Post by All India Management Association (AIMA)

AIMA organised its Leadership Excellence & Advancement Programme (LEAP) 2026 on 2nd–3rd July 2026 at its Lajpat Nagar office on the theme, 'Stepping Forward: Building Confident, Capable & Future-Ready Women Leaders'. Bringing together women professionals from diverse organisations, LEAP 2026 focused on strengthening leadership capabilities through interactive sessions, practical insights and experiential learning, empowering participants with the confidence and skills to lead with greater impact. Setting the context for the programme, Ms Talish Ray, Managing Partner, TRS Law Offices, led a ‘Leadership Story Circle’ that encouraged participants to reflect on defining moments in their careers, share their aspirations and establish a collaborative learning environment. The day featured a thought-provoking session by Dr S.Y. Siddiqui, Former Executive Advisor, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, on 'Influence Without Authority'. Emphasising the importance of building credibility, promoting collaboration and influencing stakeholders through effective communication and negotiation, he shared practical insights drawn from his rich leadership experience. The first technical session, 'Defining Your Leadership Voice', was conducted by Mr Saurav R Mohanty, Managing Partner, CDS Development Centre LLP. Focusing on authentic leadership, he encouraged participants to identify their core values, leadership styles and strengths through discussions and case studies. This was followed by Ms Shalini Naagar FCIPD, Gallup Coach, Senior Director HR- India and Global Shared Services, Baxter, who led a session on 'Thinking and Acting Strategically'. Introducing Design Thinking as a practical leadership approach, she demonstrated how empathy, ideation and collaboration can help leaders address workplace challenges more effectively. The sessions later focused on executive presence, communication and leadership effectiveness. Ms Talish Ray and Ms Nishka Crishna, Leadership Coach, Culture and People Practitioner, guided participants on developing confidence and executive presence through interactive exercises, including an Elevator Pitch Challenge. Mr Saurav Ranjan Mohanty later led a session on creating a personal leadership blueprint and managing stakeholder relationships, while Ms Nishka Crishna introduced practical communication frameworks and facilitated the day's reflection and journaling session. The first day concluded with participants reflecting on their key takeaways and leadership aspirations, laying a strong foundation for deeper learning and action on the second day of the programme.