What If You Could Learn to Inspire Others Like a TED Speaker… in the Metaverse?

Inspiration is a key driver of transformational leadership, yet corporate training programs rarely focus on developing inspirational communication as a structured, teachable skill. This study presents an immersive virtual reality (IVR) and metaverse-based training program grounded in Morris’s revised experiential learning model, designed to enhance inspirational speaking among professionals. Using a four-phase learning cycle and the TED Talk format to simulate emotionally engaging, high-stakes scenarios, 20 corporate employees underwent the VR-based intervention. Pre- and post-assessments measured changes in communication competence, affective states, sense of presence, and perceived learning engagement. Results showed significant improvements in perceived communicative competence, especially in socially unfamiliar contexts, and a reduction in negative affect. Strong correlations emerged between physical/ self presence and experiential engagement. These findings highlight the potential of immersive technologies, when embedded in pedagogically sound frameworks, to transform inspiration into a trainable soft skill.