The program originally required the in-person attendance of over 140 new team members. Instead, Fidelity quickly pivoted and shipped virtual reality headsets to the incoming participants for remote onboarding. The VR experience allowed employees to get to know each other in virtual meeting spaces (each represented as an avatar) helping to create deeper connections across teams and sites than might be possible on a video call.

As part of the virtual experience, participants engaged in scavenger hunts and word games, teleporting between indoor and outdoor environments to familiarize themselves with the technology and socialize with fellow trainees.

Participants in the virtual reality experience were all part of the Fidelity YOU program – or Year One University – which strives to build future operations leaders, ranging from recent graduates to tenured employees within Fidelity who are new to operations. Fidelity YOU participants work across the country, and this unique virtual reality experience allowed them to make important connections with individuals across the firm. In addition to networking, participants were able to engage in testing several other FCAT experimental programs, as well as viewing examples of VR training modules that are used to train other associates.

Read more on how FCAT engaged in this pilot and what associates had to say about their experience taking part.