IIM Calcutta ELPW 2026: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has opened applications for its Executive Leadership Programme for Women (ELPW). The programme was earlier known as Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives (TLPWE).

This 12-month programme is designed for working women who want to move into senior leadership roles. It includes 40 sessions, held mostly online every Saturday, along with two campus visits to IIM Calcutta. The new batch is expected to start in December 2026, and the programme fee is Rs. 3,90,000 plus applicable taxes. Read on for complete details on the IIM Calcutta ELPW fee, eligibility, curriculum, schedule, and how to apply.
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IIM Calcutta ELPW 2026 – Overview
The programme covers two areas: core management skills like strategy, finance, marketing and AI, and personal leadership skills like self-discovery, executive presence and inclusive leadership. On successful completion, participants also become part of IIM Calcutta’s Executive Education alumni network, which has over 35,000 members.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Institute | Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta |
| Programme Name | Executive Leadership Programme for Women (ELPW) |
| Earlier Name | TLPWE (Transitioning into Leadership: A Programme for Women Executives) |
| Programme Type | Long Duration Programme (LDP), Executive Education |
| Tentative Start Date | December 2026 |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Number of Sessions | 40 (online + face-to-face) |
| Mode | Online (Direct to Device) + 2 campus visits |
| Class Schedule | Every Saturday, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Campus Visits | Two visits of 3 days each (compulsory) |
| Programme Fee | Rs. 3,90,000 + applicable taxes |
| Eligibility | Women graduates (50% marks) with 5+ years of managerial experience |
| Programme Directors | Prof. Abhipsa Pal and Prof. Anupama Kondayya |
| Alumni Status | IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni |
| Official Page | iimcal.ac.in – ELPW |
Programme Objectives
The programme answers one core question: how can women start and grow their leadership journey? It prepares women executives along two tracks. The first builds managerial skills in strategy, IT and AI, marketing, finance, organisational behaviour, HR, policy, ethics and sustainability. The second builds them as organisational leaders, through self-discovery, emotional resilience, an entrepreneurial mindset, understanding of organisational dynamics, diversity and inclusion, and personal management.
The programme is divided into three parts:
Part 1: Becoming an Effective Manager
- Competition, strategy and corporate governance
- Basics of marketing, finance, operations, supply chain and organisational behaviour
- Digital innovation and transformation using AI and analytics
- Ethics, sustainability and human resource management
Part 2: Growing as a Leader
- The mindset of leader development
- Self-discovery, emotional resilience and leader identity
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Managing teams, handling conflict, and understanding power and politics
- Executive communication and storytelling
- Executive voice and executive presence
- Managing diversity and building an inclusive organisation
- Shaping a career through personal management
Part 3: Learning from Women Leaders and Industry Projects
- Interactive sessions with senior women leaders
- A capstone project to apply learning to real business problems
IIM Calcutta ELPW Eligibility
As per IIM Calcutta, the programme is meant for:
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Graduate (10+2+3 or equivalent) in any discipline with at least 50% aggregate; candidates with 50% or more in post-graduation are also eligible |
| Work Experience | At least 5 years of managerial experience in top companies |
| Career Profile | Significant career achievements or leadership responsibilities |
| Entrepreneurs | Women in family business or entrepreneurial activities can also apply |
| Gender | Women professionals |
Who Should Attend?
- Mid-level women managers preparing to move into senior leadership roles
- Women executives who want a structured, IIM-level foundation in management and AI
- Women entrepreneurs and those running or joining a family business
- Professionals returning to leadership tracks who want to build confidence, network and executive presence
Programme Fee, Duration and Schedule
IIM Calcutta ELPW Fee
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Programme Fee | Rs. 3,90,000 |
| Taxes | Applicable taxes extra |
| Approx. total with 18% GST | About Rs. 4,60,200 |
| Alumni Discount on a future LDP | 5% for IIMC Executive Education alumni |
The GST figure is an estimate. Check the final payable amount and instalment options with the programme partner before applying.
Duration and Delivery
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 12 months |
| Total Sessions | 40 intensive sessions |
| Online Platform | D2D (Direct to Device) mode |
| Class Day and Time | Saturdays, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM (once a week) |
| Campus Visit 1 | 3 days, near the start of the programme |
| Campus Visit 2 | 3 days, near the end of the programme |
| Campus Attendance | Compulsory for all participants |
| Venue for Campus Modules | IIM Calcutta, Joka, Kolkata |
The weekend schedule lets working women attend without taking a career break.
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IIM Calcutta ELPW Curriculum (8 Modules)
The programme is divided into eight modules. IIM Calcutta reserves the right to change the content.
