- India’s largest energy major and the country’s premier strategic communications institute join hands to future-proof leadership
- Five-day immersive programme equips IOCL managers with crisis, ESG and digital storytelling mastery
- From boardroom to public square, branding shifts from visibility to credibility and trust
- Programmes place employees at the heart of brand advocacy and reputation building
- A blueprint for responsible communication in India’s fast-evolving energy ecosystem
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JAN 23
In a significant step toward redefining leadership communication in India’s energy sector, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has partnered with MICA, Ahmedabad, to launch “Brand Masters”, a specialised Management Development Program designed to prepare managers for the complex branding, reputation and stakeholder challenges of the future.
Hosted at MICA’s Ahmedabad campus, the five-day residential programme brings together IOCL managers for an intensive learning experience focused on strategic brand thinking, leadership communication, crisis preparedness and digital storytelling in high-impact, regulated environments. The first batch commenced this week, with a second cohort scheduled in the coming weeks.
Going well beyond conventional marketing frameworks, Brand Masters addresses the unique communication imperatives of the energy sector, including ESG narratives, regulatory sensitivity, digital transformation and public trust management. By blending MICA’s globally recognised academic expertise with IOCL’s vast operational scale and public responsibility, the programme aims to shape managers into confident, future-ready communicators.
“Branding today extends far beyond visibility—it is about creating emotional resonance while remaining aligned with organizational objectives,” said Professor Dr Falguni Vasavada Oza, Lead, Learning Management Development Programs (LDMP), MICA, who is leading sessions on campaign design, regulatory frameworks and strategic evaluation.
“Through Brand Masters, we are enabling IOCL’s leaders to design communication initiatives that are creative, measurable, and grounded in the realities of the energy sector.”
A defining pillar of the programme is its strong emphasis on internal communication and employee engagement, recognising employees as the most credible ambassadors of an organisation’s brand. Specialised sessions focus on internal storytelling, safety communication and organisational alignment, ensuring IOCL’s purpose and values resonate consistently across all levels.
“Effective communication must work from the inside out,” said Professor Dr Ruchi Tewari, CMO, MICA, who leads modules on internal branding and employee engagement.
“By focusing on storytelling for internal motivation, we help managers connect teams with IOCL’s broader mission. The program is structured to deliver practical, actionable insights drawn directly from real-world energy sector challenges.”
Program Highlights
- Duration: Five-day residential programme; two batches scheduled in January and February 2026
- Key Focus Areas: Crisis communication, media relations, digital marketing analytics, ESG narratives, AI and emerging technologies
- Experiential Learning: Hands-on workshops on campaign planning, marketing brief development, public speaking and video storytelling
- Industry Integration: Concluding sessions led by IOCL’s in-house experts on corporate communication policies to ensure organisational alignment
As India’s energy ecosystem undergoes rapid transformation, the Brand Masters programme underscores IOCL’s commitment to leadership excellence and responsible communication. By investing in the strategic communication capabilities of its managers, IOCL aims to ensure that the narrative of India’s energy future is articulated with clarity, credibility and purpose—across boardrooms, communities and digital platforms alike.
