Jan 22: The Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya successfully conducted a five-day Management Development Program (MDP) titled “Leadership in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) World.” Held from January 13 to 17, 2026, and organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative, the program was designed under the guidance of Dr. Vinita S. Sahay, Director, IIM Bodh Gaya, and brought together 33 participants, including 17 women and 16 men from 21 countries, spanning regions from Latin America to Russia.
Designed to equip professionals with capabilities to lead amid uncertainty, the program combined academic rigor with experiential learning through sessions on mindful leadership, resilience, ethical decision-making, strategic thinking, and navigating complexity, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and global leadership perspectives.
A defining feature of the MDP was its immersive and experiential learning approach, which extended beyond the classroom. Delegates visited the ancient Nalanda Ruins and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mahabodhi Temple, where specially curated sessions on mindfulness, inner mastery, and reflective leadership were conducted. These engagements enabled participants to draw insights from India’s civilisational wisdom and integrate them with contemporary management practices.
The program concluded with a valedictory session led by the Program Directors, Dr. Vinita S. Sahay and Dr. Teena Bharti, who highlighted the program’s success in fostering meaningful global engagement and leadership learning. They emphasised the importance of cultivating leaders who combine strategic competence with empathy, ethical grounding, and cultural sensitivity.
Participants described the program as professionally enriching and personally transformative, highlighting both the depth of learning and the spirit of global camaraderie fostered at IIM Bodh Gaya. Ugyen Lhendup from Bhutan shared, “I return home richer, with memories of learning, laughter, and friendships from across the world,” while Long Nguyen from Vietnam reflected, “What I take home from IIM Bodh Gaya is far more than notes or certificates. It is a quiet transformation that has made me more aware and prepared to lead.” Echoing similar sentiments, Sitora from Tajikistan remarked that the sessions and interactions opened their eyes and heart, and that the friendships formed during the programme would remain meaningful long after its conclusion.
The successful completion of the program reaffirms IIM Bodh Gaya’s commitment to developing globally minded leaders capable of addressing complex challenges with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Through the unique integration of Eastern mindfulness traditions and Western management perspectives, the institute continues to strengthen its position as an emerging global hub for transformative leadership education.