afaqs! news bureau
Media

The Economic Times launches an initiative for young corporates

The business daily from the stable of BCCL has started an initiative to fast-track promising careers of young executives.

The Economic Times has launched The Economic Times Young Leaders programme, an initiative to recognise the leadership potential among young executives in the country. The initiative will aim to fast-track the careers of 50 young executives.

The media house has partnered with SHL Plc, a leadership competency assessment player and the Indian School of Business, a management school.

The Economic Times launches an initiative for young corporates
"This is the first time that a list will be created for the young and bright stars in the age-band of 26-32 years. It will encourage a culture of excellence in leadership at all levels of India Inc. This initiative will provide a forum for young managers to test themselves against their peers and showcase their ability at a level that is unprecedented," says a company official on the reason behind starting the campaign.

The executives will be put through an evaluation process, encompassing a series of offline and online assessment tests conducted by SHL. The areas in which these candidates will be assessed will include their core leadership competencies.

Corporate executives in the age group between 26-32 years are eligible for the competition.

The campaign is divided into phases, wherein during the first phase, all candidates will undergo a psychometric test called Quicksift, a quick test that provides a standardised screening process to sift and shortlist large numbers of candidates at the first stage of the selection process and provides a quick and efficient means of measuring candidates against essential job competencies.

In the second phase of the initiative, the shortlisted candidates will take two online tests: OPQ and Verify. OPQ is a personality assessment test that measures aspects of behaviour crucial to performance potential and that cannot easily be identified by other techniques, such as reading CVs and interviewing. Verify is a complete solution that includes a unique combination of ability tests, security measures and a scientific verification process.

Phase 3 of the campaign will include the shortlisted candidates from Phase 2 to undergo an on-ground assessment process which will be done at pre-decided assessment centres across key cities. Each group will go through group tasks and role plays.

The last phase of the campaign will see the finalists being interviewed by senior leaders of India Inc., including Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director, Mahindra & Mahindra, D Shivakumar, managing director and vice-president, Nokia India, Harsh Mariwala, chairman, Marico, Kalpana Morparia, executive director, ICICI Bank, Nitin Paranjpe, CEO, Hindustan Unilever, Pramod Bhasin, president and CEO, Genpact, Vineet Nayar, CEO, HCL Technologies, and Adil Zainulbhai, managing director, McKinsey & Company India. These industry stalwarts will then select candidates who will attend an all-expenses paid short-term executive programme at the Indian School of Business.

The group is promoting the initiative through its publications, apart from using OOH media at strategic locations like airports, Delhi Metro, corporate parks, and Costa Coffee and Café Coffee Day outlets.

Have news to share? Write to us atnewsteam@afaqs.com