AiCT Consortium to Hold 5th and 6th Leadership Quest - Ignite - Programs in 2026

The AiCT Consortium, based in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, announced that it will hold the 5th and 6th editions of Leadership Quest - Ignite - (LQI), a cross-industry exchange and boundary-crossing learning program for managers and future management candidates. The 5th cohort begins on July 2, 2026, and the 6th cohort begins on October 15, 2026. LQI is a leadership development program set in Aizuwakamatsu. It aims to develop people who can respond to business environments rapidly reshaped by generative AI, form hypotheses for problems without clear answers, drive testing and execution, and lead and inspire others through practical action. The program draws inspiration from the spirit of Nisshinkan, the former Aizu domain academy, and is designed as a gateway for leaders. Through an off-site, two-night, three-day experience in Aizuwakamatsu, participants are encouraged to ignite change in themselves and their organizations before returning to their daily work. The curriculum includes dialogue across industries and generations without relying on job titles, relationship-building through systems coaching, visualization and structuring of abstract issues using methods such as LEGO SERIOUS PLAY, and hands-on work on real challenges from the front lines of Aizuwakamatsu’s smart city initiatives. Both cohorts run for about two months. DAY0 and DAY4 are held online, while DAY1 to DAY3 take place on site in Aizuwakamatsu. The program targets managers, future managers, and people seeking to improve problem-solving and decision-making skills. Capacity is 24 participants. Fees are JPY 100,000 including tax for AiCT members and JPY 200,000 including tax for general participants, excluding accommodation, transportation, and meals. Applications close on June 5, 2026, for the 5th cohort and September 18, 2026, for the 6th cohort, with registration closing once capacity is reached. AiCT Consortium is a smart city organization based in Aizuwakamatsu with more than 90 member companies and organizations. It originated from industry-academia-government collaboration among Aizuwakamatsu City, the University of Aizu, Accenture, and others following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Accenture supports LQI as part of its corporate citizenship activities, contributing to program concept development, teaching materials, curriculum design, operations, and facilitation.