The first-ever Indian Institute of Management was established in Calcutta in 1961 as a part of an ambitious plan to introduce management education in India. Initially set up with the help of a Ford Foundation grant, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, the Institute gradually struck out on its own and soon became instrumental in defining and structuring management education in the country.

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, incorporated on November 14, 1961, began functioning in April 1962 at the historic nineteenth-century mansion of Emerald Bower. To commemorate this significant event, every year on November 14, Foundation Day is celebrated, and dignitaries are invited to deliver talks addressing the IIM Calcutta community.

Dr Sam Pitroda: Chairman, National Innovation Council and Advisor to the Prime Minister of India. November 15, 2013

Mr H. K. Mittal: Head, National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board and Member, Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship. November 14, 2014

Mr Roopen Roy: Founder and CEO, Sumantrana Management Consultants LLP, Former MD Deloitte Consulting & Price Water House Coopers Pvt. Ltd. November 16, 2015

Mr Kunal Bahl: Co-founder and CEO, Snapdeal. November 14, 2016

Shri Ajit Balakrishnan: Chairman and CEO, Rediff.com, and former Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIM Calcutta. November 14, 2017. Topic: Preparing Management Schools for the Information Age

Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola: Chairman & Managing Director, Air India. November 14, 2018

Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar: Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal. November 14, 2019

Shri Amolak Rattan Kohli: Hon'ble Former Governor of Mizoram. November 17, 2020

Professor Dipesh Chakraborty: Lawrence A. Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor in History at the University of Chicago. November 14, 2021. Topic: 'BUSINESS EDUCATION IN THE ANTHROPOCENE: SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR TIMES'.

Mr Shyam Srinivasan: Managing Director & CEO, Federal Bank November 14, 2022. Topic: Horsepower, Not Tailwinds