Mumbai: The Advertising Council of India (ACI), on behalf of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA), has announced the fourth edition of the fully sponsored AFAA New Age Leadership Program for young professionals.
Following the success of its first three editions, the leadership initiative returns with an immersive three-night, four-day experiential learning journey aimed at nurturing the next generation of industry and social leaders. The programme will bring together 26 selected young professionals from India and abroad for a residential experience across Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, and surrounding regions.
Designed to offer direct exposure to leaders from diverse sectors, institutions, and communities, the AFAA New Age Leadership Program will provide participants with insights into leadership, governance, sustainability, entrepreneurship, nation-building, communications, and social impact through a combination of interactions and experiential visits.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with distinguished leaders including Shriji Huzor Shri Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of Udaipur, Ratnesh Kumar, Executive Director of ONGC, leaders from The Bombay Mothers and Children Welfare Society, one of India’s oldest NGOs, and representatives from Nisargopchar Ashram, the renowned naturopathy centre established by Mahatma Gandhi. The cohort will also interact with representatives of the Indian Armed Forces, the leadership team of Sahyadri Farms, and several accomplished leaders and institutions from India and overseas.
Beyond leadership interactions and field visits, participants will also take on the role of advisors by collectively offering recommendations and strategic insights on real-world challenges presented during the programme. The exercise is designed to encourage critical thinking, peer-to-peer learning, problem-solving, and collaborative leadership.
Speaking about the initiative, Srinivasan Swamy, Chairman of AFAA, said, “This is an immersive, experiential, and transformative program where 26 young professionals below the age of 35 will be exposed to organizations and leaders across diverse sectors and geographies. The interactions, exposure, and brainstorming sessions elevate participants to a completely different level of competence, perspective, and leadership capability. We are delighted that the fourth edition will also include some international participants, further enriching peer-to-peer learning and global exposure. The entire program continues to remain fully sponsored, reflecting our commitment as an industry association to nurture future leaders for society and industry.”
The programme will be facilitated by experienced proctor and nine-time TEDx speaker Manish Advani, who will guide participants through a learning journey focused on collaboration, reflection, strategic thinking, and personal transformation.
Applications are now open for aspiring young professionals below the age of 35. Interested candidates can submit their résumé along with the completed application form by June 15, 2026. Shortlisted applicants will undergo a virtual interview process, following which the final 26 participants will be selected.
The residential programme is scheduled to commence on July 2, 2026, in Mumbai.
The Advertising Council of India serves as a nodal industry body representing leading organisations across the advertising, media, and marketing ecosystem, including the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter, Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), Indian Newspaper Society (INS), Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), and The Advertising Club, Bombay.
