WILL Launches ‘Shakti Women Leadership Program’ With Academic Partner UPES

New Delhi, Oct 8, 2024: Work-Integrated Learning for Leadership (WILL), in partnership with UPES, a multidisciplinary university, has inaugurated the Shakti Women Leadership Program, aimed at empowering women professionals in the energy sector to develop their leadership skills and accelerate their career growth.
     
The Shakti Women Leadership Program is designed to provide a work-integrated learning experience for women leaders, combining both online and offline modules. The course focuses on leading change in the age of AI, building strong communication and negotiation skills, and mastering workforce management across generations.  

The program offers a holistic approach to leadership development, fostering the skills necessary for women leaders to thrive in their professional journeys. The program will feature guest lectures, interactive sessions, and workshops conducted by prominent women leaders in various fields. It will be delivered through a blend of online sessions (70%) and physical immersion experiences (30%), totalling 40 hours of learning. The program will end with a convocation ceremony.

The program marks a significant step in promoting gender diversity and empowering women to become transformative leaders in their respective industries. 

Dr Antarpreet Singh, Director (Academics) Executive Education, WILL Education and Program Chair said, "Shakti, The Women Leadership Program, designed by WILL, in collaboration with UPES, takes a holistic approach to sharpen women leadership skills at personal, interpersonal, and strategic levels. With a focus on AI-driven transformation and data-driven decision-making, the program enhances participants' behavioural competencies, empowering women leaders to excel in their careers and lead through change effectively."     

The inauguration event saw the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr R Meenakshi Sundaram, IAS (Secretary, Energy, Housing, and Planning of the Uttarakhand Government), who delivered a keynote address on the importance of women leadership in the modern world. Notable attendees included PC Dhyani, MD of Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (PTCUL).

The launch was graced by several distinguished HR professionals from the energy sector. Key HR guests included Ashish Jain, ED-HR of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (UJVNL); Jitendra Singh, Deputy Chief Personnel Officer, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL); Pranay Kaparwan, Officer Personnel UPCL and Sunil Kumar, Joint GM of Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA). These HR leaders have played a crucial role in selecting and encouraging participants from their respective organisations, to join the leadership development program. 

The inaugural cohort comprises 12 participants from UJVNL, 8 from UPCL, 12 from PTCUL, and 2 from UREDA, reflecting a strong commitment to empowering women leaders across the energy sector.

The event commenced with a welcome address by Dr Ram Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of UPES, followed by a lamp lighting ceremony symbolising the illumination of knowledge and empowerment. Professors Dr Antarpreet Singh and Dr Debjani Mukherjee provided a comprehensive overview of the Shakti program's objectives and structure, highlighting its focus on empowering women leaders in various industries.