ESG and Sustainability MBA Pathway
Climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), plus responsible decision-making, influence every aspect of how businesses operate. Leaders who understand the opportunities alongside the risks of environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges are poised to shape the economy of the future.
The ESG and Sustainability MBA Pathway equips you with the skills, knowledge and networks you need to pursue a career in this rapidly growing field. Along this path, you will become familiar with both in-house and consulting roles in ESG, ways to incorporate sustainability into any functional area, how to communicate and report out to shareholders and stakeholders, as well as the aptitudes and experience needed to set yourself apart as an ESG leader.
What you’ll learn
The curriculum focuses on the strategic importance of ESG and developing relevant skills in data analysis, finance, strategy, operations, and leadership. You will learn about environmental sustainability and climate risk; diversity, equity and inclusion; social impact; corporate responsibility; ethical leadership; and impact investing.
Careers in ESG and Sustainability
These careers are unique in that they require knowledge about environmental, social, and governance considerations as well as risk management, strategy, and operations.
Effective leaders will need to have an understanding of ESG in any role, since the environmental, social and governance risks currently facing humanity are core challenges and opportunities for every business.
Potential Careers Include:
Sustainability consulting with a
Big 4 or boutique firm
In-house ESG
or sustainability roles
Sustainable finance
Traditional marketing, operations, finance or real estate roles done through an ESG lens
"The ESG & Sustainability Pathway truly laid the foundation for my career and the meaningful work that fulfills me daily. Leeds was arguably the best place in the nation to study sustainability because of its focus on industry trends, its professors, and Boulder's culture. Before moving to Boulder, I was still determining what I wanted to focus my MBA in, but I soon realized that ESG & Sustainability was my calling—thanks to Leeds."
- Matthew Hannam (MBA '22), ESG Consultant at Conservice
Companies where Leeds alumni work in ESG:
MBA Coursework: Develop your ESG skill set in key subject areas
Data analysis, finance and risk management, and accounting/reporting
- ​Financial statement analysis
- ESG reporting and analysis
- Sustainable finance
- Data analytics
- Carbon accounting
Social and environmental impacts and strategic opportunities
- Analyzing a problem and proposing solutions by consulting with a real company
- Systems thinking related to sustainability
- Laws and policies related to climate change
- Entrepreneurship from a sustainable perspective
Stakeholder management and the ability to influence, integrate, and communicate
- Change management
- ​Project management
- Consulting skills
* Students may take up to 6 MENV or Law School elective credits with prior permission.
Co-curricular Activities: Gain ESG experience
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Workshop
- Travel to the ClimateCAP MBA conference
- New Venture Challenge Climate Focus
- UN Global Climate Summit
- Leeds Social Impact Consultants
- Net Impact Club and Net Impact Case Competition
- Programming on business and human rights
- Careers in Sustainability panel series
- Workshops and events featuring trends and ESG leaders from major companies
- ESG & Sustainability Trek
- March Madness Ethics Debates
The ESG Pathway is managed by CESR in collaboration with the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, and Burridge Center for Finance​