IO | Second Exposure
A deeper dive into business decision-making for experienced teams.
They learn how tariffs, sourcing decisions, and pricing tactics ripple through a business—and practice managing them in real time.
Ready for Round Two?
IO | Second Exposure is an advanced simulation designed for teams who’ve already experienced Income|Outcome. It offers a deeper, more strategic learning opportunity—and it’s ideal if you are looking to deepen business acumen learning and unlock new value from teams who’ve already mastered the basics.
The Origin Story
Second Exposure began with a simple request. After using Income|Outcome in their first year ‘opening residency’, an EMBA program—having seen real results—asked for a program they could use in Year 2. They wanted to build on that first year, and expand the understanding of business.
So we built Second Exposure. It wasn’t just a replay. It picked up where the previous game left off and offered new challenges. And the next chunk of learning. Teams engaged, dug deeper, and made sharper decisions with greater confidence. They began applying the learning inside the simulation: making business cases, estimating ROI, and thinking through consequences. The experience proved just as powerful—and just as valuable—the second time around. It built on Year 1 and took the learning further.
And we found that what worked in EMBA settings had real value in corporate environments too. Internal teams used the same format to sharpen their thinking, test strategies, and practice decision-making in a safe but demanding environment. The learning stuck—and participants didn’t just absorb the tools. They started making the business case: applying financial logic, framing recommendations, and connecting decisions to outcomes.
Where Second Exposure Fits in the Journey
Business acumen grows in stages—from understanding basic financial terms to making confident, data-informed decisions across the company. Second Exposure supports that next stage: applying the tools in more complex, high-stakes situations.
It’s the right fit when foundational training is complete—and it’s time to pressure-test that knowledge through real business challenges.
Second Exposure is part of our Survey to Mastery learning model—a modular approach to business learning that supports spaced experiences and deepening skill application.
What’s Different About Second Exposure
This is not a repeat. Every team starts from a different position—cash-rich or cash-poor, high-margin or high-capacity—and must make decisions based on where they are.
They already know how the game works. Now they see what happens when the game pushes back.
Participants face:
- Longer-term scenarios with real consequences
- Shifting market dynamics
- Competitive pressure from more informed peers
Stronger Skills, Sharper Thinking
Second Exposure deepens the skills introduced in the first simulation and challenges teams to go further. It’s not just about knowing how business works—it’s about navigating complexity, showing accountability, and making decisions with greater confidence.
These are the skills that translate into sharper planning, better execution, and smarter conversations across the business.
Second Exposure reinforces key business acumen competencies—including financial literacy, decision-making, adaptability, and accountability.
Explore all six competencies →
Participants build:
- Deeper financial and strategic thinking
- Greater accountability to the full Income Statement and Balance Sheet
- Stronger team-based planning and role clarity
- More confident forecasting and analysis
- The ability to make a business case—and back it up
Who It’s For
Second Exposure is only available to teams who have previously completed an Income|Outcome workshop. That prior experience provides:
- Familiarity with the game board and simulation format
- Shared vocabulary and checklist-style approach to decision-making
- Basic financial literacy guaranteed by the first workshop
With those foundations already in place, Second Exposure challenges teams to build on what they know, go further, and do more.
This simulation is a great fit for:
- Departments seeking to build on earlier business acumen training
- Peer groups or cohorts in leadership or management development programs
- Organizations ready to move beyond basic understanding and into confident application
The Pay Off
Second Exposure builds on what teams already know. That means:
- Faster ramp-up
- Stronger ownership of financials
- Deeper engagement with strategy
- Sharper decision-making across the board
- Clearer justification for decisions—and better internal alignment
It’s not harder. It’s not faster. It’s just more—more clarity, more pressure, more insight. More tools. More practice. More business acumen.
Everybody gets what they need the first time. Second Exposure is for when they’re ready to go further.
Why Spacing Works
Second Exposure is designed to take advantage of the spacing effect—a well-documented approach that improves retention, reflection, and real-world application. When teams return after a time gap, they engage more deeply, make sharper decisions, and connect learning to new context. We’ve used this structure for decades—with measurable results.
Why Spaced Learning Works for Business Acumen Development
Formats
Second Exposure is available in the following formats
- 4 hour Second Exposure in-person workshop
- 6-hour Second Exposure in-person workshop, can be combined with IO | Finance & Leadership or IO | Tariffs & Cash Flow (but not both).
- 1-Day Second Exposure in-person workshop, can be combined with IO | Finance & Leadership or IO | Tariffs & Cash Flow (but not both).
Let’s Talk
Want to raise the bar for your next leadership workshop? Let’s talk about bringing Second Exposure to your team.