13 students from Bengaluru and Pune recently attended the 2025 Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) Leadership Challenge Academy, a week-long immersive STEM and leadership program hosted at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Through this program, students gained rare access to hands-on aerospace and engineering experiences, participating in real-world astronaut training simulations, rocket design and launches, multi-axis and lunar gravity exercises and mission control-style leadership challenges. These activities were designed to spark interest in high-demand careers across aerospace, robotics and advanced manufacturing, helping students connect their passion for science and technology to future professions.
Now in its 15th year, the program brings together more than 250 students from over 40 countries and 20 U.S. states and territories. Participants are selected through a competitive application process and represent both children of Honeywell employees and students from community-based nonprofit partners around the world.
This year, Honeywell, India was proud to support 13 students from Bengaluru and Pune, reinforcing Honeywell’s belief that investing in youth education is critical to ignite passion for STEM and create the next generation of Futureshapers.
Since its inception in 2010, the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy has impacted nearly 3,000 students worldwide, offering a powerful platform for high-achieving teens to grow their confidence, develop cross-cultural leadership skills and envision their place in the global workforce.
“As STEM occupations continue to outpace other job sectors, Honeywell views programs like this as essential to building the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators,” said Arppna Mehra, VP Human Resource, Honeywell India. “By investing in students early, through immersive, global experiences that build both technical and leadership skills, Honeywell is shaping a more inclusive and competitive workforce for tomorrow.”
“The Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy was a transformative experience — blending learning, hands-on challenges, and global teamwork. I also had the opportunity to meet students from all over the world, which helped me appreciate different perspectives. The guidance and insights from the experts were incredibly inspiring and motivated me to explore new areas in science and technology that I hadn’t considered before. Participating in the academy has truly shaped the way I see my future and the opportunities ahead of me,” said Neo Bardeskar a student from Bengaluru, India.
“Being part of the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy was nothing short of incredible. The mix of science, technology and leadership exercises taught me how important collaboration and creativity are in solving real-world problems. Interacting with students from different countries showed me how diverse ideas can come together to create powerful solutions. This program has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to dream bigger,” said Mahika Gudimetla, a student from Bengaluru, India
