FADA Academy Successfully Conducts Its First-Ever Ivy League Strategic Leadership Programme at Imperial College London

2026-08-13 02:51:33 Education

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New Delhi, 13 August 2026: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), through its learning and leadership platform FADA Academy, successfully conducted its first-ever Global Leadership Programme – Ivy League Strategic Leadership Programme at Imperial College Business School, London, from 20th to 24th July 2026.

The five-day immersive programme brought together an exclusive cohort of 18 accomplished Automotive Retail Leaders, Dealer Principals, Business Owners and Next-Generation Leaders from across India. Designed as a transformational global learning experience, the programme focused on competitive growth, strategic leadership, innovation, entrepreneurial mindset, data-driven decision-making, high-performance teams, emotional intelligence, digital marketing, business transformation, emerging technologies and global best practices, equipping participants with the capabilities required to lead future-ready automotive retail organisations.

The programme marked a significant milestone in FADA Academy's global journey, with the inaugural participants becoming the Founding Members of the FADA Academy Global Leadership Club, reaffirming FADA's commitment to developing globally competent leaders for India's automotive retail industry.

Commenting on the successful completion of the programme, Mr. Manish Raj Singhania, Chairman – FADA Academy & Research, said: "The successful completion of the Ivy League Strategic Leadership Programme marks a historic milestone for FADA Academy and the Indian automotive retail fraternity. As our first-ever global leadership initiative, it reflects our vision of creating internationally benchmarked learning experiences that prepare automotive retail leaders to navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive business environment.

The inaugural cohort of 18 automotive retail leaders returned with fresh global perspectives, strategic insights and a renewed commitment to innovation, collaboration and leadership excellence. Learning from distinguished faculty at Imperial College Business School, while engaging with accomplished peers, has enriched their ability to drive transformation within their organisations.

These 18 leaders will always be recognised as the Founding Members of the FADA Academy Global Leadership Club, setting a benchmark for future cohorts. I am confident that the knowledge, relationships and experiences gained through this programme will create a lasting impact – not only on their businesses but also on the future of automotive retail in India. This landmark initiative is the beginning of FADA Academy's global journey, and we remain committed to bringing world-class leadership development opportunities to our dealer community."

Prof. Sankalp Chaturvedi, Co-Director, Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation, Imperial College Business School expresses his gratitude by saying: "We were glad to welcome FADA Academy and this distinguished group of Indian automotive retail leaders to the Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation at Imperial. Automotive retail is changing faster than almost any part of the industry, and the leaders and business owners in the room are the ones who will have to make sense of it: new technology, new customer expectations, and organisations that need to work differently to keep up.

At the Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation, we believe that meaningful innovation is not only about creating new ideas, but about translating those ideas into tangible societal impact. We were delighted to be part of this learning journey and glad to share perspectives and mentoring that can help leaders think differently, identify new opportunities and create lasting value for their organisations and the wider automotive retail ecosystem in India, and the world.

We hope this experience inspires the participants to return with more curiosity, fresh perspectives and the confidence to lead in their dealerships and beyond. Their experience could help shape the next generation of automotive retail in India through innovation, collaboration and inclusive growth.”

Partnering with FADA, Mr. Prakhar Kasar, CEO – Hero Vired, said: "At Hero Vired, we believe that the leaders of tomorrow will be characterised by their ability to think globally, embrace change and lead with purpose. Our association with FADA for this Global Immersion Programme at Imperial College Business School reflects a shared vision of equipping automotive leaders with global perspectives, exposure and strategic capabilities. We are proud to help shape the next generation of globally minded automotive leaders."

The programme successfully combined classroom learning, global perspectives, experiential visits, interactive discussions and peer-to-peer engagement, equipping participants with fresh insights to drive business growth, innovation and leadership excellence in the evolving automotive retail landscape.

With the successful completion of the programme, the 18 participants were recognised as the Founding Members of the FADA Academy Global Leadership Club, marking the beginning of FADA Academy's global journey and reaffirming its commitment to developing world-class, future-ready automotive retail leaders for India.

About Imperial College Business School & Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation:

Imperial College Business School, part of Imperial College London, brings together expertise in business, technology, innovation and management, creating an environment where academic thinking, technological advancement and business practice converge to address complex global challenges. As part of the programme's global learning experience, participants will also gain exposure to the ecosystem of the Gandhi Centre for Inclusive Innovation, which focuses on helping organisations create tangible social impact, particularly in emerging economies, through thought leadership, research, technology, education and innovation. The Centre's work at the intersection of entrepreneurship, data, technology and social transformation offers valuable perspectives on how organisations can foster sustainable growth, embrace innovation and create meaningful impact.

About FADA Academy

FADA Academy is the learning and leadership initiative of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), focused on strengthening the capabilities of India's automobile dealership ecosystem through executive education, leadership development, industry knowledge and future-ready skills.

Through its programmes and partnerships, FADA Academy aims to create a continuous learning ecosystem for Dealer Principals, senior leaders and the next generation of automotive retail professionals. Its vision is to empower automotive retail leaders to build stronger, more innovative and future-ready businesses while contributing to the overall growth and transformation of the Indian automobile retail industry.