It was a privilege to be part of the first cohort of people taking the online ESG and Sustainable Financial Strategy course, a collaboration between AICPA & CIMA and Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
It was a unique opportunity to connect with others across 22 countries, with different backgrounds and experiences in driving sustainability in diverse organisations.
The course, comprising of six modules, took us through the very complex regulatory environment, reporting and governance implications, and how to consider the strategic and decision-making impact.
The key takeaways for me were the importance of being able to clearly define corporate purpose and focus on long-term value creation and to communicate this message across multiple stakeholder groups.
Taking the course also emphasised for me the importance of building a sustainable culture and the role CFOs and finance leaders play in creating sustainable value.
The digital platform experience worked well as I was able to learn at my own pace, at times that suited my schedule. There were always tutors and the support team on hand to answer questions. We also, through a group messaging app, were able to connect and interact with others on the course, which was the real value.
Reading different perspectives on topics covered brought the learning to life and hearing experiences from other geographical locations was very insightful.
I also found the coursework practical and applicable. Over the weeks we built up a bank of slides relevant to our own organisations, which could then inform conversations at senior levels on how to approach the sustainability agenda.
Throughout the development of this coursework, we received excellent feedback from the course tutors and peers to further shape and improve the message.
Overall, this has given me a much deeper and rounded understanding of ESG and sustainability, which in turn gave me greater confidence to have conversations with other senior leaders. I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to elevate these important conversations and drive this important strategic imperative forward.
