Summary

The UVA Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning team partnered with Abilitie to integrate AI Cases into its programs, providing learners with a realistic practice environment to strengthen critical leadership skills by navigating complex real world challenges. Positive reactions from this pilot are now shaping future innovations in Darden classrooms.  

The Challenge

For many learners, understanding leadership capabilities is not the same as being able to act on them in interpersonal situations. At Darden, faculty observe that participants in both executive education and degree programs often know the “what” but struggle with the “how” when it comes to applying skills such as influence, feedback, and strategic communication.

Leaders in Darden’s executive education portfolio recognized an opportunity to enrich the learner experience by complementing the school’s case method with realistic, hands-on practice. They envisioned a space where participants could explore different strategies and receive actionable feedback with simulated real-world consequences. To bring this vision to life, the team began looking for AI-based solutions as a way to extend learning beyond classroom discussion.

The Approach

As Darden began evaluating AI-enabled simulations that could complement its program methodology, Abilitie’s AI Cases stood out for their alignment with Darden’s instructional philosophy, flexibility in design, and research-backed development. The ability to tailor scenarios with AI Cases and avoid overly scripted responses differentiated the tool from other options available on the market.

Abilitie collaborated closely with Darden to introduce AI Cases in two initial settings:

• Collaboration and Influence course: In this asynchronous 5 week course, AI Cases on influence and strategic communication are embedded in the weekly modules Participants select scenarios relevant to their work and complete them as assignments, followed by reflection and peer discussion.

• Part-time MBA program: AI Cases were incorporated into coursework to give students practical, self-paced opportunities to strengthen interpersonal leadership skills.

The simulations provided a safe practice environment, real-time feedback, and the ability to retry conversations to improve performance. Although learners engaged with the tool on their own schedule (especially valuable for working professionals), the asynchronous format still fostered strong social learning. Participants actively exchanged strategies, compared results, and offered peer feedback, often identifying personal communication patterns and building on each other’s insights week over week.

The Results

Participant response to the AI Cases was highly positive. In the part-time MBA program, the rating was 4.23 out of 5.00 for support of leadership development. In the Collaboration and Influence course, learners rated the simulations 4.57 out of 5.00 for valuable use of time. Many participants in the Collaboration and Influence course described the AI Cases as a highlight of their course, citing the realistic feel of the conversations and the usefulness of immediate feedback. Some learners even chose to complete additional scenarios beyond the course requirements.

The experience also helped address questions about whether AI-based tools could maintain the rigor and quality expected at Darden. Abilitie’s approach to mitigating potential bias in AI responses reassured stakeholders, paving the way for further adoption.

Encouraged by the results, Darden is now exploring opportunities to expand AI Case integration across other executive education and degree programs. The goal is to enhance the school’s reputation as a leader in innovative, ethical, and practical leadership development.