Your high-stakes decision is stalled. Let's unstick it.

I'm Dr. Jen Anderson, a behavioral neuroscientist who helps CTOs and engineering executives surface the hidden patterns blocking their decisions—then create a clear path forward.

I spent 10 years studying how brains process complexity and risk, then 10 years leading engineering teams at scale. I see why decisions stall—and how to unstick them.

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Why Your Decision Is Stuck

You have a high-stakes decision that's been stalled for months:

  • •Platform migration with $2M budget but no consensus
  • •AI strategy initiative where every stakeholder has a different vision
  • •Technical architecture choice with unclear tradeoffs
  • •Team reorganization where no one can agree on structure

The problem isn't lack of information. You have too much information.

The problem is:

  • ✗Multiple stakeholders with competing priorities
  • ✗Unclear ownership (everyone can veto, no one can decide)
  • ✗Hidden assumptions that conflict with each other
  • ✗Technical complexity mixed with organizational politics
  • ✗Cognitive overload—your team is too busy to think strategically

Traditional consultants do more technical analysis. But that's not why you're stuck. You're stuck because of invisible behavioral patterns.

What Neuroscience Reveals About Blocked Decisions

My PhD research studied why brains fail to detect signals under complexity:

  • •Low contrast: Gradual changes are invisible (even when significant)
  • •Positional bias: Signals in 'low-attention zones' get missed
  • •Crowding: Too many competing signals reduce perception
  • •Poor orientation: How information is framed affects detection

The same patterns show up in organizational decisions:

  • →Low contrast → Gradual drift from strategy (no one notices)
  • →Positional bias → Key concerns from 'low-status' stakeholders ignored
  • →Crowding → Too many opinions, analyses, frameworks (paralysis)
  • →Poor orientation → Metrics and data that obscure rather than clarify

I call this "Behavioral Drift"—when decisions gradually drift off course but remain imperceptible until it's too late.

This is why more analysis doesn't unstick decisions. You need someone who can see the invisible patterns.

How It Works

2-4 week fixed-scope engagement

I don't do open-ended strategy work or staff augmentation. I do focused, intensive engagements to unstick ONE specific decision.

The Process

Week 1

Surface the patterns
  • •Stakeholder interviews (1-on-1 conversations)
  • •Review existing analysis and documentation
  • •Identify hidden assumptions and conflicts
  • •Map decision ownership and constraints

Week 2-3

Create clarity
  • •Synthesize 2-4 viable options with explicit tradeoffs
  • •Surface what stops, starts, or pauses based on each option
  • •Identify success signals and risk indicators
  • •Build decision framework with clear ownership

Week 4

Deliver & activate
  • •Decision memo (2-5 pages, leadership can act on)
  • •30-60-90 action plan with named owners
  • •Operion access for ongoing team visibility
  • •Transition to execution

The Deliverables

1

Decision Statement

Clear definition: decision, owner, constraints, deadline

2

Options & Tradeoffs

2-4 viable paths with explicit risks and benefits

3

Stop/Start List

What pauses, stops, or moves forward under each option

4

Decision Memo

2-5 page document leadership can act on immediately

5

Success Signals

3-5 measurable indicators to track post-decision

6

30-60-90 Action Plan

Named owners, sequenced steps, clear milestones

Is This Your Situation?

You have a high-stakes decision that's been stuck for months.

The decision has:

  • •Budget approved but no movement
  • •Multiple stakeholders with competing views
  • •Analysis paralysis (you have too much data, not too little)
  • •Everyone has input, but no one can make the call
  • •Pressure from leadership to 'just decide already'

And you're:

  • •Committed to making the decision (not delaying it)
  • •Ready for clarity, not more analysis
  • •Willing to surface uncomfortable truths
  • •Looking for a path forward, not validation of what you already think

If this sounds familiar, let's talk.

If you're looking for staff augmentation, ongoing strategy consulting, or someone to tell you what you want to hear—I'm not the right fit.

Why Trust Me With Your Decision

Research Background

PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience

University of Illinois Chicago

10 years studying how brains process signals under complexity, cognitive load, and ambiguity.

Rare combination: behavioral science + computer science + engineering leadership.

MS, Computer Science

University of Illinois Chicago

Modeled early visual cortex development using signal processing to understand how initial neural parameters influence perception throughout life.

Executive Leadership

Fractional CTO & Startup Advisor

Multiple startups (confidential)

Senior Director of Engineering (2023-2025)

Led 35+ engineers across 5 national brands. Built AI-powered analytics platform and unified web platform increasing team stability.

Director of Engineering (2020-2023)

Led platform performance optimization achieving 87% improvement in Time to Interactive and 96% reduction in blocking time.

Director of Software Engineering (2014-2020)

Built and scaled engineering teams and technical infrastructure.

Proven Outcomes

AI-Powered Analytics Platform

Executive analytics system providing C-suite visibility into team health and performance.

Core Web Vitals Optimization

  • Lighthouse Score: 1 → 90+
  • Time to Interactive: 29.9s → 3.9s
  • LCP: 27.2s → 4.7s
  • Total Blocking Time: 96% reduction

Platform Standardization

Unified web platform consolidating bespoke sites, increasing team stability and productivity.

Investment

2-4 Week Engagement

Premium Advisory Engagement

Investment details discussed during consultation

Includes:

  • •All 6 deliverables
  • •Stakeholder interviews
  • •Decision memo and action plan
  • •6 months Operion access ($3,000 value)
  • •Email support during engagement
  • •One follow-up call 30 days post-decision

After 6 months: Continue Operion at $500/month (optional) or additional consulting if needed.

Limited Availability: I take 2 engagement slots per quarter to ensure quality.

Ready to Unstick Your Decision?

Let's start with a 30-minute conversation.

I'll ask about:

  • •What decision is stuck
  • •How long it's been stalled
  • •Who the key stakeholders are
  • •What you've tried already
  • •What success looks like

You'll get:

  • ✓Clarity on whether this approach fits your situation
  • ✓Initial observations about potential patterns
  • ✓Transparent assessment of whether I can help

No pressure. No pitch. Just honest conversation.

Or email: jen@aurvia.io

Common Questions

What is Operion and why is it included?

Operion is the team behavioral health analytics platform I built based on the same research that powers Aurvia consulting. It detects burnout signals, cognitive overload, and invisible work patterns.

You get 6 months included with your engagement so you can continue monitoring team health after the decision is made.

After 6 months: Continue at $500/month (optional).

Is this hourly or project-based?

Project-based, fixed price. No hourly billing, no scope creep. You know the investment upfront.

Do you implement or staff teams?

No. I help you make the decision and create the action plan. Your teams execute. I'm not hands-on implementation or staff augmentation.

About Aurvia

Aurvia is a decision science consultancy founded by Dr. Jen Anderson.

I combine insights from behavioral neuroscience (PhD, UIC) with fractional CTO experience and 10 years leading engineering teams at scale.

I help CTOs and engineering executives unstick high-stakes decisions using insights from how teams actually process complexity, risk, and ambiguity under pressure.

Learn more about my background: andersonnjen.com