Sustainability and Social Impact Certificate

Build the knowledge, skills, and network to drive corporate sustainability and social impact

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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.

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Uniquely Leeds

⪢ Dynamic Curriculum – 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.

⪢ Lasting Connections – 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.

⪢ Practical Education – 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.

⪢ Broad Learnings – 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

⪢ Young career professionals and those making moves – This course is a perfect steppingstone for those looking to enter a variety of roles in corporate social responsibility, ESG or sustainability.

⪢ Consultants and Specialists – 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.

Starting January 9

Thursday afternoon cohort
Thursday evening cohort
Online Via Zoom

DURATION
14 live sessions over 16 weeks

Thursday afternoons
Thursday evenings

PROGRAM FEE
$2,500*

Option for payment plans or to pay in full
*limited scholarships available

What's my next step?

Watch an info session

Talk to the instructor

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 16 - May 1 | 12 p.m. MT - 2:15 p.m. MT
- Thursday evenings: January 16 - May 1 | 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.

“Just being able to talk the talk and use industry speak—it felt very familiar and comfortable to me and the role I wanted. The program also helped narrow my focus on roles and responsibilities as I applied for new jobs.”

Naisa Beaumont
Impact Manager | BarkleyOKRP

"I enjoy the hands-on practical breakout activities. These mini business case studies have been an interactive way to engage with our peers and practice what we learn."

Stephanie Ly
Formerly Head of Impact | Clean-tech startup

“The alumni network cares about investing in the continued professional development of leaders across organizations and providing opportunities for crowdsourcing and thought partnership from the alumni network.”

Colleen Maleski
Senior Associate | GBSM

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