Hiring senior leaders doesn’t have to rely on interviews and intuition. The most innovative organizations are turning to live virtual business simulations—bringing the complexity, pace, and nuance of executive work to life in a controlled, measurable environment.That’s what makes the Pinsight experience unique. It’s not a test or a questionnaire—it’s a 3-hours-in-the-life simulation of a real executive role, powered by live human interaction and proprietary technology.
Step into the Role
Participants log into Pinsight’s secure virtual platform, where they step into a simulated executive office. Throughout the experience, they:
- Respond to emails and communications that mimic the pressures of a real business environment.
- Engage in live webcam meetings with trained role-players—professional assessors who portray colleagues, direct reports, or stakeholders.
- Tackle challenges such as:
- Coaching an underperforming employee to boost engagement.
- Resolving conflict between cross-functional peers.
- Crafting and presenting a strategic plan for a division.
- Evaluating risky business ventures with incomplete data.
Each exercise reflects the complexity of leadership at the Director and VP+ levels —allowing participants to show how they lead, not just tell you. Read more about how TA leaders are switching from “tell me” to “show me” methods in executive hiring.
The Gold Standard: Assessment Center Method
Pinsight follows the Assessment Center Method, long recognized as the gold standard in executive assessment. This methodology goes beyond self-reporting or consultant interviews—it provides direct behavioral evidence of leadership skill.
Every move a participant makes is captured and analyzed: webcam recordings, email drafts, presentations, and strategy documents. These are independently evaluated by multiple expert assessors trained to identify leadership behaviors with precision and consistency.
Pinsight’s platform then integrates these behavioral observations with psychometric assessments completed prior to the simulation, measuring each candidate’s leadership style and learning agility. The result: a comprehensive, easy-to-interpret report that helps decision-makers quickly see fit, readiness, and risk. Discover how our report streamlines hiring decisions through a clear, three-step framework.
An Experience Executives Love
Unlike traditional assessments—often seen as sterile, lengthy, or impersonal—Pinsight’s simulations deliver an experience that leaders consistently describe as engaging and authentic.
In post-assessment surveys:
- 95% of participants report satisfaction with the experience.
- 90% view it as fair and objective.
- 95% say they would accept a job offer following the process.
Executives often highlight the human element as a key differentiator: real-time conversations, realistic pressure, and a sense of being seen for who they truly are as leaders.
One senior participant summed it up best:
“I am 64, have been working for 42 years, held many executive positions, been recruited through the likes of Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles, and Egon Zehnder—and never have I been through something so intense as that simulation. I felt actual work-related stress, time compression, deadlines, and changing priorities—so realistic. The role-players were totally in character and on point. The entire exercise was fantastic. I’ve never heard of anything like it, let alone experienced it.”
Why It Matters for TA Leaders
For enterprise talent acquisition teams hiring Directors, VPs, and senior executives, Pinsight offers a scalable, data-driven alternative to legacy models. You get:
- Objective behavioral data grounded in direct observation, not opinion.
- Consistent global standards across candidates and regions.
- A superior candidate experience that enhances your employer brand at the highest levels.
Behind the scenes, every detail of the Pinsight simulation is designed to mirror reality—so your hiring decisions can be grounded in it. Fast, scalable, trusted – that’s modern executive assessment.
Looking to modernize how you assess Director and VP talent? Begin with these five insights.
