Sustainability and Social Impact Certificate
The business case is strong for integrating sustainability and social impact into business strategy and operations. The Sustainability and Social Impact Certificate is a program designed to share knowledge, tools and frameworks for managing risks and opportunities across environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibilities.
Classes are live-online and feature experiential learning, collaboration and reflective thinking through dialogue-based lessons and group projects. Expert guest speakers from various industries share current and applicable best practices to deliver maximum value for your career, your company and the stakeholders you serve.
Uniquely Leeds
猹 Dynamic Curriculum 鈥 The dynamic world of social impact, ESG and sustainability is consistently evolving based on the latest scientific research, government regulations, and corporate trends. Our program is updated every semester with the latest information available to ensure our students are receiving the most up-to-date education to serve them in this changing landscape.
猹 Lasting Connections 鈥 With more than 500 professional alumni, you'll join an active LinkedIn group that stays connected to share ideas, organize networking events, post job openings and support others in the field who are committed to making a positive impact.
猹 Practical Education 鈥 Our faculty are industry practitioners with deep experience in the field of social impact and sustainability. The program highlights initiatives from a wide variety of industries and features guest experts from companies like Google, Sephora, Paramount and Hello Fresh who share topical insights.
猹 Broad Learnings 鈥 This program introduces participants to the full breadth of topics in sustainability and social impact including: corporate philanthropy, materiality assessments, community and employee engagement, sustainability reporting and disclosures, DEI, governance and policy advocacy. With these learnings you can distill complex regulations and frameworks into actionable recommendations to benefit your organization.
Who it's for
猹 Young career professionals and those making moves 鈥 This course is a perfect steppingstone for those looking to enter a variety of roles in corporate social responsibility, ESG or sustainability.
猹 Consultants and Specialists 鈥 Round out your knowledge across all aspects of sustainability and social impact and learn how to work and collaborate with other specialists in these fields across business units.
- Starts January 9
- Thursday afternoon cohort
- Thursday evening cohort
- Live online instruction via Zoom
- 14 live sessions over 16 weeks
- Thursday afternoons: 12 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. MT
- Thursday evening: 5:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m MT
- Program fee: $2,500
- Pay in full and payment plan options
- Limited scholarships and discounts available
Next steps?
Meet the faculty
Hear from Jennifer Forman, instructor in the Sustainability and Social Impact Certificate and learn more about if the program is right for you.
Core topics
- Sustainability strategy, frameworks and alignment with business purpose
- ESG risks and opportunities
- AI ethics
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Climate, environmental sustainability, circular economy and life cycle assessments
- Human rights and sustainable supply chains
- Materiality assessments
- Community engagement, corporate philanthropy and social impact
- Sustainable finance and ESG budgets
- ESG reporting including ISSB, GRI, TCFD, SASB and CDP
- Certified B Corps, Public Benefit Corporations and the B Impact Assessment
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Compact
- Role of marketing and storytelling in stakeholder relations
- Regulation, governance and policy advocacy
Program delivery
- Spring 2025 cohort:
- Thursday afternoons: January 9 - April 24 | 12 p.m. MT - 2:15 p.m. MT
- Thursday evenings: January 9 - April 24 | 5:30 p.m. MT - 7:45 p.m. MT
- Each cohort is capped at 22 students to ensure an interactive class environment.
- Time commitment is 2.25 hours a week in-class time and an additional 2-3 hours of work outside the classroom each week.
What alumni are saying
CESR Executive Education News