A person stands still. Looks around. Doesn’t know what to do. Ten seconds pass. Then someone speaks up—someone I would have barely noticed before. Calm. Clear. They take the lead.
This happens regularly at Fusion Arena.
The behavior that no job interview reveals
I claim: 20 minutes of virtual reality reveal more about a team than many annual reviews. Not because VR contains some kind of magic. But because an unfamiliar environment forces people to be themselves.
Roles fall away. Titles too. What remains is genuine behavior.
Who helps? Who hesitates? Who leads when no one expects it?
Patterns I see again and again
One of the most striking patterns concerns helpfulness. From my observation, men tend not to accept help—they’d rather take a risk than take a colleague’s hand. Women, on the other hand, usually offer support proactively, even before anyone asks for it. This isn’t a judgment. But it’s a clear signal about how empathy and willingness to support are distributed in a team.
Industries also differ significantly. Banking teams dive right in—risk-taking is trained into them. HR teams, often led by women, respond sensitively and in a coordinated manner. Tradespeople are sure-footed, even at heights that make others hesitate. And IT teams? They often overthink. Those close to the technology wonder in the background what the engine is doing—and forget the game in the process.
Healthcare teams from the pharmaceutical industry show something different: well-coordinated teamwork. You can tell these people are used to being there for each other in critical moments.
What this means for leaders
HR professionals and team leaders who truly want to understand how their team functions under pressure get answers in VR—without anyone knowing they’re being observed. That’s the crucial difference from traditional team-building formats.
You can prepare for a workshop. Not for VR.
From experience to application
Fusion Arena offers virtual reality team events in Zurich, Bern, St. Gallen, and Basel—for corporate events that actually leave an impact.
For those thinking beyond that—who want to use VR as a genuine diagnostic tool or training instrument—Pandally offers customized developments. For serious training applications, such as for emergency responders, the sister company Refense works with organizations like police and military.
Banks dive right in. IT teams overthink. Tradespeople have no fear of heights. How is it in your industry—do you see it differently?
Discover the possibilities at https://www.fusionarena.ch
Find more blog articles at https://fusionarena.ch/basel/blog/
About the Author
Ronny Tobler is co-founder and CEO of Fusion Arena, as well as co-founder of Pandally. With a background in the technology industry – including at Microsoft – he has specialized in immersive experiences and virtual reality. Today, he operates VR entertainment centers in Zurich, Bern, St. Gallen, and Basel, and develops customized VR solutions for companies with Pandally. As co-CEO of Refense.com, he is also responsible for sales and partnerships for training solutions for the police and military sectors.
