Author: Mikhil Agarwal, Certified Master Anaplanner and Delivery Manager at VISEO USA Inc.
“They say a strong foundation doesn’t just support growth; it sparks curiosity.” That could not have been more fitting during our Anaplan onboarding workshop in Singapore last year. What began as a technical Level 1 Model Building session for 10+ planners quickly piqued the interest of the company’s CFO who joined us on day one out of curiosity, and stayed engaged all three days. It was quickly transformed into something more powerful: a space where planners and leadership came together to learn, ask questions, and align on how Anaplan could elevate their decision-making.
Here’s how those three days unfolded and why it became one of my most rewarding training experiences to date.
Going beyond technical training
The primary goal was to get the team up and running on Level 1 Model Building, and we certainly achieved that. From list structures and modules to building dashboards and working with formulas, every technical topic was covered in detail. But what made this workshop especially meaningful was how it evolved into a true business-functional dialogue, something I hadn’t initially anticipated.
When the CFO joined on day one, they were so intrigued by the content, especially how Anaplan models simulate real-world financial and operational outcomes. What truly sparked his interest? A simple demo using one of our assets around revenue forecasting — leveraging volume assumptions and pricing levers. When he saw how quickly changes could cascade through the model in real-time, he leaned in and said, “Wait, this is something I’ve been asking Finance to build for months.” That moment shifted the tone for the rest of the workshop.
Bringing business context into technical training
Recognizing the unique opportunity of having a senior leader in the room, I began adapting the sessions in real time. I started bringing in real-world scenarios that would resonate both with the planners and leadership. Some of the topics we explored included:
- Scenario-based planning: Using seasonal trends to model the impact on sales forecasts and inventory decisions, modeled right there using Anaplan.
- Real-time forecast adjustments: Adjusting product pricing or launch timelines and instantly viewing its effect on margin (this was an eye-opener for both finance and merchandising teams).
- Cross-functional alignment: Demonstrating how a single source of truth in Anaplan reduces the need for offline spreadsheets floating across departments.
The participants brought their own curiosity and business context into the room. They asked pointed questions: “Can we track plan vs actual at a category level across geographies?” This gave them more clarity about connecting the training to their future business needs.
An atmosphere of engagement and enthusiasm
One of the best parts of this experience was the enthusiasm of the participants. Despite the technical depth of the content, the sessions were highly interactive, filled with smart questions, hands-on exercises, and impromptu discussions around solving real planning challenges with Anaplan.
What made it work (and what I’d recommend for any Anaplan onboarding)
To my fellow Anaplanners, if you’re about to kick off onboarding with a new team, or looking to create a memorable onboarding experience, here are a few things I believe that made a real difference in this one:
- Tailor the training: Know your audience. Mix foundational concepts with their actual business scenarios to keep it relevant.
- Hands-on always wins: People remember what they do. Get them building early and often.
- Build confidence, not just skills: Create a safe space to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn as a group.
- Make it social: Include interactive moments; it could be polls, quizzes, breakout groups etc., so people connect as a team, not just individuals.
- Get leadership involved: I strongly believe Anaplan onboarding isn’t just about keystrokes, it’s about mindsets. And when business leaders get involved in that learning process, the impact multiplies. In our case, having the CFO join us wasn’t just symbolic — it encouraged genuine conversation about how Anaplan will shape the business strategy.
Final thoughts
Every onboarding session offers something unique, but the key to success lies in building connections, tailoring the learning experience, and making the process genuinely engaging and relevant.
How do you onboard new teams to Anaplan? Have you had a memorable training experience that stood out? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below; I’d love to hear them!
Until we meet next, happy Anaplanning!
