A real-world Crisis Leadership Simulation for management education
Designed for Impact Focused Organizations, Media, and Students — to train leaders, assess teams, and build decision-making capacity under realistic pressure.
Used in training and development programs by
Teams are under pressure — and leadership training hasn’t kept up
A different way to prepare
teams for real decisions
Crisis Leadership Simulation creates a realistic, high-pressure environment where teams practice leadership before real stakes are involved.
1. Safe leadership practice
before real responsibility
Participants step into leadership roles before they carry real authority — gaining practical experience without risking real teams, money, or reputations.
2. From classroom concepts
to real leadership choices
Participants translate what they've learned into real decisions about teams, budgets, and editorial priorities.
3. Makes soft skills and
leadership visible
Under pressure, communication, ownership, conflict and decision patterns surface naturally — giving educators a real view of leadership potential.
4. Creates a safe space to fail — and learn from conflict
Structured scenarios and facilitated debriefs turn mistakes, disagreement and tension into concrete learning outcomes.
5. A ready-to-use capstone experience for your programme
A flexible simulation module that integrates into project management, media and journalism curricula, and reflects the real tension between editorial values and financial reality.
This product is built on real-world experience
Media hub
We cover trends, business models, and newsroom transformation for media professionals across Europe and beyond. A trusted source for practitioners in the field since 2019.
Consultancy & Research
We advise media organisations and support institutions across Central and Eastern Europe, Central and Southern Asia, Caucasus. Deep research on media landscapes, audience behaviour, and sector challenges.
Digital innovations
We build practical tools for media teams. The Crisis Leadership Simulation has been tested with 300+ participants across multiple countries. More products — including AI, data, and SAAS tools — launching in 2026.
How the simulation works
Low setup, high immersion ·
Online, on-site, or hybrid · Modular format · Multiple languages
Setup & scoping
Goals, audience, and context are defined at the outset — shaping the simulation’s structure, language, duration, and level of complexity.
The simulation
Teams step into leadership roles at a fictional media outlet or NGO and navigate a series of realistic challenges under time pressure.
Participants work with scenario-specific internal documents, take on individual roles with hidden agendas, and operate within an evolving narrative shaped by their decisions.
Add-on: live role-play with media professionals acting as donors, staff, and key stakeholders.
Debrief & learning
Moderated debriefs help teams reflect on decisions, dynamics, and outcomes — and translate experience into practical insight.
Participants also receive curated follow-up materials for further learning and reflection.
Direct feedback from participants in the field, 2025
Why add the simulation to
your program?
Theory sticks when it's lived through
Even the best curriculum lands deeper when participants apply it under real pressure, not just discuss it.
Ready to plug into your curriculum
A tested module that fits your program without months of preparation on your side.
Shared intensity builds lasting connections
A WhatsApp group isn't a bonding experience; navigating a crisis
together is.
A bridge between classroom and real responsibility
Case studies stay abstract, internships carry real risk; simulation sits in between.
Leadership shows itself under pressure
Simulations surface dynamics that don't appear in classroom settings: who steps up, who listens, who freezes.
The team behind the Crisis Leadership Simulation
Built by media practitioners, strategists, and product designers who have led newsrooms, advised organisations, and created hands-on learning formats.
Jakub Parusinski
Founder & Simulation Architect
Former journalist (Financial Times, The Economist) and CEO of the Kyiv Post. INSEAD MBA and former McKinsey consultant in digital strategy and transformation. Designs the strategic backbone of the Crisis Leadership Simulation, grounding it in real newsroom leadership and organisational change.
Gaygysyz Geldiyev
Co-creator & Media Strategy Advisor
Media executive and Managing Partner at Jnomics Media with 10+ years in media leadership. Former Executive Producer of Hromadske TV. Contributed to the strategic framework of the Crisis Leadership Simulation and teaches media management at SSE Riga.
Aizhan Kazakbaeva
Aizhan Kazakbaeva is a media professional with expertise in media strategy, business development, and audience engagement across 10+ European countries. She helps publishers turn audience insights into product decisions and build strategies that combine editorial intuition with commercial discipline. As a former journalist, editor and TV anchor she brings a strong background in editorial leadership. She is a Project Lead and Media Consultant at The Fix Research & Advisory, London.
Alina Afonchanka
Design & Experience Lead
Designer with experience leading visual and strategic projects across independent media networks. Works at the intersection of UX audits, business development, and interactive formats — shaping structured, experience-driven tools such as the Crisis Leadership Simulation.
Alex Vorobev
Editorial & Business Strategy Lead
Former Editor-in-Chief and publisher with 10+ years building independent media. Specialises in editorial strategy, digital product development, and revenue models. Brings hands-on experience in media management under pressure. Designs scenarios rooted in real newsroom and business decisions.
Let’s explore, contact us to know more
Every simulation is tailored to the context and people involved.
Book a short call to explore the right format for your organisation.
Schedule a short call
Not sure about your availability?
Leave your details and any questions — we’ll follow up and suggest the right format.
Trusted by people who train and lead organisations
The simulation has been used and endorsed by educators, program directors and media managers working with newsrooms and civil society teams across Europe.