IIM Calcutta
Advanced Programme in Strategic Leadership Communication
Batch No: 07
The Advanced Programme in Strategic Leadership Communication (APSLC) erstwhile known as Executive Programme in Communication Strategies for Corporate Leaders by IIM Calcutta is a pioneering initiative designed to redefine how communication operates at the strategic core of leadership. Moving far beyond traditional ideas of corporate communication or presentation skills, APSLC integrates frameworks from behavioural economics, digital transformation, AI, analytics, and performative communication to create a dynamic and future-ready leadership toolkit.
Through an interdisciplinary blend of conceptual learning, real-world case studies, and immersive workshops, the programme empowers professionals to craft narratives that inspire, influence, and drive strategic outcomes. Participants will explore how communication shapes leadership identity, builds credibility, resolves conflicts, leverages data stories, and transforms digital presence into leadership impact.
APSLC isn’t about mastering soft skills — it’s about mastering strategic expression: the ability to communicate vision, align teams, and engage diverse audiences with purpose and precision. Designed and delivered by IIM Calcutta’s distinguished faculty, this programme helps leaders discover the art and science of communication that moves organizations forward in an era of constant change.
Programme Highlights
Duration
6 months
Eligibility
5 Years+ work experience
Mode of Delivery
Live Online + 2 campus modules (total 7 days) at IIM Calcutta
Live Sessions
Live online sessions every Saturday (10 a.m to 1 p.m)
Programme Commences
Mar 2026 (Tentative)
Apply Before
Nov 30, 2025
Alumni Status
Post successful completion of the programme participants will receive Certificate of Completion form IIM Calcutta
Fees
INR 2,80,000/- + GST
Post successful completion of the programme participants will receive Certificate of Completion and Executive Alumni status form IIM Calcutta
Programme Overview
The Advanced Programme in Strategic Leadership Communication (APSLC) aims to equip participants with the strategic, analytical, and creative communication capabilities essential for effective leadership in today’s complex business landscape. The programme seeks to transform experienced professionals into visionary communicators who can influence stakeholders, drive organizational goals, and lead with clarity and impact.
It focuses on developing an advanced understanding of how communication functions as a leadership strategy — integrating insights from behavioural economics, data storytelling, intercultural communication, digital platforms, AI, and gamification. Participants will learn to design persuasive narratives, manage conflicts, communicate across diverse audiences, and build credible leadership identities in both traditional and digital ecosystems.
Ultimately, the objective of APSLC is to empower leaders to think strategically, communicate purposefully, and inspire transformational change within their organizations and industries.
Programme Curriculum
❖ Module 1: 2 sessions
- Communication Strategies for Leaders: An Initiation into leadership Communication
- Tools for Credibility Building
- Packaging Audience Benefits
❖ Module 2: 3 sessions
- Sales Pitch through Impactful Argumentation: ‘Behaviorconomics’ in Designing a Winning Argument
- Narratives: The Nudge Factor
- Sales Pitch: Major trends in Narrative-Pitch
❖ Module 3: 4 sessions
- Public Speaking: Crafting a Contemporary Public Narrative
- Persuasion and Influence
- Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity through Communication: Gender, Sexuality, Neurodiversity, Inter-generationality
- Public Narrative and Leadership Storytelling
❖ Module 4: 4 sessions
- Leveraging Digital Communication for Leaders: Preparing platform-oriented strategies for digital presence and impact
- Understanding convergence cultures
- Leveraging digital platforms
- Role of social media in brand building and recognition
❖ Module 5: 3 sessions
- Inter-Cultural Communication: Communications Conforming to Cultural Dimensions
- Conceptual Background
- Understanding Cultural Dimensions
Persuasion Tactics
❖ Module 6: 2 sessions
- Data Presentations: Reorienting data through stories
- Data Persuasion: Theories and Practice
- Data Stories
❖ Module 7: 4 sessions
- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Interpersonal Communications for Productive Workplace Transactions
- Understanding Conflict
- Analyzing Various Negotiation Tactics as Bargain Moves
❖ Module 8: 2 sessions
- Storytelling in the Digital Era: Introducing concepts and frameworks of storytelling
- Storytelling
- Trans-medial Storytelling
❖ Module 9: 2 sessions
- Communication Analytics – Visual Communication Trends: Re-designing Decision Making for Competitive Market
- Visual Communication as indicative of Market Trends
- Understanding Visual-Market Systems
❖ Module 10 (3rd session continued): 1 session
- Communication With(out) AI: Understanding AI in the age of generative text and its effects on communication
- Theories and Concepts of AI (LLM and Generative textuality)
- Workshop on applications of AI in communications
❖ Module 11: 2 sessions
- Gamification: Applying game-like elements in non-game/business situations
- Concepts and Octalysis Framework
- Workshop to understand applications
❖ Public Speaking and Presentation Examinations
- Individual Examination on public speaking
- Team presentation
- Module Based Evaluations
- After every Module, participants will be given group assignments.
Programme Take-Aways
- Leading with Communication Strategy: Conceptualizing of a start-up toolkit for positioning communication not just as medium of interaction but as leadership strategy.
- Sales Pitch through Impactful Argumentation: Using the NUDGE factor from the domain of behavioral economics as communication converters.
- Public Speaking – Crafting a Contemporary Public Narrative: Repositioning oration as a leadership skill for contemporary inclusive oriented industry and policy.
- Leveraging Digital Communication for Leaders: Preparing platform-oriented strategies for digital presence and impact
- Inter-Cultural Business Communication: Understanding of various cultural dimensions which are active in transnational work spaces for designing effective communications.
