Professors at Western University’s Ivey Business School are using virtual reality (VR) to help students build the perspective-taking skills essential for effective leadership. Spearheaded by Western Professor Shannon Rawski, the project immerses students in simulations of team meetings—first as a neutral observer, then from the perspective of a marginalized participant. The goal is to help students practice empathy and see how ordinary interactions can feel different across identities. “Perspective-taking in meetings isn’t something we’re born with, and it’s not easily taught,” said Rawski. “It takes real-world practice.” Feedback from early pilots has been “extremely rich,” said Western Professor Zoe Kinias, who is co-leading the initiative.
