Leadership Course for India Inc | IIT Madras | Prof. C. Bhaktavatsala Rao
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 271 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Management Studies, Human Resource Management |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Leadership for India Inc: A 12-Week Masterclass with IIT Madras Prof. C. Bhaktavatsala Rao
In the dynamic and complex landscape of Indian business, effective leadership is the cornerstone of sustainable growth and innovation. For executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders, a deep, practical understanding of leadership constructs is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) offers a transformative 12-week postgraduate course designed specifically for this purpose: Leadership for India Inc: Practical Concepts and Constructs.
This comprehensive course is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and ground-level execution, guided by an instructor whose career exemplifies the very principles he teaches.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. C. Bhaktavatsala Rao
The course is led by Dr. C. Bhaktavatsala Rao, the Dr. Ajit Singhvi Chair Professor in the Department of Management Studies at IIT Madras. Prof. Rao brings an unparalleled blend of academic excellence and real-world leadership experience:
- Academic Pedigree: Ph.D. in Industrial Management and M.Tech in Industrial Engineering from IIT Madras.
- Corporate Legacy: Over 46 years of strategic and operational leadership in large, reputed Indian and global multinational corporations, including as Managing Director & Executive Chairman of Hospira Healthcare India (a Pfizer company).
- Thought Leadership: A prolific writer with 170+ publications and author of eight books on management and leadership under his LeaderCrest Academy banner.
- Current Role: Besides teaching, he serves as a Senior Advisor/Board Member for select global and Indian corporations.
This rare synthesis of deep academic knowledge and decades of C-suite experience ensures that the course content is both rigorous and immediately applicable.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 12-week program provides a detailed, multi-faceted exploration of leadership. It moves beyond generic theories to present new constructs and models grounded in real-life Indian and global business scenarios. The course is designed to help participants develop a leadership personality, acquire essential soft skills, and understand the critical interface between leadership, technology, business, and socio-economic factors.
Intended Audience: MBA/PhD students, executives, managers, business leaders, administrators, and entrepreneurs.
Prerequisite: A Graduation degree.
Level: Postgraduate.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Module Title | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Leadership | Foundational concepts, management thought streams, and thought leaders. |
| Week 2 | Leadership Theories | Chronological evolution of core leadership theories in management literature. |
| Week 3 | Leadership for Sustainable Growth | Leadership's role in a new socio-economic order focused on sustainability and technology. |
| Week 4 | Competency Leadership | Identifying essential leadership traits, skills, and a unique apex competency framework. |
| Week 5 | Leadership Processes | Methodologies for developing leaders within organizations and through self-development. |
| Week 6 | Leadership Structures | Leveraging and disrupting organizational & product structures to create new growth niches. |
| Week 7 | Leadership Development & Succession | Critical study of leadership transitions and CEO successions via Indian/global case studies. |
| Week 8 | Functional Leadership Models | Five key domain-specific models as a prerequisite for organizational leadership. |
| Week 9 | Transformational Leadership Models - 1 | Context-specific transformational models based on organizational and business examples. |
| Week 10 | Transformational Leadership Models - 2 | Additional models focusing on specific people development approaches. |
| Week 11 | Leadership Philosophies | Resolving leadership dilemmas, paradoxes, and philosophical conundrums. |
| Week 12 | Legendary Leadership | Analysis of five unique Indian leadership models across various fields, concluding with a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and lessons in authentic leadership. |
Why This Course is Essential for India Inc.
This course is not just an academic exercise; it's a strategic investment in your leadership capital. It is likely to be well-recognized by a wide spectrum of companies, industries, and startups looking for leaders who can navigate the future. By enrolling, you gain:
- Practical Constructs: Learn frameworks developed from real-life case examples and the instructor's firsthand experience.
- Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Understand leadership in the context of technology, business strategy, and societal impact.
- Pathways to Success: Detailed models and pathways to attain and succeed in positions of leadership.
- Indian Context: A rare focus on legendary Indian leadership models, providing culturally relevant insights.
Core Reference Material
The course is reinforced with insights from seminal leadership texts, including:
- Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Leadership
- Warren Bennis’s On Becoming a Leader
- Peter G. Northouse’s Leadership: Theory and Practice
- Gary Yukl’s Leadership in Organizations
Leadership for India Inc. is more than a course; it's a mentorship journey with one of India's most distinguished practitioner-academics. It equips you with the practical concepts, robust constructs, and profound insights needed to lead effectively in the unique and challenging environment of Indian business and beyond. Enroll to transform your leadership potential into tangible impact.
Enroll Now →