Admissions
Curriculum
Faculty
Alumni
Placements
Life at ISDM

Becoming A
Development Leader

From understanding systems to leading responsible and meaningful change within them

Apply Now

Curriculum

PGP-DM integrates three dimensions of leadership development: Knowing, Doing, Being.

Development and Business Management Fundamentals
Learn More
Learn More
Development and Business Management Fundamentals
Learn More
Learn More
Integrate development perspectives with essential business and management skills for leading social purpose organisations
Personal Mastery For
Development Leadership
Learn More
Learn More
Personal Mastery For
Development Leadership
Learn More
Learn More
Build self-awareness, resilience and leadership presence to work effectively in challenging contexts
Writing In The
Discipline
Learn More
Learn More
Writing In The
Discipline
Learn More
Learn More
Strengthen the ability to communicate ideas clearly, ethically and persuasively within the context of the development sector
Context-Based
Collaborative Learning
Learn More
Learn More
Context-Based
Collaborative Learning
Learn More
Learn More
Apply classroom learning to real-world contexts through structured group engagement, reflection and mentorship
Specially Designed
Workshops
Learn More
Learn More
Specially Designed
Workshops
Learn More
Learn More
Access future-focused, practice-oriented sessions on networks, partnerships, fundraising and organisational effectiveness
Realising India
Immersion
Learn More
Learn More
Realising India
Immersion
Learn More
Learn More
Experience India’s development realities through a field-based immersion that builds humility and context-sensitive leadership

Curriculum Structure

The 11-month program is spread over eight terms.
Courses are organised into six broad clusters.

Terms 1–2
Understanding Development

The opening terms ground students in a rigorous understanding of the development sector—its history and evolution, its institutions, constraints and contradictions.

2-Week Immersion
Realising
India

This immersion places students directly within district-level realities, encouraging close engagement with communities, institutions and lived experiences.

Term 3
Designing Interventions

Students learn to frame problems carefully, design context-sensitive interventions and learn to visualize the ripple effects of change.

Terms 4-8
Management Practice

In the final phase of the program, students engage with both the what and the how of management, while developing the judgement required to adapt tools and frameworks.

 Download Term-Wise Curriculum

Pedagogy

The teaching–learning process combines lectures, case discussions, workshops, readings, group work, and individual assignments.

A core pillar is Context-Based Collaborative Learning (CBCL), where students apply knowledge to real contexts, working in groups to analyse organisational challenges and reflect on how ideas hold up in practice. This journey is supported by Bricoleurs—learning mentors who work closely with students to deepen inquiry, reflection and collective sense-making.

Apply Now

Assessment That Supports Learning

Assessment in the PGP-DM is designed to reinforce learning. Student learning is assessed through a combination of:

Individual and Group Assignments

Encourage applied learning, collaboration and the ability to translate concepts into real-world contexts

Peer Assessment

Build accountability, reflection, and the capacity to give and receive constructive feedback within teams

End-Term Examinations

Assess conceptual clarity and the ability to synthesise and apply learning comprehensively

Quizzes and Tests

Reinforce continuous engagement with course material and strengthen foundational understanding

Classroom Participation

Cultivate thoughtful contribution, active listening and engagement in collective learning

Interactive sessions with eminent speakers and sector leaders that encourage debate, reflection and learning from lived practice

Live Sessions

Self-paced courses on Harvard Business Review’s digital learning platform, covering topics such as team creation, budgeting and negotiation

Harvard Manage Mentor Courses

Future-focused workshops on networks, partnerships and alliances for scale, knowledge management systems, and fundraising

Curated Workshops

A final-term project with social purpose organisations focused on scale and sustainability, integrating learning into a viable growth strategy

Capstone Project

Mentorship Program

ISDM students are mentored by a select group of experienced professionals holding senior leadership positions across industries and domains. These interactions are centered on making sound professional choices, providing sustained guidance and enhancing the students' experience throughout the.

Beyond the classroom, the mentorship program extends learning into the professional journey of each student. It is designed to offer structured support, perspective and access as students navigate the development sector.

