A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights how Hasbro is using an immersive strategy simulation to help develop emerging leaders by placing them in complex, real-world decision-making scenarios. The experience challenges participants to think holistically about business performance, balancing market dynamics, resource constraints, innovation, and long-term strategy.
The article features Stephanie Buscher, Vice President of Supply Planning at Hasbro and an MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics alum, who shared how the simulation broadened her perspective on what it takes to run a business and reinforced the importance of being responsive to market signals without overreacting. Buscher earned her master’s degree from the MIT Supply Chain Masters program in 2015, and her insights reflect the program’s emphasis on systems thinking, data-driven decision-making, and navigating uncertainty.
Stories like this underscore how MIT CTL alumni are trusted to contribute at leading global companies, applying the analytical rigor and strategic mindset developed through the MIT SCM Program to drive meaningful impact across industries.
Fakonas and Buscher ended up winning after five rounds, beating out rival teams by having what the game master calculated was the highest market capitalization. “We had to balance being responsive to the market without being too reactive to it,” Buscher said.