In enterprise organizations, developing leaders who can think strategically, collaborate effectively, and drive performance through change is essential. Traditional leadership programs can teach frameworks and theory, but they rarely replicate the complexity of real-world decision-making. That is where business simulations make the difference.

At Abilitie, we have seen firsthand how simulations help large organizations build leadership capability that lasts. By combining human connection, experiential learning, and strategic reflection, simulations empower leaders to make smarter decisions and strengthen organizational culture. Below are five examples of how global enterprises have used business simulations to meet critical leadership and talent goals.

1. Building Leadership Agility to Sustain High Performance

Few stories demonstrate the power of leadership development as clearly as AMD’s. From near-bankruptcy to a $348 billion market leader, the company’s remarkable turnaround under CEO Lisa Su has been driven not only by technological innovation but by a deliberate investment in leadership capability. For more than a decade, AMD has partnered with Abilitie to design and deliver programs that strengthen strategic thinking, collaboration, and leadership agility across the organization.

At the center of this effort is AMD’s four-day leadership program that blends experiential and social-based learning. Participants engage in interactive discussions, simulations, and team challenges that bring AMD’s leadership principles to life. A highlight of the program is Abilitie’s Enterprise Challenge simulation, where managers lead a virtual business, make strategic trade-offs, and drive results under pressure.

This experience reinforces AMD’s leadership framework and cultivates the ability to execute in volatile and complex environments. The impact has been significant. Participant satisfaction scores remain at an all time high and MLE alumni score higher on manager effectiveness in AMD’s internal surveys. As AMD continues to drive innovation in high-performance computing and AI, its leaders, developed through experiences like the MLE, remain central to its long-term success.

2. Leading Through Business Transformation

When VMware transitioned from a traditional licensing model to a SaaS-based business, it needed its senior leaders to think differently. The company worked with Abilitie to integrate the Executive Challenge simulation into its Leadership Skills Development Initiative, giving senior directors and vice presidents the space to explore strategy, collaboration, and risk-taking under pressure.

The simulation mirrored the complexity of VMware’s transformation and allowed participants to see the downstream effects of their choices while improving cross-functional alignment. The result was stronger collaboration, higher engagement among senior leaders, and a leadership bench equipped to navigate ongoing change. VMware’s experience highlights how simulations help leaders adapt quickly and make confident decisions during major transformation.

3. Accelerating Promotions and Retention

For Baker Tilly, leadership development was a business priority. The global advisory firm needed a way to prepare high-potential managers for promotion while reinforcing a culture of growth and collaboration. Through the Rising Leader Program, powered by Abilitie’s suite of simulations, participants practiced strategic thinking, financial acumen, and leadership communication in team-based, competitive environments.

The hands-on nature of the experience encouraged reflection and immediate application on the job. Over half of program participants earned promotions, and many reported stronger communication, executive presence, and confidence in their decision-making. Baker Tilly’s results show how simulations can turn potential into performance and help organizations retain and promote the talent they most want to keep.

4. Scaling Business Acumen Across Early-Career Talent

At Holcim, a global leader in sustainable building materials, the Learning and Development team recognized that early-career employees needed stronger business acumen to lead effectively. Many came from technical backgrounds and were stepping into roles that required broader financial understanding and strategic perspective. Abilitie’s Business Challenge simulation became the foundation of Holcim’s Early Career Leadership Program (ECLP), a global and virtual-first learning experience that has reached more than 300 participants across 16 cohorts.

Through the simulation, learners were challenged to make real-time financial and strategic decisions in a competitive environment. They developed business fluency, cross-functional awareness, and confidence in linking day-to-day actions to organizational results. By scaling a consistent learning experience worldwide, Holcim built a stronger leadership pipeline and developed early-career talent prepared to drive future growth.

5. Developing Confident Leaders at Every Level

At WP Engine, the challenge was not attracting talent but equipping new and emerging managers to lead people effectively in a fast-growing organization. Abilitie partnered with WP Engine to build a structured leadership journey that included simulation-based programs for every level, from first-time managers to senior executives.

Participants practiced coaching, giving feedback, and aligning teams in immersive, realistic scenarios that reflected their day-to-day challenges. More than 200 managers have completed the programs, and employee engagement scores around growth and career development have increased significantly. WP Engine’s experience shows how simulations help organizations build leadership consistency and confidence at scale.

The Power of Practice

Across industries, one truth is clear: leaders learn best by doing. Whether preparing first-time managers for leadership, guiding executives through transformation, or developing technical talent into strategic thinkers, business simulations create the conditions for meaningful practice and reflection.

At Abilitie, we have seen simulations become a catalyst for change within enterprise organizations. They build capability, strengthen culture, and prepare leaders to perform under pressure. In a world that rewards agility, collaboration, and sound judgment, experiential learning is not just effective—it is essential.