Mumbai: Responding to strong interest from organizations across the country, the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) has extended the application deadline for the fourth edition of its prestigious New Age Leadership Programme 2026 to 22 June 2026. The fully sponsored programme will take place from 2–5 July 2026 and aims to identify and nurture the next generation of business and social leaders.
Designed as an immersive leadership initiative, the programme will bring together 26 high-potential professionals under the age of 35 from sectors including marketing, media, advertising, technology, manufacturing, social enterprises, and corporate organizations.
The four-day experience is structured to expose participants to diverse leadership perspectives through experiential learning, field visits, collaborative problem-solving sessions, and direct interactions with leading figures across business, science, defence, entrepreneurship, and public service.
The confirmed speaker and mentor line-up for the 2026 edition includes Shriji Huzor Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, Major General R. S. Vats, Commandant CMDC – Indian Army, Dr. Ravi Shankar, Group Director – ISRO, Mr. Ratnesh Kumar, Executive Director Strategy – ONGC, Mr. Vilas Shinde, Chairman – Sahyadri Farms, Mr. Vikram Bhat, Managing Director – Kiara Jewels, Mr. Sunil Mishra, AI Exper – North Carolina, USA, Mr. Shekhar Amberkar, Deputy Director – Indian Institute of Packaging, and Mr. Kaushlendra Sinha, Managing Director – IAGES, among other eminent leaders.
Speaking about the programme, Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman of AFAA, said, “The future of our industry and our nation will be shaped by leaders who can combine professional excellence with social responsibility, innovation with empathy, and ambition with purpose. The New Age Leadership Programme has been conceived to expose young leaders to diverse perspectives from business, science, defence, agriculture, public policy, and entrepreneurship. Through this initiative, we hope to inspire a new generation of leaders who will not only create successful organizations but also contribute to building a stronger and more inclusive India.”
The curriculum has been designed to equip participants with practical leadership capabilities through transformational modules including SMILE all the While, CHAMP in Communications, Conquering the WOLF (Worries, Obsessions, Limitations & Fear), and STRIVE for Excellence. These modules focus on strengthening strategic thinking, communication, resilience, innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership.
Commenting on the deadline extension, Manish Advani, Programme Director of the New Age Leadership Programme, said, “The response from organizations has been extremely encouraging. Several HR leaders and business heads requested additional time to identify and nominate their emerging leaders. We believe leadership development is one of the most important investments any organization can make, and we want to ensure deserving candidates have the opportunity to participate in this unique learning journey.”
Previous editions of the programme have received strong feedback from participants, many of whom have progressed into larger leadership roles while also contributing to social and community initiatives.
Organizations are encouraged to nominate young professionals who demonstrate leadership potential, learning agility, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact.
Only 26 participants will be selected for this highly competitive and fully sponsored leadership programme. Application forms can be downloaded from https://www.adcouncilofindia.org/
