Leading Sustainable Business

Course objectives

At the end of this course you will :

• Understand the evolving role of business in society, the global debate on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and its connection to the Circular Economy.

• Gain management knowledge and practical skills to design, develop, and implement CSR and Circular Economy practices and tools within your organization.

• Apply your insights to critically assess an organization’s CSR and Circular Economy strategies and formulate actionable recommendations for improvement.

• Embed sustainability into corporate strategy by applying proven frameworks such as Porter’s Shared Value and Circular Economy models.

• Evaluate the financial implications of sustainability initiatives, including ROI, tax incentives, ESG funds, and green bonds

• Measure and report sustainability impact using practical ESG and carbon reporting tools suitable for managers.

• Communicate the value and implications of CSR and Circular Economy initiatives effectively to diverse stakeholders

• Develop a practical roadmap to embed sustainability into corporate strategy, balancing CSR, Circular Economy principles, and financial performance.

• Learn how to measure, report, and communicate sustainability impact using ESG and carbon reporting tools

Course topics

Topics included in the programme are:

• The role of business in society and the global CSR debate

• Integrating Circular Economy principles into CSR strategies

• CSR in developed and emerging markets

• Stakeholder engagement and communication

• Sustainable finance: tax aspects, ESG funds, green bonds, ROI

• Branding & repositioning for sustainability: certifications, storytelling, and trust-building

• Measuring and reporting: simple ESG and carbon tools for managers

• Communicating commitments: strategies to engage stakeholders, customers, and investors

• Strategic Corporate Responsibility (Michael Porter’s framework)

• Case studies from leading global companies (e.g., IKEA, Coca-Cola)

• Group projects: developing practical CSR and Circular Economy solution

Teaching methods

This programme is highly interactive and practice-oriented. You will engage in a variety of formats designed to deepen understanding and strengthen application:

• Self-study to build a strong knowledge foundation
• Case studies to connect theory with real-world business practices
• Interactive lectures to encourage dialogue and critical reflection
• Assignments such as mini-case analyses and role-plays to apply concepts to practical situations
• Guest lectures from CSR and Circular Economy practitioners sharing real-life insights
• Individual assignment, presentation, and discussion to demonstrate your learning and receive personalized feedbackT

Your profile

This programme is for all senior executives, policy makers, lecturers and consultants who are involved in CSR management or are motivated to learn about and apply CSR practices.

Certificate

Each participant receives a certificate of participation. 
This certificate is being awarded as evidence of participation in a post-graduate training at indicative level 6 or 7 of the EQF. The minimum study load is 14 hours and an attendance level of 80% is required. This certificate is being awarded in the form of a soft copy when the training is online or a hard copy during a face-to-face training. The certificate will mention your full name, training title, training date and comprising core topics. Click here for more information about the MSM certification policy.