~ The ‘Leadership and Strategic Thinking’ programme curated for visually-challenged people aims to empower participants with knowledge and skills to take on leadership and management roles.
~ The three-day immersive programme includes sessions on Strategic Leadership, AI for Managerial Decision-making, Macroeconomic Concepts and Indian Economy, Technology for the Visually Challenged, and so on.
March 06, 2026: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) welcomed 28 participants for the fourth edition of its ‘Leadership and Strategic Thinking’ programme for visually-challenged people. The three-day immersive programme, scheduled from March 6-8, 2026, was inaugurated today by Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA; Prof. Rajesh Chandwani, Faculty Chair for the programme; Mr. Bhushan Punani, General Secretary, Blind People’s Association (BPA) Ahmedabad, and Ms. Kinnari Desai, Deputy Director at BPA.
This specially curated programme, conducted in collaboration with BPA Ahmedabad, strives to empower participants with a range of skills and knowledge to enable them to take on various leadership, strategic thinking, and management roles.
The programme has brought together working professionals from across the country and various fields, including education, government services, Information Technology (IT) services, and Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI). Over the three days, participants will partake in specially-curated sessions hosted by IIMA faculty to build leadership strategy and understand the dynamics and functions of management – self and professional.
The three-day immersive programme includes sessions on Strategic Leadership, AI for Managerial Decision-making, Macroeconomic Concepts and Indian Economy, Technology for the Visually Challenged, and so on to provide participants with a holistic outlook of leadership and management.
Addressing the programme participants, Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, said, “Within four years, this leadership programme has truly grown. Today, I can confidently say that we have a truly national population representing several parts of India, all in one room. IIMA takes immense pride in initiating and conducting this inclusive programme year on year to make a difference in the lives of people. The ability to lead is inherent amongst all of us, and this programme serves as an opportunity for everyone to surmount their inner barriers and learn how to strengthen their leadership capacity, strategic vision, and organisational skills for real- world scenarios.”
He also added how IIMA faculty members who host the sessions also receive the opportunity to learn something from the participants, saying, “Our professors gain new perspectives thanks to the participants, which is extremely important while making decisions at various levels.”
Mr. Bhushan Punani, General Secretary, BPA, highlighted how previous editions of the programme deeply impacted participants, sharing examples of several visually-challenged professionals who went on to obtain senior leadership positions in reputed organisations after attending the immersion course. He said, “For the differently-abled, there are five pillars of strength and growth: technology, assistive devices, access to higher education, laws protecting and uplifting the differently-abled, and inclusivity. As India continues making strides across all these pillars, I would like to recognise the programme at IIMA for serving as a benchmark of inclusivity. This programme is a bridge between visually-impaired individuals and leadership – something we are yet to see more of. As participants, everyone can unlock their leadership potential during these three days.”
Prof. Rajesh Chandwani, Faculty Chair for the programme, shared his observations of the programme, saying, “Over the years, this programme has received great recognition from participants, who thoroughly enjoy the sessions and learnings. Simultaneously, the lessons imparted help them cultivate a strong foundation of self-belief, giving them the confidence to chase new horizons, apply for senior leadership opportunities, and realise the potential within them that awaits to be unlocked.”
About IIM Ahmedabad:
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. In more than six decades of its existence, the Institute has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice, and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise, and creating a progressive impact on society.
IIMA was founded as an innovative initiative by the Government, industry, and international academia in 1961. Since then, it has been consolidating its global footprint and today it has a network with over 80 top international institutions and a presence in Dubai. Its eminent faculty members and around 46,000 alumni, who are at the helm of influential positions in all walks of life also contribute to its global recognition. Over the years, IIMA’s academically superior, market-driven, and socially impactful programmes, have earned a high reputation and acclaim globally. It became the first Indian institution to receive international accreditation from EQUIS. The Institute is also placed first in the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2025. The Institute has been ranked 35th globally in the Financial Times (FT) Executive Education (Open) Rankings 2025. The renowned flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ranked 34th in the FT Masters in Management Ranking 2025 and the Full-Time One-Year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX) has been ranked 27th in the FT Global MBA rankings 2026.
IIMA offers consultancy services and more than 200 curated executive education programmes in customised, blended, and open enrolment formats for a diverse audience comprising business leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, academicians, government officials, armed forces personnel, agri-business, and other niche sector specialists and entrepreneurs.
To know more about the Institute, please visit: https://www.iima.ac.in/
For media queries, please contact:
Ms. Shivangi Bhatt | manager-comm@iima.ac.in
Ms. Saumya Mishra| pr@iima.ac.in
