Vlerick Gent 20220523 - 50 hero desktop

Transforming to sustainable business

Embed ESG in your organisation and develop sustainability-driven business opportunities

#1

FT ranked logo colour

in Open Executive Education in Belgium and #27 worldwide

46

former participants

4.2/5

for Learning Impact

Creating a more sustainable business has never been more important to the planet. But how do you learn to set priorities, make sustainability transformation a reality – and reap the new opportunities it brings? Find answers on how to transform your organisation and deal with global ESG challenges in this programme.

It’s designed to support your transformation journey, so you can leap into building smart, sustainable business models that will benefit both your organisation and society.

Detailed programme

This four-day interactive programme includes 3 days of on-campus learning, three expert webinars – and a final coaching session where you’ll hone your sustainability transformation plan.

Module 1: Where is your organisation today?

  • What do we mean by sustainable value creation?
  • Assess your current level of sustainability and learn to set priorities
  • Discover how to develop a materiality and impact assessment
  • Explore how to engage stakeholders
  • Learn about stakeholder preferences, stakeholder dialogue and stakeholder engagement

Module 2: Where do you want your organisation to be?

  • Assess your current value proposition
  • Discover how circularity can create new opportunities
  • Transform your proposition to boost sustainability
  • Discover the opportunities sustainable pricing models can offer

Module 3: How to get there?

  • Define your organisation’s ecosystem and its role in the transformation process
  • Develop a clear view on how you can design a business model for sustainability
  • Discover the need for regulations to make changes in the whole eco-system of a sector
  • Learn how to implement change for positive impact

Module 4: Sustainability webinars

Go more in-depth with these expert webinars that each touch upon a specific sustainability-related topic: 

  • How to create a sustainability mindset in your company
  • Sustainability marketing: understand customer barriers and how to overcome them
  • Explore the role of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

Module 5: Project coaching and closing keynote 

  • Analyse your organisation’s sustainability priorities and develop your transformation plan
  • Learn from business experts, our experienced faculty and your peers
  • Closing keynote

Why this programme

  • Acquire essential frameworks, models and tools to implement sustainability in your organisation’s strategy
  • Explore core sustainability topics – including sustainability maturity, materiality, target-setting, diversity and circularity
  • Develop a sustainability mindset – for yourself and your organisation
  • Leverage your strategy and marketing skills to make the world more sustainable
  • Learn to build alliances to make positive change happen
  • Build an action plan for your sustainability project

Who should attend

  • Managers or leaders who play a crucial role in their organisation’s sustainability journey
  • Sustainability managers who are new to the role and need the tools to develop a sustainability strategy and roadmap
  • Professionals who want to raise awareness of sustainability in their organisations

Success stories

David Blazquez Vila

Vlerick’s Transforming to Sustainable Business programme not only deepened my understanding of sustainability but it also gave me principles and practices for cultivating a sustainable mindset. Grounded in real-world examples and best practices, the content is not just theoretical but highly relevant and immediately actionable.

Faculty

Xavier Baeten

Xavier Baeten

Professor of Reward & Sustainability

Xavier Baeten is highlighting the vital role of rewarding in helping organisations deliver their strategy and gain competitive advantage.

Koen Tackx

Koen Tackx

Professor of Marketing

Koen Tackx creates sustainable value for customers, shareholders and society with effective pricing, innovation and product management.

Walter Van Dyck

Walter Van Dyck

Professor of Innovation Management

Walter Van Dyck supports global science and technology companies with strategic innovation management.

Jean Vanhoegaerden

Jean Vanhoegaerden

Adjunct Professor of Change Management

Jean Vanhoegaerden has over 25 years of experience teaching executive education programmes across the world.

Smaranda Boros

Smaranda Boros

Professor of Organisational Behaviour

If you want to change the world, Smaranda Boros is here to guide, challenge and support you. 

Karlien Vanderheyden

Karlien Vanderheyden

Professor of Organisational Behaviour

Karlien Vanderheyden focuses on how individuals can impact an organisation’s people, processes and performance.

Get in touch!

Liesbeth De Vreese

Liesbeth De Vreese

Programme Manager & Advisor