WHO WE ARE
OUR STORY
We founded The Business Acumen & Performance Institute with a shared passion for making finance engaging, accessible, and fun! For over 25 years, we have successfully helped Fortune 500 companies across industries, functions, and leadership levels develop strong business acumen skills. Our success with larger organizations has provided invaluable insights, creating an opportunity to bring our expertise to small businesses—key drivers of the U.S. economy, contributing over 40% to GDP and employment. We are committed to delivering the same level of impact, helping businesses of all sizes achieve sustained growth, profitability, and ROI.
OUR PURPOSE
At our core, we are driven by a passion for making a meaningful impact, fostering continuous growth, and helping people achieve their ambitions. We believe that business acumen is a fundamental skill for sustained success—both personally and organizationally—and it remains our primary focus.
We strive to:
-
Empower businesses to grow, maximize profitability, operate efficiently, and achieve a strong return on investment
-
Equip employees with the confidence and skills to make informed decisions that drive business value
-
Ensure businesses and employees have the insights they need to make the best decisions today for long-term success
-
Support business owners and executives in building thriving organizations that bring them satisfaction and success
By strengthening business acumen skills, we help businesses and individuals unlock their full potential.
OUR VALUES
What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to our clients, a passion for continuous learning, professionalism, and our unique ability to make finance both engaging and enjoyable.
Customer-Centricity We prioritize collaboration, independent thinking, and a results-driven approach. By deeply understanding our clients' needs, we deliver high-quality, learner-focused solutions with empathy and excellence.
Continuous Learning We embrace innovation, agility, and experiential learning. By challenging ideas and fostering shared growth, we continuously improve and evolve.
Professionalism Built on a foundation of honesty, integrity, and trust, we uphold our reputation through experience and ethical leadership.
Making Finance Fun! We believe learning finance shouldn't be painful. Through an engaging, risk-free environment, we make complex concepts enjoyable—encouraging curiosity, laughter, and meaningful learning experiences.
These values drive everything we do, ensuring impactful and lasting results for our clients.
OUR EXPERT TEAM
Meet the dedicated professionals behind The Business Acumen & Performance Institute.
JIM CARUSO, MBA, CPA, MSHRD, CPTD
Founder and Principal
Jim Caruso is an experienced global talent development, business simulation, and executive education leader who enjoys using his versatile skill set in the corporate, consulting, and higher education worlds. He has designed, facilitated, managed, and customized over 375 business acumen and leadership programs using business simulations. He has positively impacted over 10,000 individuals from over 100 organizations including 50 Fortune 500 and Global Fortune 500 companies, across all industries, functions, and talent levels in 5 continents. Jim holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Accountancy from Villanova University.
ROHIT SHYAM, MBA
Founder and Principal
Rohit Shyam is an expert facilitator and coach who delights in helping his audience connect the dots so they can embark on a true transformation. Rohit’s years of experience as a facilitator, learning experience designer, team leader, and account manager for global Fortune 500 companies have made him particularly adept in learning experiences about strategy, business, and financial acumen. He has facilitated live in person sessions across a wide variety of industries in 24 countries. Rohit holds an MBA from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from University of Maryland.
WHY WORK WITH US
With over 30 years of proven success, we have upskilled employees to develop strong business acumen from Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries, levels, and functions. Our deep expertise enables us to meet people where they are, delivering tailored learning experiences that bridge knowledge gaps, elevate decision-making, and drive execution and real business impact.
%20(2).jpg)