BANGKOK, THAILAND — The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) successfully concluded the second edition of the prestigious LEADER Project, an intensive two-week entrepreneurship program hosted at the AIT Entrepreneurship Center. Held from 18 to 29 May 2026, this high-impact initiative showcased a strong international collaboration: initiated and driven by the Ivey Business School at Western University (Canada), with AIT serving as the exclusive official Site Partner in Thailand.
The program culminated on 29 May 2026 with a highly anticipated business plan pitch competition, in which participants presented their fully developed and scalable ventures to a panel of expert judges.
Founded in 1991 by visionary MBA students at Ivey Business School, the LEADER Project has evolved over more than 3 decades into an elite global economic development initiative.
The volunteer instructors—affectionately known as “LEADERites”, are exceptional students selected from Ivey’s globally recognized Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Honours Business Administration (HBA) programs, alongside accomplished alumni. This year’s team, led by Site Captain Matthew Hutchison along with Tolu Michaels, Renee Gao, and Barry Paul, brought Ivey’s world-renowned, hands-on case method approach directly to the AIT campus, challenging participants to analyse complex scenarios and think like modern CEOs.
The program commenced with an opening ceremony led by Professor Siddharth Jabade, AIT’s Vice President for Administration and Development (VPAD), who warmly welcomed the Ivey team and the incoming cohort.
“We are thrilled to welcome the LEADER Project back to AIT for its second consecutive year, marking another milestone in what we envision as a fruitful, long-term partnership between our institutions,” noted Prof. Jabade. “As the official Site Partner in Thailand, AIT is proud to provide a launchpad for Ivey’s student-led excellence. By connecting these diverse minds with world-class mentorship from Ivey’s MBA and HBA instructors, we are empowering future founders to build sustainable economic engines in their home countries.”
Bridging Ivey’s Case Method with Regional Impact: Embedded Workshops
While participants mastered business fundamentals through Ivey’s signature discussion-driven case studies, the curriculum was uniquely enriched by local expertise. To effectively connect foundational frameworks with the complex sustainability and regional realities of today’s market, the program embedded three specialized guest workshops:
- May 20: A session on social business and innovation led by Erwin Lizarondo, Social Innovation Lead, AIT Yunus Center.
- May 22: An impact-driven workshop on “Green Jobs and Just Transition” delivered by Thuong Pham (Jules) and Saddit Siuce from the Youth Digitalization for Employability and Entrepreneurship Program, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- May 27: An advanced session on business strategy and management conducted by Dr. Tobias Endress, Adjunct Faculty, AIT School of Management (SOM).
Demonstrating the immense demand for structured entrepreneurial training in the region, this year’s application process was highly competitive. From more than 80 applications received, only 30 participants were shortlisted.
Reflecting AIT’s multicultural learning ecosystem, the final cohort represented a diverse community of innovators, bringing together AIT students, local entrepreneurs, and early-stage startup founders from 15 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Liberia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Although AIT established Thailand’s first LEADER Project site in 2025, the initiative has a far- reaching global impact. Since its inception, LEADER has deployed over 850 instructors to across over 20 countries, training more than 10,000 innovators worldwide.
Reflecting on the experience, Site Captain Matthew shared his team’s enthusiasm for the Bangkok site.
“The energy and diversity of this year’s cohort at AIT are truly remarkable,” said Matthew. “Our team of MBA and HBA LEADERites was excited to utilize Ivey’s case methodology to help these 30 exceptional individuals refine their business strategies. We didn’t just come here to teach business frameworks; we came to collaborate, exchange cultural perspectives, and build a resilient network of global problem-solvers.”
The ultimate test arrived on the final day, where weeks of grueling lectures, financial modeling, and one-on-one coaching culminated in the Business Plan Pitch Competition. Eight teams confidently took the stage to demonstrate how they had transformed raw ideas into viable, scalable, and socially conscious business ventures. The business plans were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Prof. Dieter Trau, Former Director of the AIT EC and Adjunct Faculty at AIT; Mr. Bhargab Mohan Das, Founder of DN69; and Ms. Sireesha Bantu, Director of AIT Sustainable Campus, who provided valuable feedback and insights to the participating teams.
AIT extends its warmest congratulations to all the participants, the exceptional instructors from Ivey Business School, and our ecosystem partners for making the 2026 LEADER Project a resounding success. We look forward to witnessing how these newly equipped entrepreneurs shape the future of business across the region!
Edited by: Office of Communications and Public Affairs
