Wharton ESG Essentials 

Program Experience

Highlights and Key Outcomes

In Wharton ESG Essentials, you will:

• Gain insight into what is meant by ESG integration and the best implementation practices that focus on value creation and protection rather than ideology to drive progress in the face of anti-ESG backlash
• Apply these insights in the context of the climate transition. Understand why business leaders should care about climate change by learning about the risks and opportunities associated with different climate scenarios and policy environments
• Turn next inside the firm to identify the key factors that help board members, executives, and investors actively monitor and manage ESG risks and opportunities with a focus on corporate engagement with social activists championing particular ESG issues
• Take a deep dive into how to craft a corporate purpose that can influence the behavior of middle managers and ensure implementation is aligned with senior management goals

Experience and Impact

Wharton ESG Essentials will prepare leaders to analyze and evaluate the financial implications of ESG factors on their strategies. The program will walk you through a comprehensive view of the ESG landscape — from the movement’s values-based origins to its increasing focus on financial impact; from its data challenges and measurement issues to new measurement approaches and the broad array of investment and corporate strategies that deploy them.

Participants will acquire not just the analytical skill sets but also the communications playbook needed to effectively articulate the implications of ESG factors to key stakeholders — from competitive positioning to strategies leading change that will help accelerate the issues in their organizations.

The program will also look at rising social pressures on firms to address issues of concern to workers, customers, communities, and civil society more broadly. You will assess the efficacy of different corporate strategic responses, particularly as the political environment grows increasingly polarized. Additionally, you will evaluate the role that enterprise risk management, board governance, cross-functional teams, and leaders play in navigating the adoption, implementation, and measurement of firm-wide ESG policies.

Session topics include:

• Introduction to ESG
• Purpose, Employee Engagement, and Performance
• Governance of Socio-Political Challenges
• Climate Transition

Wharton ESG Executive Certificate 
Participants may take Wharton ESG Essentials as a standalone program, or, for those interested in extending their learning journey, Wharton ESG Essentials serves as the introductory content in the Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Senior Leaders. This advanced certificate program is designed to quickly catapult leaders to the forefront of ongoing ESG decision making.

Participants who have completed Wharton ESG Essentials as a standalone program can apply for and enroll in the executive certificate program within one year of Essentials completion.

Convince Your Supervisor

Here’s a justification letter you can edit and send to your supervisor to help you make the case for attending this Wharton program.

Due to our application review period, applications submitted after 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday for programs beginning the following Monday may not be processed in time to grant admission. Applicants will be contacted by a member of our Client Relations Team to discuss options for future programs and dates.