In today's fast-paced corporate environment, senior leaders are constantly juggling strategic discussions, urgent decisions, and evolving priorities. The demands of leadership roles across all sectors are intensifying. With technology cycles accelerating, artificial intelligence transforming workflows, and cross-functional collaboration becoming the norm, the pressure is immense. Human Resources and Learning & Development teams are similarly tasked with building organisations that are adaptable, resilient, and focused on long-term objectives.
The Need for a New Kind of Leadership Development
Organisations are navigating unprecedented disruption, from AI-integrated processes to rapid digital innovation that redefines markets. In this context, traditional training programmes, often lengthy and generic, struggle to meet dynamic challenges. This failure creates a widening gap between what organisations strategically need and what their leaders are prepared to deliver. Experience alone is no longer sufficient. Modern leaders require focused, practical learning that fits into their demanding schedules while equipping them to steer complex transformations.
The call today is for leaders who can work effectively with diverse teams, adapt to constant change, and maintain composure under pressure. Contemporary leadership demands not just knowledge, but contextual intelligence—the ability to read situations, interpret complexity, and respond with clarity. Consequently, many forward-thinking companies are turning to short, structured executive learning formats that are practical and manageable. These programmes emphasise peer conversations, real-world problem-solving, and flexible frameworks that leaders can apply immediately.
Introducing the SPJIMR Senior Leadership Programme
To address this critical need and help organisations build a robust pipeline of future-ready leaders, the S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) has launched its Senior Leadership Programme. This domain-agnostic, strategic intervention is designed specifically for senior professionals who are preparing to take on enterprise-level roles.
The programme is delivered through 10 in-person days spread across five months, from January to May 2026. It brings together a focused cohort of approximately 20 senior leaders, fostering an environment conducive to deep discussions, personalised guidance, and meaningful cross-sector exchanges.
The comprehensive learning journey includes:
- Structured classroom-based learning sessions.
- Peer discussions and industry masterclasses.
- Networking opportunities with former CEOs.
- Roundtables on contemporary topics like AI and sustainability.
- Optional one-on-one functional coaching.
- A personalised Leadership Development Plan (LDP) and Organisational Development Plan (ODP).
Speaking about the programme, Dr. Varun Nagaraj, Programme Director and Dean at SPJIMR, stated, “Our Senior Leadership Programme helps leaders move beyond standard frameworks to develop a leadership portfolio that is truly their own. It prepares them to make sound decisions under uncertainty, harness innovation and AI responsibly, and lead change without losing what already works for their organisations.”
Four Pillars of Modern Leadership
The curriculum is built around four integrated pillars that reflect the essential capabilities required of senior leaders today:
1. Building Clarity, Self-Awareness, and Influence: This module helps leaders explore their personal styles, enhance self-awareness, and develop tools to influence stakeholders effectively in diverse situations.
2. Making Confident Decisions in Uncertain Conditions: Executives learn to apply strategic thinking and analytical tools like game theory and real options to navigate ambiguity. They strengthen contextual intelligence through relevant frameworks.
3. Balancing Human Judgement with Emerging Technologies: As AI becomes embedded in organisations, leaders must blend tech understanding with human insight. This pillar introduces structures for innovation, ambidexterity, and Systems Thinking.
4. Leading Transformation with Clarity and Resilience: Focusing on people and culture, leaders examine the dynamics of organisational change, human responses, and barriers to progress, building a practical toolkit for driving transformation.
Learning from Experts and Driving Real-World Impact
The Senior Leadership Programme is delivered entirely in person by SPJIMR's esteemed faculty, who possess deep expertise in leadership, strategy, innovation, and organisational behaviour. The learning is further enriched by masterclasses and open conversations with senior industry leaders, providing insights into real strategic challenges. The deliberately small cohort size ensures a personal, interactive, and experience-based learning environment.
Through the personalised LDP and ODP, leaders can reflect on their strengths, clarify their aspirations, and directly connect their learning to organisational needs. The programme is designed for immediate workplace application, allowing participants to experiment with frameworks and learn from peers. On completion, they gain access to the SPJIMR Executive Alumni Network.
The programme is ideally suited for senior professionals taking on broader responsibilities, including business unit heads, CHROs, HR and L&D leaders, and those transitioning towards CXO roles or leading major organisational or digital transformations.
The schedule involves five in-person contact sessions at the SPJIMR Mumbai campus on the following dates: January 12–13, February 10–11, March 10–11, April 21–22, and May 19–20, 2026.
For organisations aiming to build a strong, future-proof leadership pipeline, the time for action is now. To learn more or to nominate leaders for the upcoming cohort, interested parties should contact the SPJIMR Executive Education team.