| Module | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| 1. Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making | Competition & Strategy; Strategic Thinking and Leadership; Corporate Governance; Design Thinking and Innovation |
| 2. Leading With Digital and AI | Statistics for Business & AI; Digital Transformation; Introduction to AI and Analytics; Data Visualization; Introduction to ML in Business; Business Applications of GenAI and Agentic AI; Digital Platform Dynamics |
| 3. Building Business Acumen & Cross-Functional Excellence | Marketing Management; Digital Marketing; Financial Management and Fintech; Operational Analytics; Operations and Supply Chain; Change Management |
| 4. Understanding Organizational Governance | Ethics and Governance; Sustainability; Workplace Laws and Policies; Human Resource Management |
| 5. Developing Leadership Mindset | Leader Development; Understanding & Managing Self; Emotional Intelligence and Resilience; Leadership Identity, Values and Purpose; Intrapreneurial and Entrepreneurial Mindset |
| 6. Developing Executive Voice | Effective Communication and Body Language; Executive Communication and Storytelling |
| 7. Developing Organizational Stewardship | Managing Teams; Negotiation and Conflict Management; Power and Politics in Organizations; Managing Diversity & Inclusion; Inclusive Leadership & Organizations |
| 8. Developing the Career Roadmap | Crafting Your Career (Image, Networking, Mentoring); Managing Personal Finance; Personal Branding & Executive Presence |
Also included:
- Interaction sessions with women leaders from industry
- Capstone project to apply learning to a real-world business challenge
What Makes the Curriculum Stand Out
- A full module on AI, including GenAI and Agentic AI, which is rare in women-focused leadership programmes.
- Equal weight on hard skills (strategy, finance, analytics) and soft skills (executive presence, negotiation, resilience).
- Practical career tools such as personal finance, personal branding and networking.
Programme Directors
| Programme Director | Area |
|---|---|
| Prof. Abhipsa Pal | Management Information Systems |
| Prof. Anupama Kondayya | Organizational Behavior |
Pedagogy
Teaching is highly interactive and uses technology. Depending on the subject, it mixes:
- Lectures
- Real-life case studies
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Workshops and interactions with women leaders
Certificate and Alumni Benefits
Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate from IIM Calcutta and get IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni status. Benefits include:
- Membership of a network of over 35,000 Executive Education alumni
- An email ID on the IIM Calcutta domain
- Access to the IIM Calcutta Alumni Portal and mobile app, shared with alumni of all programmes
- Institute newsletters, news, event updates and programme announcements
- Ability to post achievements, jobs and live project opportunities for other alumni
- 5% discount on the fee of any future Long Duration Programme (LDP) at IIM Calcutta
How to Apply for IIM Calcutta ELPW 2026
Applications are handled through IIM Calcutta’s programme partner, TimesPro. Follow these steps:
- Visit the official ELPW page on the IIM Calcutta website and read the programme details.
- Click the application link, which takes you to the TimesPro programme page.
- Register with your name, email ID and mobile number.
- Download and fill in the application form with your education and work experience details.
- Upload the required documents, such as degree certificates, mark sheets, a resume and a photo ID.
- Submit the form and complete the payment as instructed by the programme team.
- The admissions team will review your profile and share the next steps.
Contact for Admission Queries
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Contact Person | Namita Shah |
| Phone | 9867280789 |
| [email protected] |
Note: IIM Calcutta has not announced a last date to apply on its page. Since the batch starts in December 2026, apply as early as possible.
Why Choose IIM Calcutta’s Leadership Programme for Women?
- IIM brand and faculty: Learn from IIM Calcutta faculty and earn an IIM Calcutta certificate.
- Designed for women: The content directly tackles challenges women face in reaching leadership, such as executive voice, power and politics, and inclusive leadership.
- Future-ready skills: A dedicated module on AI, ML, GenAI and Agentic AI helps leaders make sense of digital change.
- Work-friendly format: Weekly Saturday classes and only two short campus visits.
- Real-world learning: Interactions with women leaders and a capstone project.
- Lifelong network: Access to IIM Calcutta’s alumni community of 35,000+ executive education alumni.
Key Things to Keep in Mind
- Both campus visits are mandatory, so plan your leave in advance.
- The fee of Rs. 3.9 lakh is before taxes.
- The start date is tentative, so watch for updates from the programme team.
FAQs on IIM Calcutta Executive Leadership Programme for Women
What is the IIM Calcutta Executive Leadership Programme for Women (ELPW)?
It is a 12-month executive education programme by IIM Calcutta that prepares women professionals for leadership roles. It was earlier called TLPWE.
What is the fee for IIM Calcutta ELPW?
The programme fee is Rs. 3,90,000 plus applicable taxes.
When does the IIM Calcutta ELPW 2026 batch start?
The tentative start date is December 2026.
What is the eligibility for IIM Calcutta ELPW?
Women graduates (10+2+3) with at least 50% marks and at least 5 years of managerial experience. Women in family business or entrepreneurship can also apply.
Is the programme online or offline?
It is a blended programme. Classes are held online every Saturday from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, plus two compulsory 3-day campus visits to IIM Calcutta.
How many sessions are there in the programme?
There are 40 intensive sessions in total.
Who are the programme directors?
Prof. Abhipsa Pal (Management Information Systems) and Prof. Anupama Kondayya (Organizational Behavior).
Does the programme cover AI?
Yes. Module 2, Leading With Digital and AI, covers AI, analytics, machine learning, GenAI and Agentic AI.
Will I become an IIM Calcutta alumna after this programme?
Yes. You will become an IIM Calcutta Executive Education alumna, with an IIMC email ID and access to the alumni portal.
Is there a capstone project?
Yes. The programme ends with a capstone project and interactive sessions with women leaders.
How do I apply for IIM Calcutta ELPW?
Apply online through the TimesPro link on the IIM Calcutta programme page. For help, contact Namita Shah at 9867280789.