4. Some insights about this pathway
- In a world where sustainability and social progress take center stage, businesses are on the hunt for exceptional individuals who can transform their operations and strategies towards sustainable business success. Imagine yourself as a changemaker, blending environmental know-how, social savvy, and business proficiency. This pathway will empower you to weave these elements into corporate strategies, building on your business management acumen.
- A sustainability revolution is sweeping across the business landscape, and it's creating a treasure trove of opportunities. We are seeing growth in job openings in sustainable business. So, if the idea of driving charge towards business practices that don't just save the planet but also make it a better place to live motivates you, then this is the pathway for you.
- As you would expect, companies in every sector of business and all functional areas need professionals with expertise in this pathway. Often, sustainability-oriented firms don’t only hire technical experts to be responsible for designing a given sustainability element of the business, but they want to hire general managers who can bring a mindset of sustainability to whatever their position might be. For example, if Patagonia was hiring a marketing professional, they would much rather one who knows and understand their identity as a purpose-driven business and will never engage in marketing practices that might get them in trouble.
- That said, areas in which this pathway has preeminence include banking, investment, consulting, energy, infrastructure, automotive, transportation, technology, food & beverage, agribusiness, fashion, retail, construction & real estate, tourism or water management.
- Sustainability is a topic that is transversal to the business. That is why in this pathway you will participate in courses taught by faculty in various academic areas at IE, rather than just focus on one academic area or two. Thus, it will give you a crosscutting, strategy driven view of the firm and sustainability as it’s driving lever. Some of the functional areas in which more professionals with specific knowledge about sustainability are being demanded are: strategy, supply chain management, product design, reporting, finance, investor relations, marketing & comms, or talent management.