ESG and sustainability have become increasingly prominent in corporate governance and risk discussions. Once largely voluntary, these frameworks are now shaped by a mix of regulation, investor pressure, and market expectations, often with differing interpretations across industries and regions. The extent to which ESG drives long-term value or performance remains an active and sometimes contested issue.

As one of BoardCollective’s flagship courses, this program is designed to go beyond surface-level coverage. Across nine lessons, it examines the foundations of ESG, explores environmental, social, and governance factors in depth, and considers how political, regulatory, and market shifts are influencing corporate obligations. The course analyzes key ESG-related risks and liabilities, how organizations integrate sustainability into operations, and the debated ways ESG may affect resilience, costs, innovation, and access to capital—equipping board members with practical frameworks to support informed oversight and decision-making.