The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter has launched ‘IAA Leadership Unscripted’, a new leadership dialogue series designed to facilitate conversations around the challenges and opportunities shaping modern business leadership.
Introduced as a flagship initiative in the lead-up to the IAA Leadership Awards, the series will feature discussions with globally recognised thinkers and business leaders on topics including disruption, uncertainty, organisational resilience, sustained performance and decision-making in complex operating environments.
The inaugural edition of ‘IAA Leadership Unscripted’ was held in Mumbai on 5 June and featured Dr Ram Charan, the globally recognised author and advisor to chief executives and corporate boards. The session brought together senior leaders from across industries to discuss leadership strategies in an increasingly volatile and rapidly evolving business landscape.
Addressing attendees, Charan said, “True leadership begins with defining reality exactly as it is, not as we wish it to be. In a rapidly changing world, the traditional timelines for strategy are shrinking, and the old metrics are being challenged. This session with the IAA is a critical opportunity to discuss the hands-on execution playbooks detailed in China's 90% Model—focusing on how companies can stay agile, anticipate market disruptions, and successfully navigate complex economic crosscurrents.”
The launch of the series reflects the IAA’s efforts to expand conversations beyond advertising and marketing, addressing broader leadership and business issues that increasingly influence organisations and industries. The platform aims to provide senior executives with opportunities to exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges and gain perspectives from global experts.
Nandini Dias, chairperson – IAA Leadership Awards and IAA Leadership Unscripted, said: “For years, the IAA Leadership Awards have celebrated visionaries who transform businesses and inspire lasting impact. With the launch of IAA Leadership Unscripted, we are building on that legacy by establishing a platform explicitly designed for candid, unfiltered conversations around the evolution of leadership itself. At a time when disruption is constant, and change is accelerating, leadership is increasingly defined by resilience, reinvention and readiness—the ability to continuously evolve, anticipate shifts, and lead with confidence through uncertainty. Having a global authority like Dr Ram Charan headline our inaugural edition allows us to confront the highly provocative, real-world challenges modern leaders face. Our goal is to bring industry captains together to spark disruptive ideas, foster deeply meaningful dialogue, strengthen leadership thinking, and build the strategic connections needed to navigate today’s shifting global landscape.”
The event attracted chief executive officers, managing directors, country heads, chief marketing officers and other senior business leaders, highlighting growing interest in leadership-focused forums that address challenges extending beyond traditional business functions.
For the marketing and communications industry, the initiative underscores the increasing convergence of leadership, business strategy and brand stewardship. As organisations navigate technological disruption, economic uncertainty and shifting consumer expectations, leadership capabilities are becoming an increasingly important area of focus for industry professionals.
Associate partners for the inaugural event included TVS Motor Company and Nippon India Mutual Fund.
Founded more than 80 years ago and headquartered in New York, the IAA is a global advertising trade association representing advertisers, agencies and media organisations across 76 countries. The Indian chapter is recognised for initiatives including the IAA Leadership Awards, IAA Olive Crown Awards, IndIAA Awards, IAA Voice of Change and a range of industry-focused forums and knowledge programmes.
