LP - IMP-SL- Hero banner - Desktop

Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future

Move beyond compliance and unlock competitive advantage

Inquiring For
Total Work Experience

Overview of the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future

As pressure from regulators, investors and stakeholders intensifies, organisations are expected not just to make sustainability commitments, but to demonstrate measurable impact and integrate ESG into core strategy. However, many leaders struggle to move beyond compliance and reporting to truly embed sustainability in decision-making, innovation and value creation. The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme from Imperial Executive Education empowers business and ESG leaders like you with the strategic insights and practical tools to transform sustainability into a driver of strategy, innovation and long-term performance.

Led by Imperial College London’s expert faculty, this 12-week online programme combines real-world case studies and hands-on projects to help you integrate sustainability across business models, governance and culture.Through practical application of frameworks, you will develop a comprehensive sustainability leadership strategy to drive organisational transformation and measurable impact – aligning sustainable practices with performance and creating lasting value for both business and society. Upon successful completion, you will gain access to Imperial’s associate alumni benefits, expanding your professional network and continued learning opportunities.

Key takeaways

By the end of the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme, you will be able to:

  • Analyse business impact maturity, the evolving sustainability landscape and regulatory frameworks to identify key risks and opportunities for corporate strategy

  • Design innovative, systems-based sustainability initiatives using industry tools, AI-driven SDG analytics and circular supply chain strategies

  • Evaluate sustainability performance and claims through data, reporting standards and impact metrics to guide ethical, transparent decision-making

  • Lead sustainability-driven transformation by embedding SDG principles into corporate culture and managing cross-functional change

  • Formulate a comprehensive sustainability strategy aligning purpose, finance, operations and governance, and communicate it effectively to stakeholders

  • Assess mindset shifts towards sustainability before and after the programme to deepen self-awareness and leadership capacity

What will you learn from the Sustainability Leadership programme?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme equips you with the knowledge, frameworks and tools to drive sustainability-led transformation in your organisation. Through a focused curriculum, you will explore the strategic, financial and operational dimensions of sustainability. Additionally, you will learn to apply these insights to real business challenges, connecting purpose with performance for lasting impact.

Understand how sustainability can drive business growth. Learn to assess an organisation’s sustainability maturity using the Business Impact Framework (BIM) Framework and identify initiatives that create strategic value.

Explore the evolving climate landscape, evaluate risks and opportunities, and design strategies that move from compliance to climate-positive impact.

Learn to design social enterprise models and align them with measurable business value. Apply the theory of change framework to map, manage and measure the impact of a social innovation.

Discover how to connect purpose and culture through adaptive leadership and tools, including Ikigai, and embed sustainability into the organisation’s DNA.

Reimagine competitive advantage by treating stakeholders as investors in all forms of capital. Learn to design strategies that create authentic stakeholder value.

Transform global challenges into opportunities by building triple-bottom-line business models and developing innovation roadmaps using AI SDG tools.

Examine sustainable procurement and circular economy models. Apply life-cycle assessments to build resilient, responsible supply chains.

Understand how finance can accelerate sustainability goals through impact investing, innovative funding models and capital allocation strategies.

Cut through regulatory complexity by integrating frameworks, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, International Sustainability Standards Board and Global Reporting Initiative, into strategy and governance.

Explore tools and frameworks for embedding stakeholder perspectives into governance, enabling regenerative business practices.

Apply digital and AI-driven tools to measure, verify and communicate sustainability performance as a driver of business value.

Apply your learning to design a comprehensive sustainability leadership strategy with action plans and a stakeholder-ready pitch tailored to your organisation. Derive a tangible blueprint for embedding sustainability into your organisation’s future.

Application-based learning: Capstone project

Design and pitch a tailored sustainability leadership strategy, and leave with a clear blueprint to embed sustainability into your organisation’s future.

What tools and frameworks will you learn in the Sustainability Leadership programme?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme empowers you to discover the key frameworks and analytical tools that drive effective sustainability leadership. With guidance from Imperial College London faculty, you will utilise certain key approaches to evaluate organisational maturity, align purpose with transformation and design measurable sustainability strategies.