- Data Presentations: Reorienting data through stories for persuasive presentations.
- Leaders as Conflict Processors – Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: Transposing communication from the area of literature to the disciplines of behavioral sciences.
- Story-telling in the Digital Era – Employing trans-medial, branding and digital story-telling as leading market influencers
- Communication Analytics – Visual Communication Trends: Adopting a neo-classical approach in analyzing visual data in the larger pool of data analytics for business investigations
- Communicating With(out) AI: Understanding how AI (primarily large language models (LLMs) and the age of generative text affects leadership communication.
- Gamification: Leveraging game-like elements in non-game scenarios.
Alumni Status Benefits
- LDP participants who complete the programme successfully become the Alumni of IIMC Executive Education, which currently has over 33,000 members.
- LDP Alumni are given an email-id in the IIM Calcutta domain.
- LDP Alumni can register in the IIM Calcutta Alumni portal either with this email-id or with their personal email-ids. The IIM Calcutta Alumni portal is a common platform for Alumni of all programmes of the Institute to interact with each other and stay connected with the Institute.
- The Institute shares newsletters, important news and articles about the Institute and its activities, the achievements of the Institute’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, upcoming events and programmes etc., on the portal.
- Alumni can post their achievements, write about jobs or LIVE project opportunities for other alumni to see.
- The IIM Calcutta alumni network can also be accessed on mobile phones through the mobile app.
- Executive Education Alumni are entitled to a discount of 5% on the programme fee if they opt to do another LDP.
- By using the different features of the IIM Calcutta portal, alumni across programmes can engage with each other in many meaningful ways. It is up to the alumni themselves to leverage the platform
On successful completion of the programme participants will receive their certificate of completion from IIM Calcutta. They will also be accorded the prestigious IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni status.
Important dates
Apply Before
Nov 30, 2025Prog. Commences
Mar 2026 (Tentative)Online sessions on
SaturdaySessions timing
10a.m. – 1p.m.
Fee Plan
| FEE TOWARDS | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | INR 2,500 + GST |
| (Installment I) Within 7 days of receiving the offer letter | INR 94,000 + GST |
| (Installment II) 10 May 2026 | INR 94,000 + GST |
| (Installment III) 10 July 2026 | INR 92,000 + GST |
| Total Fees Exclusive of Application Fee | INR 2,80,000/- + GST |
Pay in 3 Easy installments
Programme Director
Prof. Nandita Roy
Dr. Roy obtained her Ph.D. in English Literature from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her research focuses on the intersection of philosophy, technology, gender studies, storytelling and new media. Her teaching style is to promote curiosity and use elements of game-based learning.
Prof. Nandita Roy
Prof. Pragyan Rath
Associate Professor in the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Dr. Rath has completed her Ph.D. in English from the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at IIT Mumbai. She has written extensively on innovative methods of communication analytics and seeks to contribute further to the multi-disciplinary field of corporate communication.
Prof. Pragyan Rath
FAQs
What is the Advanced Programme in Strategic Leadership Communication (APSLC)?
The APSLC erstwhile known as Executive Programme in Communication Strategies for Corporate Leaders is a six-month executive education programme by IIM Calcutta that helps professionals develop strategic leadership communication skills through an interdisciplinary blend of behavioural economics, digital technologies, data storytelling, AI, and performative communication.
Who is this programme designed for?
The programme is ideal for senior managers, mid-level executives, and team leaders with at least five years of professional experience who aspire to move into leadership roles or strengthen their strategic communication abilities.
How is APSLC different from traditional communication or soft skills courses?
Unlike conventional programmes focusing on language proficiency or etiquette, APSLC emphasizes strategic communication as a leadership tool — integrating analytical reasoning, digital storytelling, intercultural communication, and AI-driven engagement frameworks.
What are the key learning outcomes of the programme?
Participants will learn to:
- Communicate with clarity, confidence, and strategic intent
- Design persuasive narratives and data-driven presentations
- Manage conflicts and negotiations effectively
- Leverage digital and AI tools for leadership communication
- Build authentic and credible leadership identities
What teaching methods are used in the programme?
The pedagogy includes interactive lectures, case studies, workshops, video-graphed presentations, and personalized feedback sessions. Participants will also engage in team projects, AI and gamification exercises, and data storytelling sessions for experiential learning.
What is the duration and schedule of the programme?
The programme spans six months with weekly classes held every Saturday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It includes a total of 96 hours of learning, along with two campus modules at IIM Calcutta
Are there any campus visits involved?
Yes. The programme includes two campus immersion modules at IIM Calcutta — a 3-day session at the beginning and a 4-day session at the end, which includes the certification ceremony.
How will participants be evaluated?
Evaluation will be continuous and include module-wise assignments, mid-term and final project presentations, online exams, and public speaking assessments. Attendance of at least 75% and completion of all examinations are mandatory for certification.
What certification will participants receive upon completion?
Participants who successfully meet all academic and attendance requirements will be awarded the “Advanced Programme in Strategic Leadership Communication” certificate from IIM Calcutta, and will gain IIMC Executive Education Alumni status.
What is the total programme fee and how is it structured?
The total programme fee is INR 2,80,000 + GST, payable in three instalments. This includes campus visit fees and study material costs. Fees are to be paid directly to UCS LLP (VCNow), the official delivery partner for the programme.
My question is not on the list
Get the guidance you need to make sure that you are making the right decision here. Consult VCNow’s Senior Academic Advisors at (+91) 8929903380
Still have questions?
Consult our Academic Adviser
Request a Call Back
