Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has announced admissions to the 27th batch of its Senior Management Programme. Among the early structured executive education programmes in India for senior professionals, the Senior Management Programme continues to reflect IIM Calcutta’s distinguished legacy of shaping leaders who can influence enterprise-wide direction. The programme has been designed for experienced professionals seeking to transition from functional leadership to strategic stewardship, while leading organisations through complexity, disruption, interdependence and sustained transformation.
The 12-month Senior Management Programme is designed for professionals with a minimum of 10 years of work experience who aspire to assume larger strategic responsibilities. The programme enables learners to strengthen their analytical acumen, navigate complex business environments, deepen their understanding of critical management domains and develop broader macro perspectives for high-stakes decision-making. It includes two five-day campus immersions at IIM Calcutta, offering participants the opportunity to engage closely with eminent faculty and examine contemporary leadership challenges through in-person learning. The programme is well suited for Senior Managers, General Managers, Directors, Vice Presidents, CXOs, Business Unit Heads, Team Leaders, Project Managers and Entrepreneurs.
The need for agile, strategic and technology-aware leadership has become increasingly urgent. Deloitte’s 2026 Global Human Capital Trends survey states that seven in ten business leaders identify speed and nimbleness as their primary competitive strategy over the next three years, with adaptability and effective orchestration of people and resources emerging as key drivers of success. Similarly, CII’s insights on high-demand skills transforming India’s job market highlight the growing importance of contemporary capabilities such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain and digital marketing. Together, these shifts underline the need for senior professionals to combine business judgement with technological fluency and organisational agility.
Speaking on the announcement, Prof. Vivek Rajvanshi, Professor, Finance and Control, IIM Calcutta, and Prof. Saptarshi Purkayastha, Professor, Strategic Management, IIM Calcutta, said, “Senior leadership today demands the ability to read change early, make considered choices and mobilise organisations with clarity. Through SMP, IIM Calcutta offers experienced professionals a rigorous learning environment that integrates strategy, finance, markets, governance and digital transformation, helping them move from functional proficiency to enterprise-level leadership with greater confidence.”
The previous cohorts have witnessed strong participation from senior professionals across experience levels and domains. Nearly 70 per cent of participants have had over 15 years of work experience, while approximately 30 per cent have belonged to the 10–15 years’ experience bracket. Participants have represented functions such as General Management, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing and Sales, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance and Information Technology, and have come from industries including supply chain, IT, finance, healthcare, BFSI and allied sectors.
The programme offers a comprehensive blend of contemporary perspectives and functional expertise including Governance, Market Economies, Legal, Marketing Excellence, Human Resources, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets, Competition, Strategy and Leadership. It also includes a capstone project featuring business simulation and integrated reflection from the programme, enabling participants to apply their learning, exercise independent judgement and bring creativity to complex organisational challenges.
The two immersive five-day campus visits will focus on peer learning and faculty interaction, providing participants with valuable opportunities to exchange perspectives and build meaningful networks. The Senior Management Programme blends multiple pedagogical methods, including interactive sessions, simulations, gamified learning, case discussions, role-plays and expert-led lectures. The programme will be delivered through an Interactive Learning platform in Direct-to-Device mode, ensuring that learning remains engaging, applied and closely linked to real business contexts.
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognised UGC, AICTE, AIU or DEB institution, with at least 50 per cent aggregate marks in the qualifying degree. Participants will also benefit from peer learning, interaction with programme leadership and access to IIM Calcutta Executive Education Alumni status, connecting them to a distinguished alumni network of more than 35,000 professionals. The cohort experience will enable learners to build meaningful professional relationships with senior leaders across industries, while gaining access to exclusive learning and networking opportunities.