The banking industry is undergoing one of the most profound transformations in its history. Digital platforms, fintech competitors, evolving customer expectations, and regulatory pressure are reshaping how banks operate and create value. For senior leaders, the challenge is no longer whether to transform—but how to lead transformation at speed, and at scale.
In Saudi Arabia, a leading banking institution partnered with AEQLIA to integrate the Ginkgo Bank Simulation into a leadership development initiative for its senior leaders. The objective was to strengthen leaders’ ability to navigate digital transformation while balancing risk, performance, and long-term resilience in a highly regulated environment.
Participants in the programme were operating at the intersection of multiple pressures:
Accelerating digitalisation of banking services and channels
Competition from fintechs and digital-first players
Increasing expectations around customer experience and personalisation
Complex regulatory and risk considerations
The need to modernise legacy systems while maintaining operational stability
While strategic priorities were clear, leaders needed a space to test decisions, explore trade-offs, and reflect on leadership behaviours in a realistic banking context.
At the core of the programme was the Ginkgo Bank Simulation, an immersive experience designed to mirror the strategic and operational challenges of a transforming bank.
Participants stepped into the role of a senior leadership team and were required to make decisions across key areas, including:
Digital strategy and technology investment
Customer experience and channel transformation
Risk management, compliance, and governance
Talent, culture, and organisational capability
Short-term performance versus long-term transformation outcomes
The simulation unfolded over multiple decision cycles, allowing leaders to see the consequences of their choices and adjust their strategy as conditions evolved.
The simulation surfaced insights that traditional classroom learning often cannot.
Senior leaders experienced:
The tension between speed of innovation and risk control
How leadership alignment (or misalignment) shapes execution
The downstream impact of digital decisions on culture and capability
The importance of sequencing and prioritisation in large-scale transformation
Because the scenario closely reflected the realities of the Saudi banking environment, the learning felt both credible and immediately applicable.
The Ginkgo Bank Simulation created strong engagement and meaningful reflection among participants.
Leaders reported:
Greater clarity on their role in leading digital transformation
Increased confidence in making strategic trade-offs under uncertainty
A deeper appreciation of how digital, risk, and culture are interconnected
Practical insights they could apply directly within their institutions
The shared experience also helped establish a common language around transformation, supporting more coherent decision-making at the senior level.
By using an immersive banking simulation as part of a leadership development initiative, the organisation enabled its senior leaders to experience digital transformation before driving it in reality.
The Ginkgo Bank Simulation helped leaders move beyond abstract strategies and into the practical realities of leading change—supporting more informed, confident, and resilient leadership in a rapidly evolving banking landscape.
You have questions about simulations or services? We’re here to help! Send us your inquiries, and our team will provide you with all the information you need.
© All Rights Reserved Aeqlia Pte Ltd 2026
