1 in 10 professionals feel confident using AI tools at work (McKinsey 2024). In a recent local survey of over 40 professionals, the #1 challenge was “not knowing where to start with AI” . This event is designed to address that head-on. Real-time demos of how leaders and employees can collaborate with AI Why AI is not replacing humans—rather amplifying those who use it well How leaders can overcome the "blank page" problem and decision fatigue Insight into which jobs and tasks will likely be automated first—and what will never be replaced A Local Perspective This isn’t Silicon Valley. It is right here in Southwest Virginia. These are local teams and business leaders navigating real pressures—from healthcare to finance to entrepreneurship. The Cortex team will show how AI can: Create customized training content from internal and external documents Build messaging for change through an organization Help leaders use AI as a thinking partner through Conversational Intelligence Media seats are limited for small group main demos, but open for any of the mini demos available one-on-one. Please RSVP for access and early arrival for interviews and visuals. Contact: lynda@cortexleadership.com About Cortex Leadership Consulting Cortex has worked with over 12,000 leaders to accelerate team performance, engagement, and innovation. Known for its pioneering use of AI in leadership training, Cortex brings coaching, consulting, and tech together for next-level transformation. Previous Next

Yokohama Leadership Workshop De-Escalation & Conflict Resolution for Senior Leaders Mastering Conflict for Stronger Leadership These resources were created to address your teams Conflict Tolerance by Lynda McNutt Foster Effective leadership requires the ability to navigate conflict with confidence and clarity. Your upcoming Conflict Management Workshop provides your leadership team with the tools to assess their conflict tolerance. The following tools are below: 🔹 Executive Summary: Gain an overview of the key themes and objectives covered in the workshop to set the foundation for learning. 🔹 Conflict Tolerance Assessment: 🔹 Conflict Tolerance Scorecard: 🔹 Conflict Management De-Escalation Article: Conflict Management Prep Podcast: Executive Summary Q1: Yokohama Workshop Conflict Tolerance Assessment Conflict Tolerance Score Card Mastering Conflict Management Article

Leadership Experts Urge Global Business Shift from VUCA to BANI Framework to Navigate Chaos of the 2020s < Back Cortex Leadership Consulting Jun 20, 2025 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. For decades, the VUCA framework (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) has guided executive decision-making amid change. However, Foster and Heinze argue that today’s disruptions – from pandemics and geopolitical instability to climate crises and AI-driven transformation – demand a more honest and actionable map. “VUCA no longer fully captures the intensity or emotional weight of our world,” says Foster. “BANI gives leaders a better language to interpret and respond to the stress fractures showing up across every industry.” Why BANI, Why Now First introduced by futurist Jamais Cascio, BANI captures the emotional and structural instability of modern systems. The article walks readers through how: Brittleness reflects systems that break under pressure. Anxiety is an ever-present emotional state due to constant uncertainty. Nonlinearity means minor events can cause disproportionate impact. Incomprehensibility challenges leaders’ ability to interpret fast-moving, ambiguous data. The authors emphasize that BANI is not just a trend—it’s an urgent leadership imperative. “Our institutions, processes, and mindsets must evolve. We can no longer rely on planning cycles built for stability,” says Heinze. “BANI leadership demands resilience, empathy, improvisation, and intuition.” A New Leadership Playbook The article outlines a modern leadership toolkit suited for the BANI world. Leaders must: Shift from reactive firefighting to resilient foresight . Replace rigid, hierarchical workflows with agile and adaptive systems . Invest in psychological capital (PsyCap) – Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism – to sustain teams amid stress and uncertainty. Foster cross-functional collaboration and collective sensemaking as a strategic advantage. “Leaders who thrive in BANI environments don’t seek perfect control—they build cultures prepared to bend without breaking,” says Foster. Global Examples of BANI Leadership Foster and Heinze back their insights with powerful case studies: Home Depot chartered private ships to avoid supply chain chaos. Tesla rewrote software to accommodate chip shortages. GM & Ford pivoted to produce ventilators and PPE during COVID-19. Microsoft focused on emotional intelligence and psychological safety through empathetic policies. These real-world examples show that BANI-ready companies outperform not by avoiding chaos—but by being structurally and culturally prepared to engage with it. Call to Action The article closes with practical steps: forming a “BANI Response Team,” measuring adaptability alongside efficiency, and conducting team conversations about readiness. Leaders are encouraged to ask, “If our world is truly BANI, what’s one thing we should change today?” As Foster notes, “Chaos favors the prepared, the courageous, and the flexible. That can be you and your company.” Contact Information For North America: Lynda McNutt Foster CEO, Cortex Leadership Consulting 📧 lynda@cortexleadership.com 🌐 www.cortexleadership.com For Europe: Holger Heinze Director & Partner, O'Donovan Consulting AG 📧 holger.heinze@odonovan.de 🌐 www.odonovan.de Previous Next

Leading Others to 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: Take the Cortex Coaching Intake Form Intake Form Step 2: Review the Leadership Competencies Selection and Instruction Guide Guide Step 3: Take the Leadership Competencies Assessment Assessment Step 4: 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. Step 5: Bring your Assessment results to your upcoming coaching session

EPIC Library EPIC Month 3 - Thinking With Intention A Leader's Guide to Getting More: How VIPE, DISC, and Inclusion Shape High- Performing Teams Designed Exclusively for Your EPIC Cohort by Lynda McNutt Foster This resource was created to address the Ask the Expert questions. Q&A Accompanying Article: We’ve also crafted a companion article, A Leader's Guide to Getting More: How VIPE, DISC, and Inclusion Shape High-Performing Teams. Article Explore the Podcast: Find the A Leader's Guide to VIPE podcast episode below, where we answer your questions and delve into the key themes you wanted to discuss.

Executive Leadership Coaching for Peak Performance Program 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.

Strengthening Your Competencies in Leading Others 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: Take the Leadership Competencies Assessment Assessment Bring your results to your upcoming coaching session Step 3: Read the accompanying Article : Article

get name email email

The Cortex Growth Readiness Factor Understanding Change Through Openness, Action & Accountability Cortex Change Readiness Factor Self-Assessment: FREE Assessment Cortex Change Readiness Factor Scorecard: Scorecard Cortex The Readiness for Growth Factor Article: Article Cortex Change Readiness Growth Equation Deep Dive Conversation Corecast Episode:

Your Upcoming Leadership Training Empowering Conversations Conflict to Appreciation to Transformation Step 1: Read the Empowering Conversations Article : Article Step 2: Listen to the Empowering Conversations Corcast Episode: Step 3: Print your Guide and bring it with you to your upcoming Workshop! Guide