What does sustainability actually mean for those who lead organisations, and for those in the boardroom? A new programme for business leaders to help them understand sustainability, the science, the politics, the legal obligations, and the trends.

Programme overview

Sustainability is harder to put into practice than most business people imagine. The idea is simple on the surface: it’s about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. But how can strategic leaders and decision-makers do this, while retaining the support of key stakeholders and maintaining momentum? How can sustainability be brought into the boardroom – and into day-to-day leadership conversations – in a way that supports the long-term success of the organisation?

Sustainability in the Boardroom addresses the realities of ‘doing’ sustainability, recognising and reconciling demands for increased ROI with the need for all organisations to cut emissions, reduce waste, save energy, and protect biodiversity.

Who is this programme for?

Sustainability in the Boardroom is for anybody who is making decisions about strategy, business development, business continuity, or risk. It's for investment managers, heads of procurement, CEOs, communications leaders, decision makers, finance heads, supply chain managers, board directors, and those reporting to and engaging with the board.

Programme format

Sustainability in the Boardroom is adaptable to clients' needs.

You can access segments of existing content – from one hour, to eight or more – mixing and matching depending on your priorities.

We can also provide bespoke content for anything from small groups – including board members or leadership teams, sales managers, or heads of departments – to large groups crossing your entire business.

Training can be face-to-face, online, live, pre-recorded, or hybrid. We can arrange coaching sessions and workshops too.

What you will learn

Choose from some or all of the following units.

We can also develop additional programme content on specific topics for your organisation.

  • What does ‘sustainability’ mean, and why is it an issue of strategic business importance?
  • What matters, and how to cut through the ‘noise’ of SGDs, ESG, and circular economy?
  • How systems thinking leads to better decision-making, with top tips from strategic sustainability leaders

  • How strategic leaders can usefully consider the impacts of climate change on their business operations, for better planning and resilience in times of change
  • Why 1.5°C is important, and the role of emissions in a globalised supply chain
  • How business leaders can plan for instability

  • How governance frameworks provide an essential tool for smart sustainability decisions
  • How to navigate resistance to change in complex interest networks, and differing norms and expectations on sustainability through global supply chains

  • What questions does a board need to answer, to ensure sustainability preparedness?
  • What ecological issues could affect board decision-making in governance, risk, and finance?
  • What board decisions or influences around risk and strategy could affect ecological issues?
  • How to prepare well-informed board reports that enable good leadership decisions

  • How information, expectations, and beliefs can influence planning and motivations for change
  • Worldviews and fear of change
  • Understanding your stakeholders

  • Understanding resistance to new ideas
  • Making the data tell a story that speaks to stakeholders’ interests
  • Navigating and transforming resistance to change

  • The communications mood and greenhushing
  • How, why, and what to communicate
  • Communicating sustainability in a way that works for your organisation

  • Connecting sustainability facts to decision-making
  • Setting sustainability ambitions
  • The realities of enacting sustainability strategy

Why the University of Edinburgh Business School

Ranked 2nd in the UK and 7th in the world for sustainability *, the University of Edinburgh is a trusted partner in climate and sustainability education. Through our Executive Education programmes we translate our expertise into practical action.

Within the Business School, our Centre for Business, Climate Change and Sustainability comprises over 30 academics focused on the intersection between climate change and business. We provide advice to governments and regulators around the world, shaping policy of the future. We work with businesses of all sizes, multilateral organisations such as the UN, World Bank and European Commission, and international NGOs.

A core part of our ethos is that no one individual, or organisation, can change the world but by connecting to others doing similar work, we are able to catalyse and amplify our efforts. By collaborating with us you are developing a strategic partnership with an organisation that can open the door to a world-wide climate and sustainability network.

* QS World University Rankings 2025

Get in touch

If you’re interested in our Sustainability in the Boardroom programme please contact us:

Bernice Maxton-Lee

Bernice Maxton-Lee, Executive Education Lecturer, Climate and Sustainability
bernice.maxtonlee@ed.ac.uk

Elspeth Wray

Elspeth Wray, Climate and Sustainability Portfolio Manager
elspeth.wray@ed.ac.uk