Skip to main content
Next-Gen. Now.
The Campaign for Concordia
Concordia University Concordia celebrates 50 years!
Concordia University Concordia celebrates 50 years!

John Molson Executive Centre

John Molson Executive Centre

Corporate Sustainability Fundamentals for Communication and Marketing Professionals

Micro-certificate

Overview

This program equips communications and marketing leaders with the necessary tools to actively engage in their organizations’ sustainability journey so that it can be properly conveyed to their desired audiences. Participants will learn how corporate responsibility is evolving, the big ideological shifts shaping the sustainability space, how to navigate greenwashing, greenhushing and the anti-ESG conversation, and trends in sustainability reporting and disclosure.

Who this certificate is for

  • Corporate communications, PR, and marketing professionals (consultants, managers, directors, and VPs) with a interest in better understanding the shifting corporate sustainability landscape.
  • Communications and marketing consultants who work with agencies
  • Anyone exposed to sustainability practices within their organization, who wants to deepen their understanding of the risks and solutions to greenwashing
  • Professionals actively trying to navigate sustainability communication risks and imperatives
  • Professionals working to examine and expand their employers’ sustainability strategy who want to understand and integrate communications considerations.

Key takeaways

In this program, you’ll:

  • Learn about the evolution of corporate responsibility and its relationship to the corporate functions of communications and marketing.

  • Delve into critical concepts and tensions in corporate sustainability such as:  materiality vs double-materiality,  stakeholder capitalism vs shareholder capitalism, and green washing vs green hushing.

  • Explore trends in corporate sustainability disclosure and greenwashing regulations  globally and in Canada, including a discussion of Bill C-59 and what it means for communications and marketing

  • Dissect examples of corporate sustainability communications, what works and why; what doesn’t and why

  • Apply your learnings by working through a realistic and practical case study with your peers

Program structure

  • Two online sessions
  • Each session will have times allotted for networking and discussion
  • Each session includes a culminating, interactive exercise that allows participants to apply session learnings into a practical work context

To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute to the discussion, we ask that participants complete assigned reading prior to class.

Dates and fees

This micro-certificate has reached capacity for Spring 2025.

Please email jmec@concordia.ca to join our waitlist.

Instructor

Our experienced instructors are leaders and innovators in their field.

Jessie Sitnick

Jessie Sitnick

Senior leader in ESG communications

Jessie is a passionate, purpose-driven strategic communications executive with deep expertise in sustainable finance, ESG, and climate communications. She is the inaugural VP external for The Natural Step, Canada’s solution space for a strong and inclusive economy that thrives within nature’s limits. Previously, Jessie was a Senior vice president of corporate and public affairs at Argyle/Believeco: Partners. She led a talented team serving clients across multiple sectors and industries (finance, tech, real estate and the built environment). She established the firm’s Sustainable Value portfolio, supporting businesses, NGOs, governments, and academic experts in their work to bring climate and sustainable economy solutions to bear.

Industry perspectives

A woman shares ESG communications and marketing strategies with her team

Separating sustainability from spin: How marketing can drive change

Read more

FAQ

To enhance participants’ learning experience, the programs have in-person sessions to facilitate interactive group exercises, to get live feedback from instructors, and to build connections through networking. Before each micro-certificate's first session, there will be a 30-minute introduction period allowing participants to connect with instructors and fellow classmates.

Students must actively participate in all sessions to earn their certificate. To emphasize our skill-focused approach, we intentionally omitted a formal evaluation process to prioritize hands-on learning and real-world application.

Prior to each session, participants should allocate one to two hours for pre-reading. This will ensure they are fully prepared for hands-on class activities.

Each micro-certificate was intentionally scheduled on a different date to allow participants to register for as many as they wish.   

Yes, the John Molson Executive Centre will provide you with a certificate for each program you complete. 

Valérie Lancelot-Mingot

Contact

Valérie Lancelot-Mingot
Program Manager, Executive Education

Phone: 514-848-3960
Toll free: 1-866-333-2271

 
Back to top

© Concordia University