  • BIM Framework A structured approach to assessing your organisation’s sustainability maturity and identifying opportunities for greater strategic value creation

  • Theory of Change A planning framework that maps how activities lead to meaningful social and environmental outcomes, supporting strategy design and evaluation

  • Ikigai framework A reflective model used to connect personal purpose with organisational transformation and adaptive leadership

  • SDG Co-Pilot A data-driven tool that supports innovation aligned with the United Nations (UN) SDGs through analytics and scenario mapping

  • Custom GPT-based tools Emerging technologies that enable experimentation with AI-driven sustainability insights and decision-making support

  • GOLDEN Sustainability Dataset A global resource developed with the GOLDEN for Impact Foundation, featuring 1.3 million sustainability initiatives from over 75,000 reports, capturing data from 18,000 organisations across 86 countries and three decades of disclosures

  • AI-driven classification Uses advanced AI to identify and categorise sustainability initiatives by UN SDGs, corporate behaviour types and key beneficiaries

 Why ESG and Sustainability Leadership from Imperial Executive Education?

Why Sustainability Leadership from Imperial Executive Education?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme has been designed to reflect the academic rigour and practical relevance that define Imperial Executive Education. It combines research-based insight with real-world application, helping leaders translate sustainability goals into strategic action and measurable impact.

Delivered by Imperial College London’s world-class faculty, the programme combines expertise in sustainability, innovation and organisational leadership. Participants learn from leading academics and practitioners who are shaping the future of sustainable business through evidence-based teaching and applied frameworks.

Case studies

Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric embeds sustainability at its core through its Sustainability Impact Framework and EcoStruxure solutions, cutting over 400 million tonnes of CO₂. By linking sustainability metrics to performance, it proves that profitability and impact can grow together.

Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s integrates Fairtrade sourcing, climate activism, and social justice into its charter, ensuring every decision aligns with its values. Its authentic activism drives strong consumer loyalty and business success.

Patagonia
Patagonia

Patagonia channels all profits toward the planet through circular design, a climate trust, and its “Don’t Buy This Jacket” ethos—showing how radical transparency builds trust and long-term growth.

“The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme helps leaders make sustainability part of how their organisations think and operate. Through real-world cases and practical learning, it builds the capability to turn ambition into action. The programme empowers you to move from compliance to driving innovation and meaningful impact.”
Frank Brueck
Frank Brueck
Faculty Director, Imperial College Business School

Programme highlights

 Immersive sessions
Immersive session

Engage with Imperial College London faculty and sustainability experts in live sessions, exploring the latest in climate strategy responsible leadership.

Weekly office hours
Weekly office hours

Get personalised guidance and feedback from the learning facilitator during weekly office hours.

Peer learning
Peer learning

Collaborate with a diverse cohort to exchange insights, share experiences and solve real organisational challenges.

Associate alumni benefits
Associate alumni benefits

Gain associate alumni status upon programme completion.

Continuous programme access
Continuous programme access

Access videos and learning materials for up to 12 months after the programme starts.

Capstone project
Capstone project

Design a sustainability leadership strategy tailored to your organisation, aligning purpose, performance and impact.

Certificate of completion
Certificate of completion

Earn a verified certificate from Imperial Executive Education recognising your achievement in sustainable leadership.

Self-study and reflection
Self-study and reflection

Deepen your understanding through guided self-study and applied exercises for real-world application.

Cutting-edge content
Cutting-edge content

Learn from Imperial’s leading research in sustainability, innovation and finance, combined with practical industry perspectives.

Case studies and industry examples
Case studies and industry examples

Examine cases from global leaders, including Schneider Electric, Ben & Jerry’s and Patagonia, to see how sustainability is embedded in strategy.

Meet the faculty

Frank Brueck
Frank Brueck

Programme Director, Leadership Lab Lead, Leonardo Centre on Business for Society, Imperial College Business School

Frank Brueck is the Executive Vice President of the GOLDEN for Impact Foundation and the Director of the Ikigai Corporation.

With over 25 years of experience in academia and ...

Maurizio Zollo
Maurizio Zollo

Professor of Strategy and Sustainability; Scientific Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society, Imperial College Business Schoo

Maurizio Zollo’s work examines how business purpose, innovation and stakeholder integration can accelerate sustainability transitions through organisational and systemic exper...

Livio Scalvini
Livio Scalvini

Executive Director, Leonardo Centre on Business for Society

Livio Scalvini is the CEO and Co-Founder of GOLDEN for Impact, an international organisation that develops alternative enterprise models for human and economic value creation....

