This game lets you roleplay as a tech CEO, and it was way harder than expected

Advertisement
This game lets you roleplay as a tech CEO, and it was way harder than expected

Advertisement
  • The Financial Times newspaper has created a game that lets you try out being CEO of a tech startup.
  • As founder and CEO, your mission is to "balance profit and purpose," using limited resources to keep investors and stakeholders happy.
  • The game draws from real life examples, like recently-ousted WeWork CEO Adam Neumann.

Have you ever looked at the decisions of CEOs like Adam Neumann or Elon Musk and thought you could do a better job? Well, here's your chance.

FT, the publisher of the daily business newspaper, created a game that makes you CEO and founder of tech startup FlexBird. Your job is to take the company public in an IPO and to guide the business to success. Along the way, you can choose how you allocate resources to growth and social issues, but make sure you keep stakeholders and investors happy!

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

You'll also have to deal with other events as they come up, like protests over government contracts and a recession. Do you have what it takes?

Here's what happened when I played.

Advertisement

{{}}

The game starts by giving you the basics: you're the CEO of FlexBird, and you have to make it through the next 4 years.

The game starts by giving you the basics: you're the CEO of FlexBird, and you have to make it through the next 4 years.

You have to keep stakeholders and investors happy.

You have to keep stakeholders and investors happy.
Advertisement

Before the IPO, you have a chance to set up what kind of company you will run.

Before the IPO, you have a chance to set up what kind of company you will run.

You have 10 resources to allocate to 4 possible areas.

You have 10 resources to allocate to 4 possible areas.
Advertisement

I spread my resources pretty evenly. I decided to focus on meeting growth targets and social responsibility, because it seemed like it had something for both groups I was trying to win over.

I spread my resources pretty evenly. I decided to focus on meeting growth targets and social responsibility, because it seemed like it had something for both groups I was trying to win over.

Let's see how my picks played out.

Let's see how my picks played out.
Advertisement

Growth targets didn't do so well, even though I gave 3 resources.

Growth targets didn't do so well, even though I gave 3 resources.

Social responsibility is off to a good start.

Social responsibility is off to a good start.
Advertisement

Seems like I didn't pay enough attention to environmental sustainability.

Seems like I didn't pay enough attention to environmental sustainability.

Long term growth is decent, and we're off!

Long term growth is decent, and we're off!
Advertisement

Questions about a startup with government contracts sound familiar.

Questions about a startup with government contracts sound familiar.

This could be inspired by many real-life startups. IT automation firm Chef declined to renew its contract with ICE in September. More than 1,200 students around the country pledged not to work with data company Palantir unless it stopped working with ICE.

The majority of players made the same choice as me and dropped the contract.

The majority of players made the same choice as me and dropped the contract.
Advertisement

A trade war is not good news for me.

A trade war is not good news for me.

This year I only have 8 resources, so I gave 2 to each sector.

This year I only have 8 resources, so I gave 2 to each sector.
Advertisement

Short term growth isn't going so well.

Short term growth isn't going so well.

Neither is environmental responsibility.

Neither is environmental responsibility.
Advertisement

In a very gig-economy move, I hired freelancers to avoid paying for benefits.

In a very gig-economy move, I hired freelancers to avoid paying for benefits.

And now I have echoes of WeWork, renting out space to other startups.

And now I have echoes of WeWork, renting out space to other startups.
Advertisement

Now I have to decide whether I should fire the company barista. So many tough calls!

Now I have to decide whether I should fire the company barista. So many tough calls!

Most players agreed with me and fired the barista, and it worked!

Most players agreed with me and fired the barista, and it worked!
Advertisement

FlexBird needs a little help, so we brought in investor Purposework Capital. Could this be our SoftBank?

FlexBird needs a little help, so we brought in investor Purposework Capital. Could this be our SoftBank?

SoftBank backed companies like WeWork and Uber, which have faced a failed IPO and a drop in valuation.

This time, I decided to focus more on growth and social responsibility.

This time, I decided to focus more on growth and social responsibility.
Advertisement

Banning meat from company functions is definitely a Neumann reference.

Banning meat from company functions is definitely a Neumann reference.

The WeWork founder reportedly ate a giant lamb shank at a company dinner after banning meat.

Some of my earlier investment are paying off.

Some of my earlier investment are paying off.
Advertisement

I didn't put many resources toward environmental responsibility, but I can at least let my employees join the global climate strike.

I didn't put many resources toward environmental responsibility, but I can at least let my employees join the global climate strike.

Investors didn't like it, but stakeholders did.

Investors didn't like it, but stakeholders did.
Advertisement

For my last year, I get to set the tone for my legacy.

For my last year, I get to set the tone for my legacy.

I think I won. Investors aren't thrilled with me, but I ended with slightly higher than average investor approval, and more than double average stakeholder approval.

I think I won. Investors aren't thrilled with me, but I ended with slightly higher than average investor approval, and more than double average stakeholder approval.
Advertisement
Next StoryAOC grilled Zuckerberg on Facebook's controversial ad policies and he struggled to answer her questions