Cognizant’s BFSI vertical partnered with SimuRise to deliver an experiential learning program for 150 leaders, aligned with its 2028 goals. Through the Quest for King Solomon’s Mines simulation, participants navigated high-pressure scenarios requiring collaboration, strategic thinking, and accountability. The intervention addressed challenges of siloed working and inconsistent leadership behaviors across large teams. As a result, leaders strengthened collaboration, embraced a growth mindset, and adopted a “play-to-win” approach. Relationships deepened, and collective ownership increased. The program successfully aligned leadership behaviors, building a cohesive, future-ready leadership group capable of driving sustained organizational performance.
Introduction
Cognizant’s BFSI vertical, one of the company’s largest and most strategic business units, partnered with SimuRise to deliver a high-impact, experiential learning intervention for 150 leaders and managers. The objective was to create an engaging, immersive, and interactive learning experience that brings teams together, strengthens leadership mindsets, and aligns behaviors with Cognizant’s ambitious 2028 organizational goals.
The Challenge
As Cognizant accelerates toward its 2028 goals, the BFSI vertical faces increasing demands for speed, collaboration, and consistent leadership behaviors across large, multi-layered teams.
They needed an experience that would challenge leaders to think differently, act together, and build collective momentum.
Solution:
SimuRise facilitated its flagship business simulation, The Quest for King Solomon’s Mines, an immersive, strategy-driven learning experience that places participants in a fast-paced, competitive, and highly collaborative business environment.
Across the simulation, leaders were required to:
- Make decisions under pressure and uncertainty
- Strategize with limited resources and time
- Collaborate across teams to achieve common goals
- Take ownership of actions and outcomes
- Break comfort zones, adopt a growth mindset, and innovate
- Strengthen relationships through trust, communication, and shared purpose
What made this experience truly impactful was the shift from gameplay to reflection.
Key Learning Outcome:
The program created measurable changes in leadership effectiveness:
- Collaboration Deepened: Teams broke barriers, aligning goals and strategies instead of operating individually.
- Growth Mindset Strengthened: Leaders embraced experimentation, learning quickly, and adapting proactively.
- Ownership & Accountability Reinforced: Teams understood that success or failure is shaped by collective responsibility.
- Play-to-Win Behavior Cultivated: Leaders learned to take bold decisions instead of playing it safe.
- Relationships Strengthened: Participants connected more deeply, building trust and respect through shared challenges.
These outcomes collectively contributed to building a more cohesive, future-ready leadership group across Cognizant BFSI.
Conclusion
The Quest for King Solomon’s Mines acted as a powerful catalyst for Cognizant’s BFSI leadership teams, transforming mindsets, deepening collaboration, and forging stronger behavioral alignment.
What began as an exciting gameplay evolved into meaningful insights, aligned commitments, and actionable steps. The experience reinforced a powerful truth:
When teams unify around a shared purpose and work as ONE, they unlock their true potential to achieve extraordinary results.
This intervention now stands as a milestone in Cognizant’s journey toward achieving its bold 2028 goals.
