MUMBAI: The Group Diversity Council at the Mahindra Group is introducing its first Women Leaders Program (WLP) aimed at advancement of women in the middle management.The programme consists of a professional development journey spanning 18 months and has been designed to help participants develop competencies required to advance into future leadership positions.The initiative aims to address the crucial problem that corporations face of losing high potential women at the mid-career stage when many of them veer off leadership track due to work-life concerns, perceived lack of fit or other factors.The programme consists of classroom learning in collaboration between Academy of Leadership Development under the aegis of Mahindra Leadership University and SP Jain Institute of Management & Research. It will give women in mid-management access to mentors and coaches for personalised guidance and development, instructor-led training, webinars and e-learning modules as interventions to supplement class room learning, mentor orientation, manager sensitization and coach alignment workshops to connect and align the education and experience journey, and networking opportunities with internal and external role models including women leaders.“Diversity of thought, ideas and viewpoints is core to the Mahindra Group’s DNA. Flowing from this philosophy, the Women Leaders Program is a strategic component of our efforts to create a diverse and balanced workforce that will truly represent the increasingly varied communities and markets we serve,” said Anita Arjundas, president, real estate sector and chairperson, group diversity council, Mahindra Group.“The Women Leaders Program will help talented women in the organisation transcend perceived limitations and achieve their full potential,” added Prince Augustin, EVP, group human capital and leadership development, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.The Group Diversity Council (GDC) was established in 2012, as part of a structured, conscious approach to enhancing diversity within the organization, while maintaining a business connect with measurable outcomes. Gender diversity is a key focus area for the GDC, which is committed to creating an inclusive ecosystem that supports and encourages women to reach senior leadership positions across Mahindra Group companies. The Mahindra Group Diversity Council has representation from different sectors within the Group, different generations and leadership levels.“The program is unique and distinguishes itself from other similar programs in synthesizing current contemporary tools integrating knowledge with real time life experience to build competencies in managing life, teams and business challenges in an ever changing VUCA environment,” said Ranjan Banerjee, director, SP Jain Institute of Management & Research.