Executive Education Program
Sustainable Business Transformation
Overview
The program is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively mitigate the business risks associated with climate change and guide the transition to net-zero emissions. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed to address climate change within their specific contexts and develop business models that thrive in the net-zero, resource-efficient economy of the 21st century.
This course is tailored for professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in climate change risk assessment, sustainability adaptation strategies, and innovative solutions. It is ideal for business leaders, senior management, sustainability heads, and C-suite executives, as well as individuals in or aspiring to “green collar” roles such as climate consultants and sustainability specialists. Additionally, finance and operations professionals will acquire critical insights into adapting business models for net-zero emissions, ensuring their organizations are well-positioned to lead in the transition to a sustainable future.
Module 1
Sustainability in the context of business - 23rd September (Virtual)
This module provides guidance on strategic thinking, developing actionable plans, identifying opportunities and challenges, and executing tactical approaches for sustainability leadership. It is designed to address key considerations for emerging sustainability leaders, with a focus on:
- Identifying opportunities to drive sustainability initiatives within an organization.
- Designing and implementing organizational change through the lens of environmental sustainability.
- Leveraging leadership across the organization to support and enhance sustainability goals.
- Recognizing and addressing major sustainability challenges.
- Establishing governance structures that support sustainability efforts.
- Promoting ethical leadership and informed decision-making.
Module 2
Green Supply Chain Management
This module focuses on sustainable sourcing, reducing environmental impact, and innovations in logistics, with an emphasis on transparency, eco-design, and integrating sustainable practices across the entire supply chain.
- Sustainable sourcing and procurement
- Minimizing environmental impact throughout the supply chain
- Innovations in logistics, transportation, and warehousing
- Enhancing supply chain transparency through blockchain
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) methodologies
- Sustainable product innovation and eco-design
- Material selection and integration of sustainable practices across the supply chain
Module 3
Sustainable Business Strategies and Models
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Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
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Integrating Lean principles with sustainability goals
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Energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption
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Waste reduction and management strategies
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Water conservation techniques Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
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Principles of the circular economy
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Implementing resource effciency in business operations Innovation and Technology for Sustainability
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Emerging technologies in sustainability
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Leveraging digital transformation for sustainable practices
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The role of AI and big data in ESG analysis
Module 4
Climate Dynamics
This module addresses pressing climate issues, essential terminology, and strategies for ective climate action. It explores strategies and techniques to e ectively persuade, advocate, and negotiate for impactful climate action, while investigating new perspectives and holistic approaches to understanding and addressing climate change. The focus areas include:
Persuasion, Advocacy, and Negotiation: Strategies and techniques to efectively persuade, advocate, and negotiate for impactful climate action.
Risk Assessment and Management
Adaptation and Resilience Planning
Economics of Climate Change
Module 5
Financial Aspects of Sustainable Business – By: Impact Investors Council and Boston Consulting Group
Key Instruments in Sustainable Finance By: IIC
- Green bonds, social bonds, and sustainability-linked bonds
- Impact investing: Definition, strategies, and measurement
- Thematic investing: Focus areas like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and healthcare
Carbon Pricing and Market Mechanisms
- Understanding carbon markets and pricing
- Implementing carbon management strategies
Group Exercise: Designing a Sustainable Finance Product – Participants will design a sustainable finance product (e.g., a green bond or ESG fund) tailored to a specifc market or client need.
Implementing Sustainable Finance Strategies
Module 6
Measuring and Reporting Metrics
Learn about key performance indicators, sustainability reporting frameworks, and tools for measuring environmental and social impact.
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) for sustainability
- Sustainability reporting frameworks e.g. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); Sustainability Accounting
- Standards Board (SASB) – (Course Material)
- Tools and methodologies for measuring environmental
and social impact - Best practices in ESG reporting and transparency
Module 7
Embracing the Triple Bottom Line
Learn about the triple bottom line framework to assess and communicate sustainability performance, aligning with strategic value creation.
- Employ the triple bottom line framework to gauge, assess, and communicate your orga-nization’s sustainability performance.
- Analyze strategic sustainability performance and its correlation with your organization’s value creationefforts, culminating in the creation of a tailored sustainability action plan.
Psychological Barriers to Sustainable Action (optional – Virtual)
While fnancial, technological, and policy barriers to sustainability are often discussed, psychological and cultural factors can also hinder progress.
This session introduces the scholarship onpsychological barriers and contextualizes it within business opportunities, addressing issues that canarise within companies as well as among customers. Understanding these barriers is essential for developing a balanced perspective and initiating e ective action.