HBA Sustainability Certificate
Empowering the next generation of sustainable leaders
The HBA Sustainability Certificate is directed by Dr. Oana Branzei and is generously funded by RBC and the Chisholm Family Foundation. The Certificate empowers Ivey HBA students to build and lead more sustainable organizations. It includes a coordinated set of courses and experiences designed to provide a strong grounding in the principles and best practices of sustainability. The program positions students to begin their journeys as responsible C-Suite decision-makers, entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders and policymakers.
For 2023-2025, the certificate program is excited to welcome Associate Professor, Diane-Laure Arjaliès as co-director. Diane-Laure Arjaliès leads the Centre's Sustainable Finance Lab. She is the winner of the 2021 teaching recognition award for overall excellence in sustainable finance education, which is jointly awarded by the Financial Times and the Impact and Sustainable Finance Faculty Consortium. Learn about what the program had in store for the 2023-24 year.
Read about five reasons why you should consider the HBA Sustainability Certificate program.
Program co-directors Professor Oana Branzei and Associate Professor Diane-Laure Arjaliès present the theme of the 2024/2025 HBA Sustainability Certificate program by asking a thought-provoking question: "Can capitalism be regenerative?”. Perhaps the answer is too easy: “Not yet”. But if we want it to be, what role could you play? Through innovative courses, activities and pedagogies, we will collectively strive towards regeneration in design, economies, futures, and leadership. Applications are now open. You are invited to contribute your skepticism, critique, anxiety, and/or ambitions to making capitalism less degenerative and more regenerative. Feel free to join the dialogue by adding your reactions and comments below the theme reveal video.
Here are a few good reasons why you should apply according to alumnus Nick Fox.
Resources
- Overview and Requirements 2023/2024 *Elective updates coming soon for 24/25
- Application 2024/2025
- Current Students
- Current Mentors
Applications for the 2024/2025 cohort of the HBA Sustainability Certificate are open.
- Committed to starting their personal social or sustainable ventures.
- Interested in sustainability consulting.
- Having a personal calling to make a difference, wanting to blend this calling with a successful career in traditional organizations.
- Interested in pursuing sustainable opportunities after gaining insights through traditional job placements.
- Mentor students
- Participate as speakers in sustainability events
If you're a manager wanting to engage with students in this program, contact Ali Rilett, arilett@ivey.ca
Academic Requirements
0.5 required courses: To complete the Certificate you must successfully complete HBA1 and one of the following HBA2 courses:
- 4620 Impact Assessment (0.5 course)
- 4553 Social Enterprise (0.5 course)
Please note: Should you wish to take both courses, one will count as required and the other as one of the two electives towards the completion of the Certificate
1.0 electives: In addition to the 0.5 required course, students must take 1.0 credits from the following. These 1.0 credits must be unique from your required course. For instance, if you select 4553 Social Enterprise as your required course, you must choose 1.0 additional elective courses to complete the certificate.
- 4647 Technology and Humanity (0.5 course)
- 4525 International Business Environment Studies: Service Learning in Africa (0.5 course) – not offered in 2024/25
- 4564 Design-Driven Innovation (0.5 course)
- 4580 Reputation Management (0.5 course)
- 4495 Building Consumer Brands (0.5 course) (must opt to do their final course project on a Sustainability-oriented brand/organization)
- 4619 The Performing Leader (0.5 course)
- 4499 Case Writing or Research Project (0.5 course)
- 4500 Learning from Leaders (0.5 course) – not offered in 2024/25
- 4663Q Systems Thinking in an Age of Disruption (0.25 course)
- 4664A The Art of Social Entrepreneurship (0.5 course)
- 4660T ESG In-Action (0.25 course) – not offered in 2024/25
- TRC-In-Action "Reconciling Business Schools workshop" (.25 course) will be offered August 19-23, 2024 Click here to learn more
Engagement Requirements
Sustainability certificate students are expected to engage in 4 extracurricular events, two in September and two more in March. Events are mandatory for all students with the exception of students with class conflicts who should attend class as scheduled and record their absence from the mandatory extracurricular events one week in advance. Students will also get exclusive access to optional speaker events throughout the year (not currently listed).
- Live case: rapid response to real-time dilemmas presented by the executive team of a large company (September)
- Field Trip: on-site hands-on activities hosted by multiple leaders & organizations (September)
- Worldchangers: a showcase of “Sustainability by Ivey” featuring Ivey alumni who have started sustainable start-ups or are leading sustainability strategies (March)
- Journey to Purpose: a keynote presentation, the unveiling of the purpose statements for the graduating cohort, and networking with Ivey faculty, alumni and the incoming certificate cohort (March)
Purpose Statements
Students will be asked to write and submit a brief (200 words maximum) purpose statement and an mp4 video recording of their declaration of purpose on LEARN by March 1st, 2024. A short documentary feature combining all statements that will be released at our final event, Journey to Purpose. Preparation steps, including templates and worksheets are available on LEARN.
Exchange
Students going on exchange in the second term must complete all core courses at Ivey but can substitute 0.5 electives with sustainability-related courses offered by your host institution. Students must obtain pre-approval from the Sustainability Certificate Program and the HBA Program Office for these substitutions before leaving on exchange.
Mentorship
Sustainability mentors, Ivey alumni working in sustainability-related fields or roles, many of whom are also alumni of the certificate program, will support students throughout the year. Mentorship marathons are scheduled for mid-September. Mentors return to join the two extracurricular events in March.
Certificate students receive the first invitations to exclusive events, including conferences, dinners, guest speakers, other networking events and career opportunities. These events are not required, but are excellent opportunities to learn and network.
The program has limited enrolment. The application for admission consists of a standard 'fill-in-the-blanks' form with three written-answer questions, plus a biography, photo, and resume.
Professor Oana Branzei – Co-Director, obranzei@ivey.ca
Associate Professor Diane-Laure Arjaliès – Co-Director, darjalies@ivey.ca
Ali Rilett – Centre Coordinator, Centre for Building Sustainable Value, arilett@ivey.ca
Centre for Building Sustainable Value, sustainability@ivey.ca