Meet the contributing faculty

 Valeria Berchicci
Valeria Berchicci

Consultant and Executive Leadership Coach at Imperial College London

Caterina Brandmayr
Caterina Brandmayr

Director of Policy Engagement

Matthew Lipson
Matthew Lipson

People-centred innovator with expertise in telecoms and energy

 Christian Hampel
Christian Hampel

Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation

Marisa Miraldo
Marisa Miraldo

Professor of Health Economics, Department of Economics and Public Policy, Imperial College Business School

Kevin Corley
Kevin Corley

Professor of Management; Head of the Management & Entrepreneurship Department, Imperial College Business School

 Gbemi Oluleye
Gbemi Oluleye

Associate Professor, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London

Semra Bakkaloglu
Semra Bakkaloglu

Research Associate, Sustainable Gas Institute, Imperial College London

Raffaele Della Croce
Raffaele Della Croce

Senior Research Fellow

Enrico Biffis
Enrico Biffis

Professor of Actuarial Finance, Imperial College Business School

Tarun Ramadorai
Tarun Ramadorai

Professor of Financial Economics, Imperial College London

Guest faculty

John Elkington
John Elkington

Founding Partner and Pollinator, Volans

Sandrine Dixson-Declève
Sandrine Dixson-Declève

Global Ambassador, Club of Rome; Executive Chair, Earth4Al

Dovev Lavie
Dovev Lavie

Professor of Management, Department of Management and Technology, Bocconi University

 Paolo Perego
Paolo Perego

Professor of Accounting; Program Director, MSc Accounting and Finance

Sandra Waddock
Sandra Waddock

Galligan Chair of Strategy; Carroll School Scholar of Corporate Responsibility; Professor of Management, Carroll School of Management, Boston College

Become an associate alumni

Take your partnership with Imperial Executive Education to the next level by becoming an associate alumnus. Complete the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future to claim your associate alumni status and join our active community.

Who is the Sustainability Leadership programme for?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme is designed for experienced professionals seeking to lead sustainability-driven transformation within their organisations. It is ideal for those looking to move beyond compliance and embed sustainability into strategy, innovation and long-term value creation.

This programme is suitable for:

  • Business leaders and senior executives seeking to leverage AI, SDG analytics and digital tools to track impact and transform sustainability into a significant growth driver

  • Sustainability and ESG professionals aiming to move from reporting to strategic influence and measurable impact

  • Consultants and advisers who guide clients through sustainability transitions and want to strengthen their strategic toolkit

  • Policy and non-profit professionals from government, NGOs or international organisations looking to gain a sustainable business perspective to advance collaboration and policy outcomes

Certificate

Certificate

Upon completion of the programme, learners will be awarded a verified digital certificate by Imperial Executive Education.

Note: You will earn the Associate Alumni status upon successful completion of the programme. Visit the Associate Alumni page to find out more.

Receive an executive certificate with this learning journey

Executive Certificate in Sustainability Leadership and Finance

Programme overview Why this learning journey? Programme feeFaculty Certificates

FAQs

How do I know if the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme is right for me?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme is suitable for business leaders, including directors, vice presidents, senior managers and heads of operations, transformation or strategy, seeking to leverage AI, SDG analytics and digital tools to track impact and transform sustainability into a significant growth driver. It is also relevant for sustainability and ESG professionals, consultants, advisers and policy and non-profit professionals looking to gain a business perspective to advance collaboration and policy outcomes.

What is the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme is a 12-week online programme designed to help professionals incorporate sustainability into business practices. It also caters to ESG leaders looking to transform sustainability into corporate strategy. The programme equips participants with the knowledge and tools to embed sustainability across business models, culture and governance while driving innovation and long-term value.

What is the typical class profile?

The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme draws a diverse audience from various industries, geographies and professional backgrounds, fostering a rich peer learning and networking experience.

Are there any prerequisites for this programme?

Some programmes do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the programme landing page, as well as in the programme brochure. If you are uncertain about programme prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at learner.success@emeritus.org for assistance.

What is the best sustainability leadership course to take?

The best sustainability leadership course for you depends on your sustainability goals. If you are looking to move beyond compliance and create lasting competitive advantage through sustainability, the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme offers a comprehensive blend of strategy, innovation and practical tools to help you deliver measurable impact.

Which programme is best for sustainability leadership?

For business and ESG leaders, the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme is among the top options. It combines faculty insights, case studies and hands-on projects to help you turn sustainability from a compliance requirement into a catalyst for growth.

What are the requirements to earn a certificate?

This is a graded programme. You will be required to complete a combination of individual assignments, quizzes and a final project. Each component carries a certain number of points and a cumulative score of 75% is required to pass and obtain your professional certificate.

Will I be guaranteed a job upon completion of the programme?

The primary objective of this programme is to give you the skills you need to be prepared for a job in this field. While eligible participants will receive career coaching and support and may receive introductions to our hiring partners, job placement is not guaranteed.

