Opportunity brief
Overview
Thousands of students say they're ready to lead. This year, ISB is putting that to the test.
This isn't a fest. It's a closed-door, invite-only gathering, and the only way in is through the ISB Leadership Challenge, a national selection process open to students at India's top institutes.
Only a small percentage of applicants will make it through the National Screener. Fewer will be confirmed as delegates.
What Is the ISB Leadership Summit (ILS)?
ILS is the flagship annual leadership conclave of the Indian School of Business. It is a premier platform where global leaders, industry pioneers, policymakers and change-makers engage with the ISB community on pressing business challenges, emerging trends and future-ready strategies. Since its inception, the summit has hosted CEOs, founders and thought leaders from across sectors, giving students and participants unmatched insight into leadership, innovation and the evolving global business landscape.
Past editions have hosted Dr. Manmohan Singh, Narayana Murthy, Adi Godrej, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Karan Johar, and Abhishek Bachchan, among others.
This is the first time ILS is opening its doors to students pan-India.
The Process
- Register (Round 1): Sign up to enter the ISB Leadership Challenge.
- National Screener (Round 2): A timed, scenario-based round testing real-world leadership and judgment calls. Only a select group advances to the next round.
- The Proof Round (Round 3): Once you clear Round 2, you'll complete one final task: a 60-second video showing us why leadership matters to you.
Entry to ILS! Selected delegates get to attend ILS 2026 at the ISB Hyderabad campus and receive a verified ISB Leadership Summit 2026 certificate at the event, along with other exciting opportunities like:
- Taking a shot at winning the on-campus Delegate's Challenge
- Showing up on the byline in ISB's official post-summit report
- Featuring on ISB's official channels
Who Can Apply
Open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students at India's leading institutes. Up to 3 delegates are selected per institute. Every applicant is screened and selected entirely on individual merit.