IIFT New Delhi to Host 15th Indian Management Conclave 2025 on September 25-26; Spotlight on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in B-Schools

Before we reveal the Conclave theme and key highlights, here is a brief overview. 

Before discussing theme and key highlights, it is important to revisit the context of this landmark initiative. Established in 2010 and organized annually by MBAUniverse.com in collaboration with India’s leading business schools and knowledge partners, the Indian Management Conclave (IMC) has become the country’s definitive platform on management education. Each year, a premier institution hosts the Conclave, with past editions held at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, ISB Hyderabad and other top institutions. The two-day forum convenes more than 200 academic leaders from top universities and business schools, alongside policy makers and industry executives. Its agenda features keynote addresses, plenary sessions, the IMC Roundtable, the IMC International Research Conference, and the IMC Awards for Excellence in Management Education, making it a unique meeting point for dialogue, research, and best practices in Indian management education.

IMC 2025 Theme 
Each year, the Indian Management Conclave selects a theme aligned with the evolving needs of business and management education. In 2023, the focus was on business value creation in the age of disruption, highlighting how technology-driven sectors such as IT, consulting, and BFSI accounted for over 75 percent of placements in India’s top 50 B-schools. The 2024 theme, reshaping MBA programs through contemporary roles and competencies, spotlighted the growing demand for roles like business analyst, risk analyst, and tax consultant, while underlining the new competencies and skill sets required to thrive in these positions.

With advanced GenAI models such as ChatGPT and Gemini, AI adoption is reshaping global businesses and higher education. By July 2025, ChatGPT alone had 800 million weekly users, with India contributing 10 percent. According to McKinsey, more than 75 percent of businesses now deploy AI, reporting measurable productivity gains. Leading global business schools, including Wharton and MIT Sloan, are embedding AI across teaching, research, and operations. In India, while several initiatives are underway, evidence remains scattered and largely anecdotal. Against this backdrop, IMC 2025 will explore this mega trend with the theme: “Leveraging AI in Business and B-Schools to Enhance Competitiveness.” 

Key Conclave Highlights
The two-day 15th IMC 2025 at IIFT New Delhi will bring together leaders from policy, business, and academia to deliberate on the theme through following sessions:

• Keynotes and Plenary Sessions: Addresses by policymakers, corporate leaders, and global AI experts on the transformative role of AI in business and education. Full list of IMC Speakers will be releasing soon. 
• IMC Roundtable: A high-level dialogue among vice chancellors, directors, and deans on embedding AI in Indian B-schools.
• IMC International Research Conference 2025: Presentation of peer-reviewed research from leading institutions on leveraging AI in MBA curriculum and pedagogy, quality assurance, and competency development.
• IMC Awards for Excellence in Management Education 2025: Recognition of best practices where Indian B-schools are leveraging AI across curriculum, pedagogy, placements, and administration.

IIFT New Delhi: The Eminent Host of IMC 2025
Each year, the Indian Management Conclave (IMC) is hosted by a leading management institution. For 15th IMC 2025, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) New Delhi has kindly accepted to be the Partner and Host Institution. 

Established in 1963 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, IIFT was envisioned to build managerial and policy-making capacity for India’s external trade sector. In 2002, IIFT was conferred the status of a Deemed to be University, enhancing its stature as one of the country’s top B-schools.

IIFT has a strong national and international footprint, with campuses in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), and expansion underway with new campuses in Dubai and GIFT City (Gujarat). With its strong academic legacy, global orientation, and government patronage, IIFT is uniquely positioned to host the 15th Indian Management Conclave and contribute meaningfully to its journey and legacy.

IMC Past Hosts: India’s top management institutions
IIFT joins the ranks of India’s leading management institutions that have hosted the Indian Management Conclave (IMC) and shared their expertise with academic leaders from almost all progressive B-schools and universities across the country, who regularly attend the conference.

The first five editions of IMC were held at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi. The 6th IMC, in 2015, marked a new chapter as the first edition hosted by a management institution—Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. Keynote speakers included Mr. Dilip Shanghvi, Managing Director, Sun Pharmaceutical, with ISB’s former Dean, Prof. Ajit Rangnekar, leading the discussions.

In 2016, IIM Ahmedabad hosted the 7th IMC at its iconic Ravi Mathai Auditorium. Keynote speakers included Mr. R. S. Sodhi, former Managing Director, GCMMF (Amul). IIM Ahmedabad’s former Director, Dr. Ashish Nanda, and former Dean, Dr. Arvind Sahay (currently Director, MDI Gurgaon), guided the deliberations. IIM Lucknow hosted the 8th IMC in 2017 at its Noida campus, with Mr. Raman Roy, former Chairman of NASSCOM, as a keynote speaker. The discussions were led by IIM Lucknow’s former Director, late Dr. Ajit Prasad.

The conference moved to South India in 2018 when IIM Bangalore hosted the 9th IMC. Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Jikyeong Kang, President and Dean, Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Manila, and Dr. Scott DeRue, former Dean, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. The discussions were steered by IIM Bangalore’s former Director, Dr. G. Raghuram, along with Deans Dr. P. D. Jose and Dr. Sourav Mukherjee.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, IMC returned to New Delhi in August 2019, with Hon’ble Former President of India, late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, gracing the occasion as Chief Guest.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 11th edition of IMC was delayed by more than a year. It returned in December 2021, with MDI Gurgaon as the host. Keynote speakers included Shri C. P. Gurnani, former MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra. Discussions were led by MDI’s former Director, Dr. Rajesh Chakrabarti, and Prof. Sangeeta Bharadwaj, Dean and former Director, MDI Gurgaon.

IIM Kozhikode hosted the 12th IMC in December 2022. Hon’ble Former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, was the Chief Guest and presented the IMC Awards 2022 to the winners. Keynote speakers included Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and MD, Nestlé India, and Mr. Shyam Srinivasan, former MD & CEO, Federal Bank. The conference was led by IIM Kozhikode Director, Dr. Debashis Chatterjee.

SPJIMR Mumbai hosted the 13th IMC in 2023. Keynote speakers included Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Limited; and Dr. Keryn Chalmers, President, Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC). The conference was led by SPJIMR Dean, Dr. Varun Nagaraj.

XLRI Jamshedpur hosted the 14th IMC in 2024. Keynote speakers included Mr. Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India & South Asia, and Ms. Atrayee S. Sanyal, Vice President HRM, Tata Steel. The discussions were led by XLRI Director, Fr. Sebastian George, S.J., and Dean, Dr. Sanjay Patro.

Delegate registration for the 15th IMC 2025 is now open. Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for updates on this landmark edition.