Benefits

Facilitate sector-specific support and enable informed decision-making

Hone leadership potential through structured, tailored engagement with professionals

Provide a scaffolding of networks and build capacities of SPOs to nurture leaders for sustainable and scalable social impact

Enable effective leadership transition and opportunities for job creation

Cultivate a co-learning culture within the sector

Meet The Academic Team

In addition to faculty, the program is supported by a wider academic and practitioner community that strengthens the depth, relevance and continuity of the learning experience.

Dr Maitrayee Mukerji
Faculty & Bricoleur
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maitrayee-mukerji-a18a6922

Dr Mukerji is a bricoleur and faculty at the Indian School of Development Management. She has over twenty years of work experience, including four in the software industry and twelve years of teaching courses on Information Systems, Data Science and Business Analytics, Public Policy, and General Management. Prior to ISDM, she taught at the Central University of Gujarat, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, and the Indian Institute of Management Kashipur.

‍

Her doctoral dissertation looked at the pattern of access and use of telecentres by households in rural India, drawing implications for policy and practice. It is published as a book titled ICTs and Development: A Study of Telecentres in Rural India, by Palgrave Macmillan (UK) 2013. Her research on Digital Platforms and the Digital Divide is published in the Australasian Journal of Information Systems, Information Technology and Development, and Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries. Her current research interests include organisational and societal level changes brought about by data and technology.

‍

Education: Alumnus of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), India; Doctoral degree (PhD)

‍

Courses taught:

  1. Mathematics
  2. Introduction to Development Management
  3. Data Management for Development

‍

Dr Naghma Abidi
Director, Academics PGP-DM; Faculty And Bricoleur
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naghma-abidi-418b2a15

Dr Abidi has approximately 25 years of experience of working and consulting with Social Purpose Organisations and teaching at reputed institutions. Currently, she is part of the founding team and board of Rubaroo, Hyderabad, Trustee of Had Anhad, Indore, and Director, Social Synergy Foundation, Mumbai. The first two organisations work with adolescents and young people to empower them to be active citizens, whereas the Social Synergy Foundation works with small and medium-sized non-profits in India.

‍

Her field experience has strengthened her teaching both graduate and post graduate students in the Delhi School of Social Work, School of Planning & Architecture, Ambedkar University and University of Pittsburgh. Her forte is designing and facilitating learning experiences. Through her work with Pravah, she has mentored many young people and youth-led organisations across nations.

‍

Education: Clinical Psychology; Applied Development Psychology; Doctorate in Psychology from Ambedkar University, Delhi

‍

Courses Taught:

  1. Context Based Collaborative Learning
  2. Introduction to Development Management

‍

Dr Priyanka Chhaparia
Faculty And Bricoleur
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanka-chhaparia

Dr Priyanka Chhaparia is a committed advocate for responsible business, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development. Her academic journey includes a Bachelor's in Economics, a Master's in Development Studies, and a PhD from IIT Kanpur. Her doctoral thesis focused on qualitative inquiry into the CSR initiatives of pharmaceutical foundations.

‍

She has designed and taught various courses, with a focus on sustainable development. She has contributed to various national and international projects with organizations like UNICEF and IDRC, focusing on business ethics, responsible supply chains, and the apparel and textile sector.

‍

Education: Bachelors in Economics; Masters in Development Studies; PhD from IIT Kanpur

‍

Courses taught:

  1. Research Methods
  2. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

‍

Mariyam Hisam Siddiqui
Manager, Programs, ISDM; Faculty
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariyam-siddiqui-80214881/

Mariyam Hisam Siddiqui is an experienced educator and social worker with seven years of experience designing and implementing programs for children, youth, and women. She discovered her passion for social impact early in life and has since dedicated herself to advancing meaningful community-based initiatives.

‍

An alumna of La Martiniere Girls’ College, Lucknow, she combines academic grounding with creative engagement. A theatre enthusiast, she conducts theatre workshops for people of all ages and enjoys reading, watching films, and travelling to explore new places.

