ISB GCC Leadership Lab 2026

About the ISB GCC Leadership Lab

India’s Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are playing an increasingly strategic role in enterprise innovation, transformation, talent development and value creation. As their mandates evolve, GCC leaders are expected to move beyond operational excellence to influence enterprise strategy, strengthen global partnerships and lead organisational transformation.

The ISB GCC Leadership Lab has been conceived as a research-led initiative to examine this evolving leadership landscape. Bringing together leading GCC practitioners and ISB faculty, the initiative seeks to identify the leadership capabilities, organisational enablers and emerging practices that define enterprise-wide leadership in the GCC context.

Through structured discussions and practitioner-led enquiry, the Leadership Lab aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how GCCs can strengthen their strategic role within global enterprises.

Programme Overview

The ISB GCC Leadership Lab comprises two distinct but connected components.

1.  Leadership Lab | Invitation Only | Morning

A closed-door, faculty-moderated working forum bringing together approximately 18–20 invited GCC CEOs, Country Heads, Location Heads and senior functional leaders.
Participants will engage in structured roundtable discussions across three areas of enquiry:

• Leadership Competencies
• Organisational Enablers
• Emerging Practices & Challenges

Insights emerging from these discussions will be synthesised into a shared leadership perspective that will inform ISB’s ongoing research and thought leadership.

2.  Leadership Dialogue | Open for Registration | Afternoon

The Leadership Dialogue extends the conversation to a wider community of experienced professionals from the GCC ecosystem.

Leaders who participated in the morning Leadership Lab will present the key themes and insights emerging from their discussions, followed by a faculty-moderated dialogue and audience interaction.

Rather than a conventional conference, the Leadership Dialogue offers an opportunity to engage with emerging ideas, contribute perspectives and participate in a meaningful discussion on the future of GCC leadership.

Why Attend The Leadership Dialogue?

Participating in the Leadership Dialogue offers an opportunity to:

• Hear directly from leading GCC CEOs and senior enterprise leaders.
• Gain insights into the leadership capabilities shaping the future of GCCs.
• Engage with discussions informed by both academic enquiry and practitioner experience.
• Exchange perspectives with peers from across India’s GCC ecosystem.
• Contribute to a dialogue that will inform future leadership practice and thought leadership.

Who Should Register?

The Leadership Dialogue is intended for professionals working in Global Capability Centres with 10+ years of professional experience, including:

• Senior leaders and managers working in GCCs
• ISB alumni working in GCCs

Expected Outcomes

The discussions emerging from the Leadership Lab will contribute to three key knowledge outputs:

• ISB GCC Leadership White Paper: A research-informed synthesis of practitioner perspectives on enterprise leadership within GCCs.
• GCC Leadership Competency Framework: A framework identifying the competencies and behaviours that distinguish enterprise-wide GCC leaders.
• Enterprise Leadership Agenda: A set of strategic priorities for strengthening the contribution of GCCs to long-term enterprise value.

Registration

There is no participation fee. While we encourage you to register, participation is subject to confirmation based on available seats and eligibility. Selected participants will receive a confirmation email.

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026 
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm