November Program Meeting - Beyond Self-Sabotage: The Neuroscience Behind Positive Intelligence and Reducing Stress
November 18, 2026
11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
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Tulsa Technology Center (Lemley) - Client Service Center
3638 S Memorial Drive
Tulsa, OK 74145
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Presented by Nancy Gunter, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
What is the value of dealing more effectively with stress, frustration or anxiety? What would you give for a culture that has less blame, shame or guilt? Do you want a more positive, happier life? This sounds almost too good to be true, but research and neuroscience actually shows this is possible, but it takes work… mental work…. Mental Fitness.
“Positive Intelligence is your capacity to respond to life’s challenges with positive rather than negative mindset”. Imagine yourself able to remain calm, clear headed, stress-free, and positive even in the midst of stress, frustration or guilt.
Most attempts at positive change fail because we stop at insight and don’t build habits. Sustained change towards a more positive mind requires laying down neural pathways to form new habits through consistent daily practice.
Nancy Gunter has led groups all over the United States in this educational and entertaining look at the brain. She also leads Positive Intelligence Pods for companies as well as Open Pods for individuals. Participants will leave the session with more insight into what causes their current reactions and how to change that.
Why is this program critical now more than ever?
- Everyone’s brain is basically the same. We react due to the neural pathways that WE decide to have.
- The neuroplasticity of the brain allows you to change your reactions.
- Since we deal with stress at a higher level and on a regular basis, the ability to manage this is critical to our health – physical and mental.
- Living and working in a more positive environment opens the door to better health, better relationships, and a more enjoyable culture.
Workplace Application
• Learn how to deal more effectively with stress, frustration, anxiety, guilt, blame, shame, etc.
• Understand the science behind leadership.
• Look at the brain science behind “Pausing and choosing” a response.
• Consider your emotional connection with employees and how that impacts your leadership.
This is an interactive session that you will walk away from with knowledge, new skills, and tools to impact your daily life.
At this program you will:
- Learn the 3 core mental muscles that you must focus on to increase your mental fitness.
- Understand the science behind the brain and leadership.
- Learn how to recover from stress or frustration faster, creating the opportunity for a healthier, happier life.
- Learn how to create a culture with less blame, shame or guilt and how that can impact your leadership, team, and productivity.
- Build a plan to enhance your positivity quotient for yourself and your team.
A competitive triathlete, two knee replacements, preacher’s kid, college athlete, funny – all of these words describe Nancy Gunter. Dynamic, engaging, humble, knowledgeable, and passionate describe Nancy as a Speaker, Trainer and Executive Coach.
Nancy is the President and CEO of Gunter Training and the past Chief Learning Officer for the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. For 35+ years, she worked for YMCAs in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, California and Oklahoma ultimately spending the last 15 years in the C-suite. Nancy has her Masters Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership with an emphasis on the five Generations in the workplace.
Nancy is one of the most sought after coaches for Leaders and Executives. She leads with compassion while holding a mirror for the coach partner to see the impact of their decisions. Nancy has a unique ability to listen between the lines and help the Executive find solutions and ideas that they can’t quite verbalize.
Nancy has traveled from coast to coast leading teams and speaking at conferences, opening the door to significant change opportunities. She has lead countless sessions on various leadership topics with some of the most popular being Positive Mental Fitness, Generational Dynamics, 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team and Why People Do What They Do. She has studied leaders and leadership for over 40 years putting together best practices and entertainingly educational sessions for all types of conferences and companies.
Nancy has been interviewed on NBC about Positive Mental Fitness and has been a speaker for a variety of conferences including the National SHRM Conference, National ASSP Safety Conference, State Government Conferences, State HR Conferences and more. Some companies she has worked with include HUD, Anheuser Busch, Oklahoma State University, Saint Francis Hospital System, OneOK Gas Company, various County Governments in Oklahoma, YMCAs from coast to coast & internationally, and many others. She works extensively with teams for Saint Francis Hospital System, TD Williamson, and Aberdeen Dynamics.
Due to her love for adventure and activity, Nancy has traveled extensively, reaching five continents and training on three of them. Nancy also enjoys all types of sports and continues to participate in Sprint, Olympic and Half-ironman Triathlons.
