Creating the next generation of courageous and conscious leaders
Climate change is the single biggest issue facing business and society today, and it is increasingly evident that we need to think and act differently in order to tackle the challenge.
Forward-thinking business leaders are needed to adapt and shape regulatory initiatives, transform supply chains, and work with innovators who understand how climate change is going to drastically alter business practice.
Green jobs now make up a third of postings in the UK, according to LinkedIn. Among the fastest-growing include sustainability analysts. The need for white-collar workers to help manage and finance green transitions is also increasing (Financial Times January 2024).
Do you want to shape the future of sustainable management and finance? Are you prepared to think critically, ask the important questions, and become a responsible leader? Starting in September 2024 the MSc Sustainable Management and Finance will give you a critical and holistic view of ESG management, developing managerial, ethical, legal, accounting and investment skills.
Course leader Dr Itziar Castello-Molina is Reader in Sustainability and Digital Economy at Bayes Business School and has been working in and researching ESG for more than 20 years.
We asked her about the new MSc and how it will equip graduates to tackle the issues of climate change head on.
Why is ESG so important to business now?
Climate change is the major issue that society and business is facing, and it’s not just the environmental issues at play – there are societal issues we need to consider.
Climate change has wide ranging impacts on our wellbeing, but also poverty, and democracy. We need to think about all the different consequences and impacts of climate change and other social and environmental issues as well as how we, as a society, are going to deal with it and adapt to these challenges. No single actor can tackle these alone: business, society and governments must come together to address them. ESG and sustainable management considers how corporations, governments and the civil society can approach these challenges.
Can you tell us about the course and who it is for?
This course is for people who want to become responsible leaders – those who are willing to think critically and ask difficult questions. It is for people who want to shape practice in their organisation or take a more entrepreneurial approach, looking to innovate in organisation management and finance.
Traditionally courses in sustainability have focused on CSR business transformation with other programmes focused on sustainable management. The point of difference in our course is that you get the integration of sustainable finance and management and consider them together.
Students will be equipped with the tools and techniques for effective financial valuation and risk management, ready to take ethical and financially sound managerial decisions, and knowing how to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
ESG management is constantly evolving, so we’re bringing together some of the leading academics, thought-leaders and industry experts to discuss the key issues with students.
Graduates will learn the skills and will get the knowledge and insight needed to make a real difference.
How is the programme structured?
The general curriculum will help students get a deep understanding of ESG and sustainability but most importantly it will help students to ask the right questions. Then we offer a number of elective modules allowing students to tailor their learning to the sector most relevant to them, with specialist modules covering areas including Advisory, Finance, Real Estate, Shipping and Fintech.
Connection to industry is a very strong aspect of the course, and the third term project will see students work with a corporate partner on a real-world problem. These partners will include corporate organisations, government agencies and NGOs among others.
We also call on industry experts and leading practitioners to help steer the content of our programme, so students will always be exposed to the latest thinking and sector trends.
How do students benefit from Bayes’ London location?
We are located in a very vibrant part of the City of London, close to the financial heart of the capital, with the dynamism of Green Tech City nearby. Engagement with industry is one of the School’s biggest strengths and that’s helped by our location, and a teaching faculty with strong connections to the business, management and finance sectors.
There’s already a lively public events programme at Bayes, attracting the best speakers to share insights and connect. We will add to this with alumni networking events, which are typically attended by senior managers from a range of sectors - students will have fantastic opportunities for networking and career development.
Learn more
Visit our website for more information about the MSc Sustainable Management and Finance.
About Itziar Castello-Molina
Course leader Dr Itziar Castello-Molina is Reader in Sustainability and Digital Economy at Bayes Business School and has been working in and researching Sustainability and ESG for more than 20 years. She has extensive experience as an advisor and consultant, having worked with leading organisations to develop sustainability strategies and stakeholder engagement processes.
Itziar’s research explores the ways the discourses of sustainability and climate change are constructed and destructed, notably in social media but also in businesses, social movements and multi-stakeholder organisations. Her research has been widely published in leading academic journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Research Policy, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Venturing, Business Ethics Quarterly amongst others. Her research has been Ranked by the Financial Times as the 47th article in management with greatest societal contribution from 2015 to 2019.