In today’s volatile, complex, and uncertain world, it is crucial for businesses to understand key environmental as well as societal risks and opportunities. Both demand successful management by business leaders in order to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and create value for their firm and society.
Taught by Professor Tensie Whelan, this 14-week course provides participants with the ability to help their business be a force for change through ESG (environment, social, and governance) investing, sustainable supply chain management, employee and consumer engagement, sustainability marketing, and more. With companies facing greater demands for transparency, societal challenges such as poverty and inequity as well as natural resource constraints like less available water and a warmer climate, these skills are critical to the future of business and society.
In-House Quality
In 2001, Stern became the first business school to establish its own center for exploring new models in teaching and learning. The NYU Stern Learning Science Lab is a team of creatives, educators, designers, and technologists who work closely with faculty to create engaging and interactive courses. Leveraging the resources of Stern and NYU at large, the team applies their expertise in user experience design, learning science, and video production to build immersive digital learning environments for business school education.
Online Learning Terminology
The term "asynchronous" refers to courses or course elements that can be completed at any time within the parameters of the course schedule. Asynchronous activities are things you do independently, like watch videos and complete assignments, and interactions with others over time via email, discussion forums, collaborative documents, and other channels. The term "synchronous" refers to learning with others in real time using videoconferencing and other technologies. Our online certificate courses are asynchronous with optional synchronous elements.
This course is a non-credit, pass/fail program. To pass this course, you will need a cumulative score of at least 55%. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will receive the NYU Stern Certificate in Corporate Sustainability.
Program Takeaways
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Issues and Research
Become familiar with the key environmental and social issues affecting business today including the latest consumer insight research on sustainability. -
Transformation of Corporate Response to Sustainability
Understand the evolution of corporate response — from compliance to engagement to innovation — including innovations in finance. -
Leadership Skills in a Volatile World
Develop the skills required for leading in the new social and political environment and explore the efficiencies and innovations in development by corporate leaders in pursuit of sustainability.
Who Should Attend
Although there are no formal education or background requirements, this course is designed for participants who meet the criteria below. While we strongly encourage global participation, please note that all courses are taught in English. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
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Years of Experience
Participants with all levels of work experience are welcome to attend -
Job Functions
Ideal for any job function -
Prerequisites
Intended for individuals with a genuine interest in corporate sustainability; additionally, students must have a desktop or laptop computer with an internet connection
Agenda
The following agenda is a sample and subject to change.
Course Access
- In order to access the course, you will receive login credentials via email on the start date of the course. Activation instructions for your login credentials will be provided.
Optional Books
Green Giants: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability into Billion-Dollar Businesses by E. Freya Williams (AMACOM) (available digitally)Live Online Meetups with Faculty
- Our live online meetups provide you with the opportunity to engage face-to-face with Professor Whelan. Please note that all online meetups are recorded and available for your viewing at a later time. Missing a meetup will not impact your grade, however we recommend attending all sessions.
Workload
- Please expect to invest about 8 to 10 hours of your time per week to course lessons, exercises, and assignments.
Week 1: August 30th
- Sustainability for Business
- Exercise 1: Baseline Summary
- Post to Q&A Forum for Lesson 1
Week 2: September 7th
- Unsustainable Corporate Practices
- Exercise 2: Where Do Companies Go Wrong? & Managing for the Long-Term
- Live Online Meetup 1: September 7th 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 3: September 13th
- Environmental and Social Trends
- Exercise 3: Environmental and Social Trends
- Post to Q&A Forums for Lessons 2 and 3
Week 4: September 20th
- Reporting and Certification Standards
- Exercise 4: SASB and GRI Reporting Standards: Differences and Similarities
- Live Online Meetup 2: September 21st 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 5: September 27th
- Materiality and Stakeholder Mapping
- Exercise 5: Materiality and Stakeholder Mapping (Create a Stakeholder Map and Materiality Matrix for your Chosen Company)
- Complete Peer Review for Exercise 5
- Final Project Outline Due: October 1st 11:55 PM ET
Week 6: October 4th
- Supply Chains
- Exercise 6: Supply Chain Management
Week 7: October 11th
- Systems Thinking & The Circular Economy
- Exercise 7: Applying Systems Thinking
- Live Online Meetup 3: October 12th 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 8: October 18th
- Innovation
- Exercise 8: Lazlo Innovation Scheme
- Post to Q&A Forums for Lessons 7 and 8
Week 9: October 25th
- Customers and Sustainability
- Exercise 9: Marketing Survey
- Complete Peer Review for Exercise 9
- Live Online Meetup 4: October 26th 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 10: November 1st
- Employees and Sustainability
- Exercise 10: Sustainable Employment
Week 11: November 8th
- Building a Business Case for Sustainability
- Exercise 11: Monetizing the Sustainability ROI
- Post to Q&A Forum for Lessons 9, 10 and 11
- Live Online Meetup 5: November 9th 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 12: November 15th
- Mainstreaming Sustainable Finance
- Exercise 12: Sustainable Finance Types
Week 13: November 22nd
- Environmental, Social, & Governance (ESG) Investing
- Exercise 13: ESG Investing Equity Analysis
- Live Online Meetup 6: November 23rd 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Week 14: November 29th
- Net Positive Future
- Final Project Due: December 3rd 11:55 PM ET
Participant Reviews
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