Challenge
A global consumer goods company identified a critical gap in the business acumen of
its high-potential leaders. While these individuals excelled in their functional expertise, they struggled to see the bigger picture and how their decisions impacted profitability, growth, and overall business strategy. Leadership recognized the need for a structured program to enhance financial literacy, strategic thinking, and cross-functional decision-making skills.
Solution
The company partnered with Advantexe to implement a customized business acumen simulation as part of a leadership development initiative. The program featured:
- A highly interactive, simulation-centric learning experience where participants ran a virtual company, making strategic and financial decisions in a competitive market.
- A focus on real-world challenges, including P&L management, pricing strategy, and resource allocation.
- Group debriefs to reinforce learning and connect simulation insights to their daily roles.
- A capstone presentation where participants applied their new skills to solve a real business challenge within the company.
Results
The program delivered immediate and measurable impact:
- 95% of participants reported greater confidence in financial discussions and strategic decision-making.
- A 38% improvement in financial literacy scores, as measured by pre-and post-program assessments.
- Several participants applied what they had learned directly, which led to cost-saving initiatives and revenue growth opportunities within their teams.
- Senior leadership recognized the program’s value and expanded it to a broader audience of emerging leaders.
Participant Quote: “The simulation provided great real-time insight. The next time I meet with a customer who asks about prices, I will have a better idea of why there are some of these costs. It’s not just the discovery costs that everybody cites, but it’s also how we stay in compliance with the regulators across the world and create a safe, sterile product. The steps that they go through are unbelievable, and I can tell that story.”
By equipping high-potential leaders with essential business acumen skills, the company strengthened its leadership pipeline and ensured its future leaders could make more informed, strategic business decisions.
