Team WER offers five of the best short-term women’s leadership programs offered by India’s top B-Schools to advance leadership equity and eliminate the executive gender divide. From IIM A, ISB Hyderabad to SP Jain, these top B-Schools have designed curricula that boost women in leadership by giving them an edge.
The corporate world is a tough place to be in, especially when one aims to rise to the very top. The route to the top is especially tougher for female professionals who often encounter gender-specific roadblocks. Be it leaky pipelines, lack of mentorship, dearth of opportunities, or several other societal challenges, women professionals have it harder moving from middle management positions to leadership roles.
As India positions itself as an emerging global economic powerhouse, the integration of women into leadership roles is a crucial step forward in achieving sustainable growth and fostering an inclusive economy.
Recent statistics indicate that women constitute just 25-30% of leadership positions globally, whereas, in India, their participation in senior management is considerably appalling, at around 18%. Women hold only 14% of top executive positions in India’s leading 500 firms, as per a CII report.
While the industry and society have to do their part in building structures that support women in leadership roles, an extra nudge or guidance will also work wonders to boost women leaders’ journey to success. To this end, leadership programs specifically designed for women play a crucial role.
Women-centric leadership programs are imperative to break barriers and unlock untapped potential. Driving economic expansion, such programs facilitate organizational transformation and long-term economic resilience.
Top Indian business schools endeavor to pave a path of prioritizing gender-balanced leadership, which in turn challenges the persistent gender disparity in executive roles. By nurturing leadership competencies such as advanced strategic thinking, financial acumen, crisis management, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, etc., these programs equip women to hone their talent and navigate senior roles across varied business landscapes. The result of specially curated interventions and initiatives unlocks numerous avenues for individual advancements and creates a more equitable future.
Team WER lists five of the best short-term women’s leadership programs offered by India’s top B-Schools to advance leadership equity and eliminate the executive gender divide.
IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
Training module: Enhancing Leadership Capacities and Potential among Professional Women
The course is aimed to enable women to refine leadership expertise while optimizing personal-professional equilibrium. It will curate a structured pathway for strategizing a rewarding and purpose-driven career trajectory. The course is scheduled to commence on June 16, 2025, and will conclude on June 19, 2025. Interested candidates must submit their applications by June 2, 2025. An early bird registration option is available until May 26, 2025, offering a discounted fee of ₹1,48,800 + GST, while the standard programme fee is ₹1,60,000 + GST.
S P Jain School of Global Management
Training module: Women Leadership Program, Breaking Barriers to Women's Leadership
The program uncovers the causes and actionable solutions, even when men and women achieve identical results. Backed by research, the program redefines leadership and enhances team management strategies. The start date of the course will be announced soon. The program has a total duration of 21 hours and will be conducted in an online mode. The course fee is ₹25,000 plus applicable taxes.
Indian School of Business Hyderabad
Training module: Women in Leadership
Tailored for managerial and senior women leaders at the VP level and beyond, the course is structured to enhance leadership expertise. Strengthening leadership traits such as executive presence, influence, power structures, personal brand, and team collaboration is are core focus of the program. The course has a duration of three weeks and will be conducted in an online learning mode. The total fee for the program is ₹80,000. Application submission deadlines for different programs are as: AMPBA: March 23, 2025, AMPH: March 16, 2025, and AMPI: February 23, 2025.
IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
Training module: Psychology of Strategic Leadership: Young Women Programme
The program cultivates critical skills, knowledge, behaviour, and acumen essential for excelling and impacting top leadership positions. The program integrates psychological insights on resilience, cognition, and leadership, addressing gender-specific impacts. The course will commence on February 19, 2025, and conclude on February 22, 2025. Interested candidates must submit their applications by February 10, 2025. An early bird registration offer is available until February 5, 2025, with a discounted fee of ₹1,48,800 + GST, while the standard programme fee is ₹1,60,000 + GST.
S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR)
Training module: Women Leadership Programme: Enhancing Empowerment & Effectiveness
Built on principles of behavioural coaching and self-development, the program enables participants to unlock their potential and inspire transformative leadership. The course will be held in Delhi, with the date to be announced (TBA). The program has a duration of two days.
Interested candidates can visit the official websites of the respective institutes for more information.
.jpg "How Symbiosis is Powering Women Entrepreneurs' Success Globally")