Rhombus Learning collaborated with PBS North Carolina and Fortune magazine to develop two executive certificate programs for UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, specifically designed for mid-level managers seeking to elevate their leadership and decision-making skills. These programs combined academic rigor with real-world relevance, leveraging insights from industry leaders to create a highly engaging, practice-driven learning experience.
Each course featured high-production video segments—produced in partnership with PBS NC—as well as immersive, interactive branching scenarios developed in Articulate Storyline. These scenarios placed learners in realistic leadership situations, requiring them to make complex decisions and immediately see the impact of their choices. The goal was to not only build knowledge, but to foster strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and confident leadership under pressure.
A few representative examples from these programs are included below, highlighting the instructional design approach, media integration, and interactive elements used to bring the content to life.
Data Analytics at Disney
This interactive was developed for a Data Analytics course to illustrate real-world applications of data in theme park operations. Learners explore a map of a Disney park, clicking on various markers to uncover how data analytics inform decision-making for each attraction. For instance, selecting Cinderella’s Castle reveals insights about the park’s operational command center—rumored to be located beneath the castle—which functions as the “nerve center,” forecasting guest traffic and managing crowd flow throughout the park.
To enhance immersion, the instructor appears via green screen as if broadcasting from inside the command center, bringing the concept to life and reinforcing the practical impact of data analytics.
Negotiations Value Creation Demonstration
This interactive scenario was developed for a Negotiations course as a playful yet effective way to teach the concept of value creation. Set in a Halloween-themed storyline, participants follow a group of kids trick-or-treating and then entering a negotiation to trade candy based on their individual preferences and priorities.
Learners are tasked with choosing the optimal trading partner and determining the best trade strategy using the information gathered throughout the scenario. The experience combines custom illustrations, narration, sound effects, and dynamic text feedback to create an immersive, memorable learning experience that reinforces negotiation principles in a relatable, low-stakes context.
Apple iPod Narrative Building
This segment was created for a course on Innovation to introduce learners to the process of narrative building—a powerful technique for generating and refining ideas. The lesson centers on a real-world example in which the instructor applied narrative building while collaborating with Apple during the early development of the iPod.
The story and methodology are brought to life through an engaging blend of green screen video, custom graphics, curated images, b-roll footage, and interactive questions. This multimedia approach not only illustrates the concept in action but also encourages learners to reflect on how narrative can drive innovation in their own work.
Complexity Canvas Interactive PDF
This interactive PDF was developed for a course on complexity. Designed as a companion tool, the Complexity Canvas guides participants through the course by prompting structured reflection and application at key intervals.
At the start of the course, learners download the canvas, which features a dynamic navigation menu on the first page—highlighting core elements in the center and supporting behaviors around the perimeter. As participants progress, they are prompted to complete specific sections, with the ability to save their responses and build their insights over time.
By the end of the course, the completed canvas offers a personalized snapshot of each participant’s strategic priorities, bottlenecks, and simple rules—providing a practical framework they can carry forward into their work.
