– A future-focused executive education initiative designed to elevate women into boardrooms by building strategic, digital & cross-functional expertise, authentic leadership presence and inclusive decision-making skills.

Calcutta: The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), in collaboration with TimesPro, has announced admissions to the ninth cohort of its esteemed executive education initiative – Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives (TLPWE). This rigorous, twelve-month, LIVE online learning experience has been meticulously developed to equip mid-career women professionals with strategic leadership capabilities, cross-functional business insights and a compelling executive presence to succeed in senior decision-making roles.

Despite their demonstrated capabilities, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership. The Grant Thornton Women in Business 2024 report shows that only 34% of such roles globally are held by women—a modest rise that still reflects deep-rooted inequities. In India, this figure has improved from 17% in 2017 to 28% in 2024, yet gaps persist. The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 highlights that just one in four C-suite roles is occupied by a woman, warning it could take 123 years to reach parity. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted mentorship, structured leadership development, and systemic reform.

Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives offers a transformative and inclusive space for reflection, collaboration and growth. It fosters a supportive environment where learners explore shared challenges and opportunities across sectors. Peer learning enables women to strengthen their leadership identity and navigate organisational complexities strategically. The programme builds capabilities in digital transformation, communication and emotional intelligence, helping learners develop authentic leadership styles, use their voice with impact and unlock their full business potential.

Speaking on the announcement of the 9th batch, Professor Nimruji Prasad Jammulamadaka>, <Professor, Organisational Behaviour, IIM Calcutta said, “TLPWE is designed to help women introspect on their individual leadership journeys while acquiring essential, future-centric capabilities. Storytelling, critical thinking and digital agility form the foundation of this new leadership era. Through immersive and reflective pedagogy, this programme closes the theory-practice gap and empowers women to transcend structural barriers by harnessing their unique strengths and social perspectives.”

Dr. Nandita Roy, Assistant Professor, Business Ethics & Communication, IIM Calcutta said, “Women play an indispensable role in today’s interconnected and globalised business ecosystem. As a new generation of aspirational women prepares to lead, it is imperative that they are equipped with the right tools and contemporary skill sets. Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives represents a crucial initiative by IIM Calcutta and TimesPro and we are proud to contribute towards the advancement of inclusive leadership.”

The curriculum is structured across nine strategic modules. Core components include Women in Management and Global Gender Perspectives, Leading and Managing Teams, Strategic Communication and Argumentation, Digital Transformation and Analytics, Legal and Human Resource Perspectives, among others. The programme culminates with a Capstone Project, wherein learners tackle a real-world leadership challenge under faculty mentorship, in addition to two campus immersion sessions at IIM Calcutta’s sprawling 135-acre campus.

Previous cohorts have comprised accomplished women professionals from diverse sectors such as information technology, financial services, healthcare and hospitality. Most learners bring five to twenty years of managerial experience and have held roles including Director, Assistant Vice President, Communications Lead and Senior Consultant across leading organisations.

Delivered via TimesPro’s state-of-the-art Direct-to-Device platform, the programme fosters active engagement through real-time faculty interaction and peer learning. The pedagogical approach combines case studies, interactive lectures, role-based simulations and collaborative assignments. A strong emphasis is placed on live interaction over passive instruction, thereby promoting analytical thinking, ethical judgement and the capacity to influence strategic outcomes in complex business environments. Upon fulfilling academic requirements, learners are awarded a Certificate of Successful Completion by IIM Calcutta and are inducted into the IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni community.

Applicants must hold a recognised undergraduate degree or equivalent diploma with at least 50% marks and possess a minimum of five years’ professional experience in managerial capacities to be eligible for TLPWE. The programme also welcomes women entrepreneurs, professionals involved in family businesses and corporate nominees identified as high-potential leaders.