Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme
Become a leader for sustainable value creation in your organisation
View course prospectus
6 weeks entirely online,
excluding orientation
Self-paced weekly modules,
7-10 hours per week
Learn alongside a global cohort
of like-minded professionals
On completion of this programme, you'll walk away with:
In-demand sustainability leadership skills and strategies for managing climate risk, facilitating ESG integration, and creating long-term value for shareholders and society.
A personal plan for change to support your organisation in implementing, governing, and managing the shift required for ongoing sustainability integration.
The skills needed to formulate effective KPIs to measure the impact and dependence of your organisation on natural, human, and social capital.
Access to new insights from industry experts and leading research from Oxford Saïd to help you drive positive change in your organisation.
Programme curriculum
Module 1 Corporate purpose and value creation
Discover how corporations view the value they create within a capitalist system, and how that view affects their impact on stakeholders, and ultimately, their sustainability.
Module 2 Responding to climate change
Explore why climate change and carbon emissions matter to corporations
Module 3 Natural capital and resource management
Explore how a corporation engages with natural resources, in terms of what resources it depends upon, and what resources it impacts.
Module 4 Social sustainability
Explore how a corporation views its dependence and impact on both human and social capital.
Module 5 Ensuring sustainability: governance, risk, and reporting
Recommend ways in which a corporation's governance can embed sustainability.
Module 6 Levers of change
Plan how you can enact sustainable change in your corporation.
This Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The programme has an estimated 60 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. Oxford Saïd and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This programme is for you if you are:
- A current or aspiring C-suite executive or business leader needing to drive strategic, sustainable change in your corporation
- A senior professional in any industry interested in gaining the ability to address a new sustainability business need and looking to remain relevant
- A professional in a consultancy position wanting to understand how you can apply new sustainability research and insights to your clients' businesses
- Looking to pivot your career direction towards the field of sustainability
Programme Directors
Richard Barker
Professor of Accounting, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
An expert in financial reporting, Richard teaches on the MBA programme at Oxford Saïd, and is a tutor in management at Christ Church, University of Oxford. The recipient of university teaching prizes at both Oxford and Cambridge, he has served as MBA director at both institutions.
Richard's research focuses on corporate reporting, with an emphasis on non-financial reporting, concerning long-term business sustainability and accountability. His paper on the future of corporate reporting standards was the subject of a key debate at the Oxford Union.
Richard has lent his expertise to many institutions, including the Corporate Reporting Council (setting UK accounting standards), the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (advising HM Treasury on government financial reporting), and the Expert Panel of Accounting for Sustainability. He was a judge for the Finance for the Future Awards, highlighting the essential role that the finance function plays in organisational decision-making for building sustainable business models.
Mary Johnstone-Louis
Senior Fellow in Management Practice, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
After receiving her Economic and Social Research Council scholar doctorate from Oxford Saïd, Mary went on to teach at her alma mater, serving as a Founding Programme Director of The Ownership Project, Programme Director of the Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme, and member of Green Templeton College.
The majority of Mary's research focuses on how business affects society and how leaders build strategy around the public good, with a particular focus on women in business. She is a regular speaker and panellist, and has recently co-authored a volume on sustainability leadership, which is due for publication this year.
Mary is a World Economic Forum Global Future Council Fellow, a member of the Jury of the IMD-Pictet Sustainability in Family Business Award, and Chair of the Board of B Lab UK.
Your guest experts
Dieter Helm
Professor of Economic Policy, University of Oxford; Chair, Natural Capital Committee, University of Oxford
Cameron Hepburn
Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford
Ladi Balogun
Group Chief Executive, FCMB Group Plc
Caroline Rees
President and Co-Founder, Shift
Paul Polman
Co-Founder, IMAGINE
Dominic Emery
Chief of Staff, BP
Fiona Reynolds
CEO, UN PRI
Hiromichi Mizuno
Independent Director, Tesla, Inc.
Investor Relations, Oil States International, Inc.
Past Participant
An online education that sets you apart
This Oxford Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Earn a certificate of attendance recognising your online programme from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.