How Lilly Helps Its Manufacturing Teams Think Strategically When It Matters Most

Building Business-Savvy Teams in a Fast-Changing Environment

Manufacturing is evolving quickly. New technologies, global expectations, and tighter alignment between operations and strategy are reshaping how decisions get made across the industry.

Lilly felt that shift. Their teams were strong—deeply skilled, experienced, and committed. But like many large organizations, leaders noticed something familiar:

People were making important decisions without always seeing how those choices connected to the bigger financial picture.

Most non-finance roles simply don’t get to see the whole board.
Lilly wanted to change that.

Looking for Learning That Actually Lands

The goal wasn’t to deliver “finance training.” It was to give people a more intuitive understanding of how the business works—without jargon, without lectures, and without losing engagement.

That led Lilly to Capsim.

The two-day simulation brought business concepts to life. Teams made decisions, saw the impact, and quickly connected the dots between costs, cash flow, profitability, and strategic tradeoffs. What once felt abstract suddenly felt practical and clear.

Where Real Learning Meets Real Work

Between rounds, Lilly’s subject-matter experts stepped in to tie everything back to the company. No slides. No theory. Just open conversations that helped participants see how the concepts showed up in their day-to-day world.

Those moments became the spark for many of the program’s biggest insights.

A Facilitated Experience People Actually Enjoy

Capsim’s facilitators played a huge role in the program’s success. Teams consistently described them as engaging, knowledgeable, and fully invested in each cohort. They kept the energy high and the learning accessible—even for participants who walked in thinking “finance isn’t my thing.”

The experience also held up seamlessly in virtual environments, supporting teams across Europe, Asia, and Puerto Rico with the same level of clarity and engagement.

The Impact: Clearer Thinking, Stronger Decisions, Better Leaders

Participants left the program with:

• a deeper understanding of core business concepts

• stronger decision-making confidence

• a clearer view of how their work affects the company

• and a more strategic mindset overall

Leaders saw the shift immediately.

Today, Capsim’s simulation plays a key role in Lilly’s development pathway—helping emerging leaders think more holistically, navigate complexity, and contribute with a deeper sense of business understanding.

Because when people understand why decisions matter—not just what to do—they lead differently. And Lilly is investing in that difference at scale.