Corporate Esg And Sustainability - Doing Well And Doing Good

The New Leadership Priority – Building a Best-in-Class ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Program

What you'll learn
Understand the "ESG revolution" and its relevance to your business
Establish or evolve an effective ESG program
Understand ESG v. CSR and how to reconcile them
Attract investors, customers, and employees with strong ESG alignment
Choose an ESG framework that works for your business
Engage in ESG reporting best practices
Understand the latest trends and be up-to-date on the rapidly-changing ESG world
Learn from ESG experts from top Fortune 100 companies
Be equipped to support your business in building a better, more sustainable world
Requirements
The only requirement is an interest in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibilities of organizations.
Description
The global investment and corporate community has realized that companies that do good in the world also do better in their business. Programs for corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate volunteerism, environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, ethical behavior, philanthropy, and a focus on stakeholder capitalism were all "nice to haves," but now investors, consumers, and employees are demanding that companies make positive ESG (environmental, social, and governance) impacts and the game has changed. Positively contributing to society and the environment is now a "must have." ESG frameworks have brought transparency, objectivity, and accountability to companies' environmental, social, and governance impacts. But, ESG frameworks are numerous and confusing. Reporting standards are varied and difficult to navigate. And, the ESG landscape is changing rapidly.According to the Harvard Business Review, there is an "ESG Reckoning" taking place.  ESG is the No. 1 topic investors want to discuss with boards of directors. (PWC.) As of 2020, almost 90% of publicly traded companies and 67% of privately-owned companies had embarked on ESG initiatives. (NAVEX Global). Additionally, 88% of institutional investors believe that companies that prioritize ESG initiatives represent better opportunities for long-term returns than companies that do not. (Edelman)Whether your company already has an ESG program or is thinking of developing one, this course will help you understand ESG, navigate the alphabet soup of the ESG world, and lead your company in establishing a high-impact ESG program. Layli Miller-Muro has a 25-year career as a corporate lawyer with one of the top law firms in the world and as a human rights lawyer with one of the most influential non-profits in the United States. Named as one of Goldman Sachs's Top 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, Newsweek Magazine's 150 Most Fearless Women in the World, and a winner of the Washington Post's Award for Management Excellence, Layli is an author and frequent lecturer. Currently, she is a consultant helping corporations with their social impact strategies. With both a legal and practical lens, she will demystify ESG and help you establish an effective ESG program. This course will enable you to:Understand the history of ESG and what ESG means (including how it is different from CSR)Realize its relevance to you and your companyBecome an expert in the range of frameworks currently out there, as well as those that are pending and coming down the pipeYou will receive a road map for implementing an ESG strategy for your company - whether small or large. (With practical tools, handouts, and exercises to support you in your journey.)Have a sense of what is coming next in the industry and what experts are expecting in this fast-changing landscape.Most importantly, this course will support you in ensuring that your company has a competitive edge in both making profit and making the world a better place!

Overview

Section 1: Welcome!

Lecture 1 Overview of the Course

Section 2: What is ESG?

Lecture 2 What is ESG: Overview

Lecture 3 What is ESG: Basic Definition

Lecture 4 What is ESG: Comparing ESG to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)

Lecture 5 What is ESG: Historic Overview

Lecture 6 Expert Interview (Varma): What does ESG mean to you?

Lecture 7 Expert Interview (Tullier): How ESG has evolved?

Lecture 8 Expert Interview (Chew): How has ESG evolved?

Lecture 9 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): What is your definition of ESG?

Lecture 10 Expert Interview (Bergman): What is ESG?

Lecture 11 Expert Interview (Dodson): What is ESG from an equity lens?

Lecture 12 Expert Interview (Silberman): How CSR has evolved to ESG?

Section 3: Why is ESG Important for your Business?

