INSEAD ILPSE Faculty Answer C-Suite’s Toughest Riddle
- Q: What is the primary motivation for participants who join INSEAD ILPSE??
- Q: Is INSEAD ILPSE relevant for executives working across geographies?
- Q: How is INSEAD ILPSE structured to bring greater success for working executives?
- Q: How is the INSEAD ILPSE curriculum relevant for today’s challenges?
- Q: How is the INSEAD leadership program for senior executives different from other executive leadership programs?
- Q: What does success look like after INSEAD ILPSE?
- Q: What kind of return on investment (ROI) can participants expect?
- INSEAD Leadership Program for Senior Executives at a Glance
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Synopsis: Professors V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan and Bala Vissa share how the INSEAD ILPSE program empowers executives to reset their leadership trajectory. |
For senior executives, climbing the ladder of corporate success often includes a moment of pause. This pause is characterized by not knowing what to do in their next leadership role. While the titles are impressive, the teams are diverse and dynamic, and the decisions are strategic, as a senior leader, you may feel something is missing. This may deter you from making decisions with confidence or convincing stakeholders to follow your lead with conviction. Many executives describe this as a plateau: an internal signal that it is time to reset, reinvent, and reimagine their next chapter.
The INSEAD Leadership Programme for Senior Executives—India (ILPSE) is a premier senior leadership training program designed for senior leaders like you seeking a meaningful leadership reset. In a candid interview, Professors V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan and Bala Vissa, the academic directors of INSEAD ILPSE, explain in detail how the program enables C-suite professionals and senior management to break through stagnation and lead with renewed clarity.
Q: What is the primary motivation for participants who join INSEAD ILPSE??
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: It is the classic case of “what got you here won’t get you there.” Many of these senior executives in India have succeeded, but they seek a more profound impact—beyond vertical growth. ILPSE is that executive leadership training ground where inner clarity meets strategic breadth—crucial to succeed in the dynamic business world.
Prof. Bala Vissa: Most of our participants are highly accomplished—senior directors, founders and CEOs, CXOs, country heads, and entrepreneurs. They have built great leadership skills in their domains, yet I have observed that they feel that functional mastery is not enough to lead at an enterprise or global level. They want to lead with purpose and navigate complexity. That’s what I call the plateau which serves as the primary motivation for people to join the program.
Q: Is INSEAD ILPSE relevant for executives working across geographies?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: The program unfolds across India, Singapore, and France, giving a global perspective on leadership challenges. In Singapore, we explore the innovation culture in ASEAN, in France, the European business models, and in India, the scale and ambition of emerging markets. This creates an unmatched tri-continental learning experience for senior executives seeking a business leadership transformation.
Prof. Bala Vissa: More than ever. Today’s executive team members operate in interconnected ecosystems. Our participants have lived and led across Asia, Europe, and beyond. The curriculum and format of INSEAD ILPSE are built with a functional focus on the global complexity of modern general management responsibilities.
Q: How is INSEAD ILPSE structured to bring greater success for working executives?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: The modular design of ILPSE INSEAD ensures real-time application. Executives return to work between modules and begin practicing and implementing new business leadership behaviors immediately.
Prof. Bala Vissa: ILPSE INSEAD is designed to prepare senior management professionals to balance demanding roles with career reinvention. It is a 12-month, multi-modular executive leadership course that includes:
- Five in-person immersions at INSEAD across three countries
- Live online sessions between modules
- Personalized leadership development plans
- One-on-one coaching and peer learning groups
Q: How is the INSEAD ILPSE curriculum relevant for today’s challenges?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: The ILPSE INSEAD program curriculum is anchored in three critical leadership pillars:
- Leading the business: strategic agility, innovation, AI readiness, competitive repositioning
- Leading others: organizational design, cross-cultural leadership, team performance
- Leading yourself: self-awareness, emotional intelligence, values-driven leadership
Importantly, the curriculum is not static. We continuously refresh the content to reflect current industry trends, technological shifts, and global leadership demands. This ensures that every cohort experiences an evergreen, relevant, and future-ready learning journey.
Prof. Bala Vissa: One of the signature experiences is the Phoenix Encounter, where participants challenge themselves to disrupt their own business models—before someone else does. This is about developing modern, adaptable leadership styles that are future ready and can be applied in real-world situations.
Read more: What Makes a Great Leader? Hear From the INSEAD Leadership for Senior Executives Program Alumni
Q: How is the INSEAD leadership program for senior executives different from other executive leadership programs?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: INSEAD ILPSE is deeply personal. Participants engage in reflective exercises, coaching, and professional development that often shift their core beliefs about leadership. It is designed not just to inform but to transform.
Prof. Bala Vissa: The INSEAD leadership program for senior executives is a transformational journey. Our faculty brings thought leadership from cutting-edge research, which we translate into powerful classroom experiences.
Here’s a glimpse of the program faculty directors talking about how the INSEAD executive education program provides an advanced learning experience that redefines your leadership skills with a global perspective.
Q: What does success look like after INSEAD ILPSE?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: Success came as a promotion to the C-suite for some. For others, it was founding a new venture, shifting sectors, or pursuing impact-led careers. It fills us with immense pleasure to see our program participants drive MSME credit access, expand healthcare in tier-3 towns, and advise global boards.
Prof. Bala Vissa: The most powerful feedback comes from families: “This person came back better.” We aim for that transformation professionally and personally that is complete, grounded, and forward facing.
Q: What kind of return on investment (ROI) can participants expect?
Prof. V. “Paddy” Padmanabhan: INSEAD ILPSE ROI is multidimensional. Yes, many alumni gain larger roles and higher compensation. But they also gain:
- Greater authenticity and presence
- Confidence to lead through disruption
- Access to the 66,000-strong INSEAD alumni network
- Lifelong connections with their ILPSE cohort
Prof. Bala Vissa: INSEAD ILPSE is a premium senior leadership training program because it delivers returns not just in your paycheck but also in your sense of purpose.
INSEAD Leadership Program for Senior Executives at a Glance
- Who it is for: CXOs, operations managers, entrepreneurs, business heads, senior directors, high-performing senior executives
- Duration: 12 months | five modules | Live online and in person
- Key features: Coaching | Phoenix Encounter | Strategic projects | Alumni status | Business leader interview | Individual development plan
If you are a high-performing leader asking, “What’s next for me?”, the answer lies in a mindset reset. The first step toward achieving it is shifting beyond operational excellence to gain skills that empower you to make a strategic business impact in the global context. The INSEAD Leadership Programme for Senior Executives—India is a launchpad for such personal and professional reinvention.
Whether you are leading a global division or scaling a business in India, this is the executive leadership training that redefines what it means to grow. It is not just about becoming a more effective leader but about becoming more intentional.
Explore the INSEAD Leadership Programme for Senior Executives—India for your next-level evolution in leadership.
