WBCSD Leadership Program

Empowering emerging business leaders to thrive as the sustainability transformation unfolds

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Develop the skills and qualities needed to be a sustainability leader

Join global in-person immersion in our 12-month program, delivered in partnership with leading business schools

24 March – 6 November 2025

Trusted by more than 700 leaders from 150+ companies

ABB
Acciona
April
Ayala
Bayer
CLP Group
DSM-Firmenich
EY
GE
Hitachi
Holcim
KPMG
Michelin
Nestlé
PETRONAS
PwC
SCG- Cement
Shell
Syensqo
Syngenta

Learn from peers and world class experts

Lead with purpose and innovation

Equip yourself to challenge norms and drive new strategies for sustainable growth.

Enhance your understanding of evolving sustainability challenges and opportunities

Learn about key developments across the environmental and social sustainability landscape.

Join a global network of dynamic changemakers

Come together with peers from across industries as part of an emerging community of sustainability ambassadors

Benefit from insights of global thought-leaders

Draw on the thought-leadership of world class academics, seasoned business leaders and sustainable development experts

WBCSD Leadership Program Overview

9 months, 3 countries

Sustainable development in context

March 24-28th 2025 IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • → Develop knowledge of sustainability business issues, drivers, tools, and approaches.
  • → Learn from professors from IMD and leadership simulation exercises.
  • → Connect and interact with WBCSD representatives and sustainability experts.
  • → Extend leadership skills for sustainable development and reflective practice.
  • → Create a large network of business leaders and share good practices.
  • → Develop a case review that explores the sustainability challenges and opportunities related to participants’ companies.
  • → Combine learnings from Module 1 to develop recommendations to solve practical sustainability challenges faced by the company.
  • → Explore concepts and tools relevant for participants’ practice.
  • → Gain new insights into the business context through sharing with other participants’ personal and professional knowledge and experiences.
  • → Learn from renowned academics from Yale University and leadership experiential learning activities.
  • → Critically interact and debate with professors, company representatives, leaders, and sustainability experts to develop one’s own opinion.
  • → Design and execute a group project.
  • → Develop skills in group project management, engagement, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
  • → Extend leadership skills for sustainable development and reflective practice.
  • → Learn from academics and leadership experiential learning activities.
  • → Connect and interact with WBCSD representatives and sustainability experts.
  • → Consolidate projects, activities, and introduction of learnings into companies.
  • → Plan for future actions.

Learning crafted with leading academic institutions and partners

What you’ll get

01

Certification from Yale and IMD

Earn certification from Yale University and IMD after completing the program, taught by world-class academics.

02

A powerful global network

Join a global network of business leaders recognized for driving sustainability.

03

Create your own action plan while learning from peers

Engage in diverse learning formats—from classroom-based work to immersive experiences—designed to advance your career.

Why top leaders choose our program

Play Video about Leadership Program WBCSD
"The WBCSD Leadership Program has been instrumental in Bayer’s transformation, preparing leaders worldwide to better integrate sustainability into our business practices and decision-making processes."
Gabriela BurianGlobal Head of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships, Bayer
”At Holcim, we send changemakers to the WBCSD Leadership Program every year. It’s a unique platform to learn from peers and world class experts, from the United Nations and financial institutions to other companies on the latest sustainability “hot topics”. As an alumni, I recommend it as an opportunity to expand sustainability capabilities and leadership to accelerate the transition to a net positive future.”
Nollaig Forrest Chief Sustainability Officer, Holcim
"The WBCSD Leadership Program has been an outstanding opportunity for me to build innovative and effective leadership and management skills, as well as to strengthen sustainability knowledge and awareness. The program unlocked new ways to develop and implement sustainability strategies into my daily activities and allowed me to meet talented and visionary peers from all around the world and industries."
Claudio SiminelliGlobal Sustainability Program Lead, ABB & Alumni of WBCSD Leadership Program
”Through the WBCSD Leadership Program, I expanded my knowledge about critical sustainable development topics and learned actionable strategies to help strengthen my leadership capabilities. At the same time, I gained a wonderful, diverse network of global professionals – their insights and partnership broadened my perspective. I highly recommend the program to any leader committed to advancing change in sustainable development.”
Laura Cococcia Head of HR Strategy, Talent, and Culture, GE
“The WBCSD Leadership Program is a great concrete step into deepening the necessary knowledge for emerging leaders when it comes to sustainable development, organisational purpose and the challenges concerning ESG. In an inspiring year participants furthermore build a relevant cross-sectional network and gain insights required to move their respective organisations forward to the next level on sustainability related topics. All in all highly recommended.”
Bas Rüter Global Head Food System Transition, Rabobank
“One of the biggest challenges companies face today is bridging the disconnect between stated sustainability commitments and actual strategies being implemented. The WBCSD Leadership Program, rather than being a learning program focused solely on sustainability concepts, offers a unique way of viewing business management, innovation, marketing, and other concepts through the lens of sustainability. On top of the formal sessions, I’ve had the chance to build a fantastic network of professionals, and learn about how each employs unique approaches to solving sustainability issues across industries.”
Dana T. UsonCorporate Strategy Associate, Ayala Corporation

Trusted by the world’s leading companies

732

Alum

158

Leading companies

99%

Recommendation rate

Meet our world-class faculty

Learn from top experts in sustainability and leadership, including professors from Yale University, IMD, and global industry leaders.

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Who is this program for:

Perfect for all business roles: no prior sustainability expertise required

More than 5 years of working experience

Demonstrated leadership qualities within your company

Excellent English proficiency

Learn more about the program

Download the program brochure

Unlock sustainable growth today!

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