ESG in Action: A Business Simulation for Insurance Leaders

About the course

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has become a defining strategic priority for insurers. Yet many senior leaders still face uncertainty about how to apply ESG frameworks in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. This course replaces traditional training with a hands-on, simulation-based experience grounded in the realities of insurance leadership.

Participants will step into the shoes of the leadership team within a fictional insurance company, operating in a competitive and highly regulated market. Throughout the simulation, they will face a series of escalating challenges, from reputational risks and stakeholder scrutiny to regulatory interventions and strategic trade-offs, all designed to mirror the ESG dilemmas faced by real insurers today.

This format gives participants the opportunity to explore ESG strategy, governance, and reporting from a practical, decision-led perspective. Teams must work together to analyse risks, prioritise ESG goals, engage with stakeholders, and justify their decisions in real time.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the strategic importance of ESG in the insurance industry
• Analyse material ESG risks and assess their impact on business performance
• Balance competing internal and external pressures when responding to ESG demands
• Prioritise ESG goals aligned to stakeholder expectations and regulatory standards
• Build and defend an ESG strategy and reporting approach
• Reflect on leadership behaviours and decision-making under pressure

Course Format

This course is delivered as a team-based business simulation. Participants are assigned leadership roles within a fictional insurance company and work collaboratively to respond to a series of timed ESG challenges. They are given company profiles, role cards, stakeholder expectations, data sets, and decision-making tools.

As the simulation unfolds, teams must adapt to changing circumstances, manage stakeholder communications, prepare reporting materials, and present their ESG strategy and rationale. Facilitated reflection and peer feedback support deeper insight into leadership behaviours and real-world application.

Examples of Simulation Challenges

Participants may be asked to navigate and respond to a variety of ESG scenarios, such as:

• A regulatory warning questioning the integrity of ESG disclosures
• A negative NGO report targeting the company’s investment portfolio
• Employee activism over diversity and inclusion failings
• Investor pressure for clearer metrics and climate-risk planning
• A natural disaster forcing ESG-linked risk reassessment
• Customer backlash over social and environmental responsibility

Each challenge is designed to test critical thinking, stakeholder awareness, governance planning, and resilience under pressure, key skills for any ESG-conscious leader.