Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists

Program Experience

Highlights and Key Outcomes

In the Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists program, you will:

• Develop a rigorous foundation for integrating ESG factors into strategic analysis
• Analyze the efficacy of strategic responses to ESG risks and opportunities
• Improve ESG communications, disclosure, and data systems.
• Understand how climate risk has changed corporate strategy in key sectors
• Build integrated project plans encompassing ESG factors.
• Effectively engage stakeholders in the most complex and conflictual stakeholder environments
• Gain a systematic understanding of how firms can have positive sustainability impacts along their value chain and in their broader ecosystem
• Differentiate sustainability initiatives that are truly strategic from those that will become table stakes, allowing environmental sustainability initiatives to also become economically sustainable
• Learn the basics of global climate policies including carbon markets, and how they might affect your corporate strategy

This program is comprised of one month of introductory content (Wharton ESG Essentials) immediately followed by an additional month of specialized strategy content. This advanced certificate is designed to quickly catapult strategy leaders and professionals to the forefront of ongoing ESG decision making, empowering them to act as informed, prepared catalysts for change.

Experience and Impact

The program presents an overview of the climate transition’s impact on corporate strategy, including the risks from both the physical effects of climate change and the regulatory responses to facilitate the transition to a net-zero economy. Participants will analyze how these and other environmental risks influence corporate strategy and justify sustainable investments, and what tools and resources are available to reduce risk exposure, with a focus on the energy, transport, and real estate sectors.

Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists additionally arms participants with data-backed tools to manage the nuances of ESG strategy. Participants will engage in issue and stakeholder mapping. They will also look at best practices in managing stakeholder relationships — particularly from the strategists’ unique position working cross-departmentally, as well as toggling between internal and external stakeholders and managing deep-seated conflicts between them.

Session topics include:

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Climate Risk Strategies
• Strategy and Environmental Sustainability
• Geo-Strategy

Interactive Sessions Include:

• Business Model Transformation – Work through a case study of an energy company that drastically transformed their business model, and reflect on whether such radical change could be applicable to other companies and your own organization.
• Panel Discussion – Actively participate in a discussion with Wharton experts on energy, transport, and real estate markets as key industries affected most in witnessing strategic changes.

Those interested in learning more about Wharton ESG Essentials, or additional specialized certificates, can visit here.

Participants who have successfully completed Wharton ESG Essentials as a standalone program can apply for and enroll in a certificate track 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.