The demand for seasoned talent in the ESG strategy space is rapidly increasing. Global corporations’ strategists and consultants are accelerating the buildout of their ESG practices on sound business grounds, but those brought in to implement such significant business transformation are often working from an inherent deficit. They must rise above the rhetoric and lofty promises of their firms to quickly effect concrete change that delivers tangible value.

The Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists equips corporate strategists, consultants, business development leads, and other cross-functional leaders with the practically relevant research and tools to lead ESG strategy integration — from project valuation to ESG risk and opportunity assessment, from data adoption best practices to team deployment and project management. The program focuses on the myriad risks and opportunities associated with the climate transition; broader environmental risks; diversity, equity, and inclusion; socio-political risk; and shareholder activism, then concentrates on the skills needed for strategy execution — corporate political activity, organizational change, and systems and processes analysis.

Program Experience

Highlights and Key Outcomes

In Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists, 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
• Build integrated project plans and dashboards encompassing ESG factors
• Effectively engage stakeholders in the most complex and conflictual stakeholder environments

The Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists 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 corporate leaders to the forefront of ongoing ESG decision making, empowering them to act as informed, prepared catalysts for change amid urgent and complex constraints and opportunities.

Experience and Impact

In Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists, you will build on the knowledge in Wharton ESG Essentials to learn how to formulate, advocate for, and implement strategies that address ESG factors.

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 as well as 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 what tools and resources are available to reduce risk exposure. Participants will also gain perspective on the green technology and innovation sector – where cost curves are rapidly evolving and leading to non-linear dynamics that threaten to sunset some industries and give birth to new ones.

The Wharton ESG Executive Certificate for Strategists additionally arms participants with data-backed tools to manage the nuance of ESG strategy. Participants will engage in issue and stakeholder mapping, learning how to integrate pertinent data into usable and accessible dashboards. 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 their stakeholders.

Session topics include:

• Sustainability Strategy
• Climate Strategy
• Geo-Strategy
• Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

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.