How Armanino Elevated Leadership Development With a Custom Capsim Simulation

The Challenge: Leadership Learning Needed to Feel Current and Connected to Strategy

Before Capsim, the capstone relied on traditional case studies. They were well-intentioned, but no longer delivering what the firm needed.

Participants felt the cases were:

• Dated

• Repetitive

• Too theoretical

• Disconnected from the real challenges Armanino is preparing its leaders for

And with Vision 2030 newly launched — emphasizing AI readiness, client experience, innovation, and long-term firm fundamentals — the L&D team needed an experience that reflected the direction of the business.

As one leader explained:

“We didn’t want another scenario where people guess the ‘right’ answer. We needed something dynamic and aligned with where the firm is going.”

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The Solution: A Custom 2.5-Day Simulation Built Around Vision 2030

Capsim partnered with Armanino to design a fully customized simulation capstone that mirrored the complexity and ambiguity of real business leadership — without being constrained to the accounting industry.

What made the simulation so effective:

1. Direct alignment to Vision 2030

The simulation was built around the firm’s top priorities: AI, client experience, innovation, and leadership expectations for the decade ahead. Every decision reinforced the firm’s strategic direction.

2. A neutral (non-industry) scenario to promote broader thinking

By taking leaders out of their familiar environment, the simulation forced them to think cross-functionally and adopt a true enterprise mindset.

3. Real-time decision-making under pressure

Teams navigated shifting markets, competing priorities, financial constraints, and the ripple effects of their choices — creating the kind of cognitive work leaders can’t get from static cases.

4. A seamless experience for the L&D team

Capsim provided clear communication, documentation, and full CPE support. What could’ve been a heavy lift became simple.

“None of it felt heavy because Capsim held all the pieces. You made it easy.”

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The Experience: Earning Engagement From a Busy Leadership Cohort

The cohort entered with understandable hesitation. They were coming off two years of development and full client workloads — and the idea of a 2.5-day simulation felt like a lot.

But once the experience began, the shift was immediate.

Leaders leaned in.
Debates became sharper.
Teams wrestled with decisions that felt real, not academic.
And the connection to Vision 2030 was unmistakable.

By the end, the sentiment was clear:

“People were pleasantly surprised. They realized how much value it had — and it tied the whole leadership journey together.”

For Armanino’s L&D team, this wasn’t just engagement — it was earned engagement, the kind that signals genuine learning.

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The Results: A Capstone That Delivered What Leaders Actually Need

High participant satisfaction and strong evaluation scores

Feedback showed the experience was consistently viewed as valuable, relevant, and well designed.

A stronger link between leadership development and firm strategy

Leaders saw Vision 2030 come to life through practice — not slides.

A standout moment in a prestigious program

The simulation elevated the program’s stature and created an experience participants talked about long after it ended.

A partnership the L&D team wants to continue

The ease of collaboration and level of customization made Capsim a clear long-term partner.

“When partners make things this easy, we want to keep working with them.”

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Looking Ahead: Building on Success for 2026

Armanino plans to run the simulation again for the next Advanced Leadership cohort, expanding it even further and starting earlier to create more space for refinement.

The Vision 2030 module is now embedded in their development strategy — and the simulation is becoming a signature experience in how Armanino prepares its leaders for the future.

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Final Takeaway

“If you want a leadership experience that’s customizable, relevant, and gets people thinking differently — go with Capsim. It made a huge difference for us.”