On what other dates will the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme be offered in the future?

Future dates for the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme will be listed on the programme web page once confirmed. You may also email us at learner.success@emeritus.org to enquire about upcoming offerings.

Is Imperial Executive Education good for sustainability leadership?

Imperial Executive Education is recognised globally for its expertise in sustainability and leadership education. The Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme's comprehensive curriculum, faculty insights and hands-on projects enable participants to lead sustainability-driven transformation in their organisations.

How much time will I be expected to devote to this programme?

Each programme includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the programme landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.

How will I spend my time in this programme?

You will divide your learning time between viewing recorded coding demos, video lectures, contributing to class discussions, completing assignments, projects, and knowledge checks, and attending live sessions with sustainability experts and programme leaders.

How is the programme administered? Can the programme be accessed anytime?

The programme is accessed through the custom learning portal. This portal will give you access to all programme-related content such as video lectures, assignments, and discussions. Live office hours will be conducted using a webinar tool. The video lectures and assignments are accessible weekly throughout the programme. In the event you miss a live session, a recording will be made available.

Do I need to attend live sessions every week?

Faculty video lectures are recorded, allowing you to watch these on your own schedule. However, participation in optional live sessions and discussion boards is highly encouraged. Live sessions will give you the opportunity to draw on the coding experience of our industry-experienced course leaders to answer your questions and help reach your learning goals. The discussion boards are also an integral part of the learning experience, giving you and your peers the opportunity to learn together, along with guidance from the moderators.

Can I download the programme videos?

You can download video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. However, the video lectures are only available for streaming and require an internet connection.

How do I interact with other programme participants?

You can communicate with other participants through our learning platform. You will be able to form groups based on your interests and location. A direct messaging feature is also available through the platform.

What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programmes said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded. All the contents of the programme would be made available to students at the commencement of the programme. However, to ensure the programme delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the programme in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall programme fee. A dedicated programme support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues or anything else that may affect your learning experience.

Are certificates from Imperial Executive Education worth it?

Certificates from Imperial Executive Education are recognised globally. Completing the Sustainability Leadership: Value-Creation Strategies for a Regenerative Future programme demonstrates your ability to lead sustainability-driven transformation, align purpose with performance and create measurable impact for your organisation and society.

What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

Each programme includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enrol. This is referenced at the top of the programme landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the programme brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programmes are designed to fit into your working life. This programme is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programmes include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the programme brochure. Please contact us at learner.success@emeritus.org if you need further clarification on any specific programme requirements.

What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the programme, once grading is complete.

Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

Only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms, including LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

Do I receive alumni status after completing this programme?

There is no alumni status granted for this programme. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the programme brochure.

How long will I have access to the learning materials?

You will have access to the learning platform and all programme materials (videos excluded) for one full year following the programme start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

What equipment is needed or the technical requirements for this programme?

To successfully complete this programme online, you must have access to a device meeting the minimum requirements, found here. In addition, Microsoft Office or similar product and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts in all programmes. Please check the learning platform on the first day of class.

Do I need to be online to access the programme content?

The learning platform is accessed via the internet and video content is not available for download. You can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. Video lectures must be streamed via the internet and webinars and small group sessions will require an internet connection.

What is the programme fee for the programme, and what forms of payment do you accept?

  • The programme fee is shown at the top of this page.

  • Flexible payment options, group enrolment benefits and a referral bonus are available.

  • Tuition assistance may be available for participants who qualify. Please contact your programme advisor to discuss.

What if I don’t have a credit card – is there another mode of payment accepted?

Yes, you can do the bank remittance via wire transfer. Please contact your programme advisor for more details.

Is there an option to make flexible payments for this programme?

Yes. Flexible payment options are available for this programme. We partner with loan partners to offer you flexible and transparent loan options. More information about loan financing is available here. Installment payments are also available - you can find the options here.

Does the programme fee include taxes? Are there any additional fees?

Yes, the programme fee is inclusive of any taxes with the exception of GST for Singapore residents.

Who will be collecting the payment for the programme?

Emeritus collects all programme payments, provides learner enrollment and programme support and manages learning platform services.

Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the programme?

Programme fees for Emeritus programmes with Imperial Executive Education may not be paid for with (a) funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008 or similar types of military education funding benefits or (b) Title IV financial aid funds.

What is the programme refund and deferral policy?

For the programme refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Programme Advisers or call us at +44 208 629 1765 (UK) / +1 315 509 2976 (US) / +65 3138 2451 (SG)

Flexible payment options available.

Starts On