IIM Calcutta & TimesPro Launch Women's Leadership Programme

By: WE staff | Tuesday, 7 October 2025

• IIM Calcutta, together with TimesPro, has opened admissions for the ninth cohort of Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives (TLPWE)
• The curriculum aims to build strategic leadership skills

In India, the proportion of women increased from 17 percent in 2017 to 28 percent in 2024, but there are still significant levers.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 suggests that a woman holds only 1 out of every 4 C-Suite role and that it will take 100+ years to reach gender equity. This data provides evidence for intentional engagement in a mentorship framework, leading, and women enthusiastically, to institutional change.

Transitioning into leadership, A Programme for Women Executives (TLPWE) presents a comprehensive and supportive learning environment, conducive to reflection, collaboration, and led the most participant development.

TLPWE allows participants to consider similar challenges and opportunities from different sectors, and create their leadership identity.

Through peer learning, the participants learn to handle organizational subtleties, enhance strategic decision-making, and learn in digital transformation, communication, and emotional intelligence.

The program is designed to make women build actual leadership approaches, communicate effectively, and achieve their full potential as business leaders.

According to Professor Nimruji Prasad Jammulamadaka (Organisational Behaviour, IIM Calcutta), the program allows participants to reflect on their own leadership journeys, and also equips them with future focused skills in areas such as storytelling, critical thinking, and digital dexterity.

The use of immersive pedagogy during the in-class sessions allows women to draw on their strengths and empowerment to overcome structural barriers.

Dr. Nandita Roy (Business Ethics & Communication, IIM Calcutta) noted that an important emphasis of the program was to support women in developing the appropriate tools and skills required for employing in an increasingly globalised business environment.

She also noted that this is a significant step forward in IIM Calcutta and TimesPro's journey to leading an initiative in inclusive leadership.

The program ends with a Capstone Project, in which participants will work on a real-life leadership challenge with faculty members. Learners will also participate in two campus immersion sessions at IIM Calcutta's 135-acre campus.

Past cohorts have included professionals from various sectors such as IT, financial services, healthcare, and hospitality and participants typically have 5-20 years of management experience. Titles represented have included Director, Assistant Vice President, Communications Lead, and Senior Consultant.