Lecture 13 Why is ESG Important: Overview

Lecture 14 Why is ESG Important: Competitive Edge

Lecture 15 Why is ESG Important: Compliance

Lecture 16 Why is ESG Important: Strategically Planning for the Future

Lecture 17 Why is ESG Important: Making the World a Better Place

Section 4: ESG Frameworks

Lecture 18 ESG Frameworks: Overview

Lecture 19 GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)

Lecture 20 CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)

Lecture 21 SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)

Lecture 22 TCFD (Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure)

Lecture 23 WDI (The Workforce Disclosure Initiative)

Lecture 24 CDSB (The Climate Disclosure Standards Board)

Lecture 25 WEF (World Economic Forum Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics)

Section 5: ESG Program Best Practices

Lecture 26 ESG Program Best Practices: Overview

Lecture 27 Choosing or Constructing a Relevant ESG Framework

Lecture 28 Conducting a Materiality Assessment

Lecture 29 Establishing ESG Goals

Lecture 30 Conducting a Gap Analysis

Lecture 31 Mapping Actions Needed to Meet Goals

Lecture 32 Prioritizing and Allocating Resources Needed

Lecture 33 Track Progress and Hold Accountable

Lecture 34 Reporting and Promoting Progress

Lecture 35 Expert Interview (Tullier): Corporate ESG best practices

Lecture 36 Expert Interview (Chew): Conducting materiality assessments

Lecture 37 Expert Interview (Silberman): Choosing metrics, materiality, and goal setting

Lecture 38 Expert Interview (Tullier): Best practices in engaging investors

Lecture 39 Expert Interview (Alemayehou): Board of Directors best practices

Section 6: Overcoming Barriers in ESG

Lecture 40 Overcoming Barriers in ESG: Overview

Lecture 41 What are the Barriers to Implementing a Successful ESG Program?

Lecture 42 How You Can Overcome the Barriers

Lecture 43 Expert Interview (Varma): Challenges and opportunities in ESG

Lecture 44 Expert Interview (Alemayehou): Challenges in implementing ESG

Lecture 45 Expert Interview (Chew): ESG obstacles and ways to overcome them

Lecture 46 Expert Interview (Tullier): ESG's biggest challenges

Lecture 47 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): Challenges with ESG programs, particularly in Africa

Lecture 48 Expert Interview (Silberman): Overcoming obstacles to implementing ESG

Lecture 49 Expert Interview (Dodson): Challenges with ESG implementation

Section 7: ESG Updates and Trends to Watch

Lecture 50 ESG Trends to Watch: Overview

Lecture 51 Expert Interview (Chew): Future of mandatory v. voluntary disclosures

Lecture 52 Expert Interview (Varma): ESG is here to stay with new disclosure requirements

Lecture 53 Expert Interview (Bergman): The future of ESG frameworks

Lecture 54 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): Future trends in ESG

Lecture 55 Expert Interview (Dodson): Future trends in ESG

Section 8: Extra: ESG Experts' Views on Roles and Responsibilities to Ensure Accountability

Lecture 56 Expert Interview (Varma): The role of the General Counsel in ESG

Lecture 57 Expert Interview (Chew): The role of investors in advancing ESG

Lecture 58 Expert Interview (Dodson): The role of asset managers and implicit bias

Lecture 59 Expert Interview (Silberman): Role of third party assurances in advancing ESG

Lecture 60 Expert Interview (Alemayehou): Role of investors in advancing ESG

Lecture 61 Expert Interview (Nydiaye): Role of investors

Lecture 62 Expert Interview (Varma): Role of the Board

Lecture 63 Expert Interview (Dodson): Role of boards in ESG

Lecture 64 Expert Interview (Bergman): Roles of stakeholders in motivating accountability

Lecture 65 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): Role of the Board

Lecture 66 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): Role of government regulation

Section 9: Extra: Leader Perspectives on ESG in Various Global Markets

Lecture 67 Expert Interview (Ndiaye): ESG in Africa

Lecture 68 Expert Interview (Bergman): ESG in Europe v United States

Lecture 69 Expert Interview (Dodson): ESG among marginalized communities

Section 10: Course Closing

Lecture 70 You did it!

This course is for board members, executives, and employees who want to advance ESG in their organization.