IESA's main building was inaugurated in 1970 in San Bernardino, Caracas, Venezuela. The then President of the Republic of Venezuela, Dr. Rafael Caldera, attended that event. The first promotion of 17 alumni of the Master's degree in Administration graduated that same year. The association of graduates -known today as AseMaster- was founded that year and IESA's center for management development was created to impart executive training courses.

In 1974, Ediciones IESA started its publications with a PhD thesis entitled “Instituciones para el Desarrollo: Análisis de Fundacomún en Venezuela” (loosely translated into English as ¨Institutions for Development: An Analysis of Fundacomún In Venezuela¨), presented by professor Ildemaro Martínez to Syracuse University and the paper entitled “Toma de decisiones sobre la renovación urbana en El Conde” (loosely translated into English as ¨Decision-making on urban renovations in El Conde¨) by professor David Myers was also edited.

At the behest of the National Council of Universities of Venezuela and as per a presidential decree of the Republic of Venezuela, IESA received its official recognition as an institute for postgraduate studies in 1976.

As per a decision of the Directors' Council, IESA Foundation was created in 1987, for the purposes of contributing to the development, endowment and funding for the Institute, managing its patrimony and non-operative revenues and fostering the conservation and promotion of the academic and research functions at the IESA by all the means within its reach.

The headquarters of IESA Centro Zulia were inaugurated in the city of Maracaibo in 1994. 

The then-president of the republic, Dr. Rafael Caldera, inaugurated the “Módulo Gerencial” (¨Business Module) building, and also the first edition of the magazine entitled “IESA Debates” was published in 1994. Then, in 1998, IESA opened its own offices in Valencia (Carabobo state, Venezuela).

IESA received its international certification in 2002 from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). In 2004, the IESA was certified by the AACSB, for the institute's high standards of academic excellence, the composition of its staff of professors and research endeavors.

The San Bernardino Project started its activities that year. The objective was for the Institute to serve as a “bridge” to facilitate and maximize the actions and programs by various social players in reinforcing the social network of the San Bernardino parish. 

In 2005, IESA was certified by the AMBA (Association of MBAs).

In 2008, the IESA received the EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development - EFMD).

In 2010 the Institute was re-accredited by the AMBA (Association of Masters in Administrations). With this recognition, IESA  is  now among  the  top  5  Latin  American  schools  with  the  so-called  “Triple Crown”,  and continues to be one of the world's 168 schools offering a Master´s degree in Administration or MBA as per the highest international quality and innovation standards.