India Leadership Initiative Launches Class 3 of Accomplished Leaders
The Aspen Institute India, in collaboration with The Aspen Institute, announced the launch of Class 3 of the India Leadership Initiative (ILI) Fellows to develop a new generation of valuesbased action-oriented leaders.
Modelled after the Henry Crown Fellowship of the Aspen Institute, USA, ILI focuses on business, government and civil society leaders between the ages of 30-45, and provides them with an opportunity to assess their own leadership values as well as those of their peers; encourages them to engage more vigorously in the leading challenges of their country and its economy and allows them to explore new ways to work in concert to improve Indian society and the world atlarge.
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The launch of Class 3 is particularly momentous since the critical mass is increasing to about 70 Fellows in all with ILI being recognized as one of the foremost leadership development programs in India. It is a unique program that incorporates
leaders from different walks of life and is focused on creating the “good society”. The new class of 20 Fellows from across India
is comprised of men and women who join the ranks of some 1200 other Fellows from 43 countries who together comprise the Aspen
Global Leadership Network (AGLN) – a Fellowship of entrepreneurial leaders.
These leaders:
• have achieved significant success in their respective fields;
• have demonstrated their potential for even greater leadership at the highest levels of their
fields;
• possess a breadth of experience and level of maturity that will enable them to contribute
effectively to the fellowship experience;
• come from diverse backgrounds in terms of geography, occupation, ethnicity, race, religion
and gender.
Each fellow will participate in four seminars over a 18 month period and will be designing and
implementing a community leadership project of their own.
The 20 Fellows are among the brightest and most entrepreneurial young people in the country who will likely become torch-bearers for India in the future. They include:
1. Mr James Abraham - Managing Director and CEO, SunBorne Energy Technologies
2. Ms Asha Nayar Basu – Partner S Jalan and Co
3. Ms Indrani Bagchi –Senior Diplomatic Editor, Times of India
4. Mr Ashish Gupta – IGP, Director in the Prime Minister’s Office
5. Ms Bhairavi Jani – Chief Executive, SCA Group of Companies
6. Mr Rohit Kansal – Director, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
7. Ms Hasina Kharbhih - Founder, President Impulse NGO Network
8. Mr Shaffi Mather – Advocate Supreme Court of India, Entrepreneur and Public Policy
Analyst
9. Mr Rajan Navani – Managing Director, Jetline Group of Companies
10. Ms Neera Nundy Managing Partner Dasra – Catalyst for Change
11. Mr Arun Padmanabhan – Co Founder and CEO Svasti Microfinance Pvt Ltd
12. Mr Varad Pande – Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Environment and Forests
13. Ms Meghna Rao – Country Managing Director, Acumen Fund
14. Mr Akshat Rathee, Managing Director NODWIN Group
15. Mr Nikhil Sawhney – Executive Director, Triveni Engineering Industries Ltd
16. Ms Radhika Shapoorjee, President IPA Hill and Knowlton
17. Dr Shikha Sharma – Managing Director, Nutri Health Systems Pvt Ltd
18. Mr Karandeep Singh – VP and Managing Director, Sapient Corporation India
19. Mr Dhaval Udani – CIO and Sr VP Strategy, GIVE Foundation
20. Mr Amitav Virmani – Country Director, Absolute Return for Kids
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Speaking on this occasion, Mr Gautam Thapar, Chairman of Aspen Institute India and Chairman, Avantha Group said “ILI equips the fellows to gain a better understanding of the day to day challenges of society and lead by example. The launch of Class
3 of the India Leadership Initiative adds impetus to expanding the leadership base as these Fellows will be the future torch bearers of India.”
Fellows of Class 1 and Class 2 of ILI also addressed this group and shared their ILI experiences.
Mr Anand Shah, Fellow of Class 1 of ILI and Co-founder of IndiCorp said “The ILI is a powerful program. It encourages accomplished leaders in the prime of their careers to think of their potential to shape society, to build a global community of leaders who lead lives with values that matter, and ensures that we continue to invest in the progress of India by investing in those who play a role in making it happen".
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Vivek Pandit, Fellow of the Class 2 of ILI and Partner
McKinsey emphasized, “Much more than leadership
development, the Aspen ILI program brings one’s
purpose sharply into focus. Uniquely dynamic and
reflective, it acts as a mirror and helps contrast success
and significance. It was incredibly fun – with an
authentic, talented and citizenship minded peer group,
enriched with readings and world class moderators.
Unsurprisingly, the quality of ideas, debate,
relationships formed were exceptionally high. The ILI
program was formative in my personal development.”
Ms Roopa Purushothaman Fellow of the Class 2 of ILI MD Everstone Research spoke on her ILI project and how she was inspired to launch Avasara – A Leadership Academy and a residential school for high potential girls from across India with both a rigorous academic curriculum and a curriculum around leadership and entrepreneurship.
Aspen Institute India is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the in-depth discussion of global issues, development of leadership based on values, and a high-level exchange of opinions and information. Its mission is to bring a values-based perspective to the most important issues of the day and represent the forum of choice for convening and developing leaders in India. The Institute focuses on the most important problems and challenges facing society, the business community and the individual. It invites industrial, economic, financial, political, social and cultural leaders to discuss these issues in reserved settings that encourage frank and open dialogue.
The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC, and Aspen, Colorado, and has an international network of partners.
New Delhi
November 18, 2010