‍

Education: B.A. (Honours) in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi; Master’s in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia.

‍

Mona Kothari Dikshit
Associate Academic Director, PGP-DM; Faculty And Bricoleur
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mona-dikshit-0a2b07292

Mona Kothari Dikshit is an Associate Academic Director at the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), Noida. She has worked for 20+ years as a grassroot practitioner in the domains of rural livelihoods promotion, microfinance, promotion of community-based organisations (SHGs, Cooperatives, Farmer and craft-based Producer Organisations,) and NGOs. She has been/is Board Member of some reputed NGOs. The BASIX Social Enterprise Group, Swiss Development Cooperation, NDDB/TANCOF and Sewa Mandir are the organisations where she has been employed; working mainly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and UP.

‍

She is an experienced trainer and facilitator for development of community organisations, and youth leadership development. Mona has done major consulting assignments with national and international agencies namely TRIFED, FICCI, Tata Trust, Central Tibetan Authority, RGICS, World Bank, UNDP and JICA. She also ventured two years in fulltime private practice as a biodiversity farmer-entrepreneur.

‍

Education: Postgraduate from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Gujarat

‍

Courses taught:

  1. Strategy for SPOs
  2. Scale and Sustainability

‍

Prof. LS Murthy
Dean, ISDM
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ls-murty-50314b2

Prof. LS Murthy is an accomplished operations management professional specialising in operations planning and strategy. With a strong passion for teaching methodologies and problem-solving approaches, he has made significant contributions to academia through developing and overseeing executive-level management programs and teaching at Master’s and Doctoral levels.

‍

He has been associated with leading institutions including IIM Bangalore, IIM Nagpur, IIM Visakhapatnam, XIM Bhubaneswar, and XLRI Jamshedpur, where he has taught and held leadership positions. Combining technical and managerial expertise, he brings deep academic and professional experience to his role.

‍

Education: Degree in Mechanical Engineering; Alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad.

‍

Courses taught:

  1. Case Study - World Tailors: Stitching together a plan for growth
  2. Operations Management
Simrita Kaur
Bricoleur & Faculty
View Profile
View Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simrita-kaur-takhtar-68a238130

Simrita Kaur is a Bricoleur at ISDM and has worked as a teacher, trainer and an education consultant over a decade and half long career. She enjoys creating and designing learning opportunities for different kinds of learners. Simrita has taught history, social and political life to middle and secondary schoolers. She has trained teachers and school leaders; and has worked extensively with stakeholders across the Education sector.

‍

She is adept at developing, implementing, and monitoring curriculum interventions, and has consulted with Vikramshila Education Resource Society, Gubbachi Learning Community, Guardians of Dreams, and Language and Learning Foundation as a curriculum and subject matter expert. She has also authored learning documents and strategy notes on implementing the NIPUN Bharat mission for state governments.

‍

Education: Masters in History from Delhi University; Masters in Education from Azim Premji University

SUBMIT ENQUIRY

Fill in your information to learn more. Our team will be in 
touch with more details.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
FACULTY

Shantanu Tiwari Roderrizo

Founder, Boards4Change

Naghma has approximately 25 years of experience of working and consulting with Social Purpose Organisations and teaching at reputed institutions. Currently, she is part of the founding team and board of Rubaroo, Hyderabad, Trustee of Had Anhad, Indore, and Director, Social Synergy Foundation, Mumbai. The first two organisations work with adolescents and young people to empower them to be active citizens, whereas the Social Synergy Foundation works with small and medium - sized non-profits in India.Her field experience has strengthened her teaching both graduate and post graduate students in the Delhi School of Social Work, School of Planning & Architecture, Ambedkar University and University of Pittsburgh. Her forte is designing and facilitating learning experiences. Through her work with Pravah, she has mentored many young people and youth-led organisations across nations. She holds degrees in Clinical Psychology and Applied Development Psychology and doctorate in Psychology from Ambedkar University, Delhi