The Secret to Engagement Is Cohort-Based, Human-Centered Learning

By Matt Confer, VP Strategy at Abilitie

At Abilitie, we’ve built our learning philosophy around a core belief: leadership isn’t a solo pursuit, and learning shouldn’t be, either.

Leadership happens in the messy, human moments of collaboration, conflict, and real-time decision-making. If we want people to grow as leaders, we need to recreate real-world environments in our learning experiences. That’s why we believe so strongly in cohort-based, human-centered learning. When people learn together through dialogue, feedback, and a shared challenge, they retain more, apply their knowledge faster, and build the relationships that power meaningful organizational outcomes.

But not all leadership training programs agree with our approach. Some believe isolated learning is more effective for an organization’s bottom line. Not only is learning in isolation boring, but it also fundamentally works against how the human brain is wired—and against desired learning outcomes. In my seven years at Abilitie, I’ve seen firsthand how effective cohort-based, human-centered learning is, and I truly believe it’s the future of leadership.

Learning Is a Social Act

So much of traditional training is designed around individual consumption. You click through videos. You scroll through slides. You might answer a quiz alone at the end. But that’s not how most of us work, and it’s certainly not how we learn.

Abilitie’s approach flips that model. We put people in cohorts and give them a shared challenge where they’re asked to navigate complexity together, in real time. I’ve seen it time and time again where people who learn from colleagues have better skills.

I can’t overstate the power of being surrounded by peers, especially peers at a similar point in their careers. It brings relevance, motivation, and support to the training experience. People engage more deeply when they’re not just learning with others, but from them.

I’ve watched participants raise their hand when they’re stuck, not to ask the facilitator for the answer, but to hash out the problem with their teammates. That kind of learning moment doesn’t happen with asynchronous e-learning. It happens when you’re embedded in a group, building trust, and working toward a goal together.

One example of social learning is seen in our 12-Week MBA, a cohort-based business simulation experience that challenges emerging leaders to make strategic, financial, and operational decisions in a dynamic team environment. Participants work cross-functionally to solve real business challenges—together—just like they would in their day jobs.

Human-Centered by Design

A lot of learning platforms lean heavily into technology. While tech is an important tool, it can’t replace human connection. At Abilitie, we use tech to enable learning, not to replace the human experience at the heart of it.

So many incredible tools lean 100% into technology, but that’s not how most of us work. We work with other humans, so it would be a weird decision to train as a solo pursuit.

That’s the heart of human-centered learning. We’re not asking people to sit quietly and absorb knowledge. We’re asking them to show up, engage actively, say what’s on their mind, and wrestle with the material in a social context that reflects their work environment. Whether preparing for a tough feedback conversation or grappling with a cross-functional business challenge, participants do it with peers, not in isolation.

In our Management Challenge program, for instance, participants take on the role of a team leader navigating feedback conversations, coaching moments, and employee engagement scenarios, all in a fast-paced, social setting with their peers. The goal isn’t just to learn leadership theory, but to live it, through practice and shared reflection.

Relationships Are a Byproduct—and a Benefit

Better relationships are one of the most powerful outcomes of cohort-based learning. When participants go through our simulations, they’re often grouped with people from different departments, business units, or locations. They’re forced to collaborate, communicate, and make decisions together under time pressure.

You’re going through this fictitious environment and having an open and honest conversation with your colleagues that you can’t normally do in a training environment. That’s where real learning happens. As a happy byproduct, you form bonds with people across the organization that you might never have worked with otherwise.

These connections matter. They break down silos, build empathy, and create a stronger organizational fabric, which is something every company needs.

Why We’ll Never Train in Isolation

At the end of the day, leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and neither should leadership development.

Abilitie believes in cohort-based and human-centered learning because it reflects how we actually work in real life. When people practice in teams, engage in real dialogue, and tackle realistic scenarios together, they grow as individuals and as a group. They build critical skills and lasting relationships. They walk away not only better equipped for their roles but also more connected to their organization.

We believe in this approach because we’ve seen its impact on individuals, on teams, and entire companies. We don’t just teach leadership; we help people live it.

Explore how Abilitie’s award-winning experiential learning programs drive engagement, retention, and long-term growth.