Societal challenges, global crisis, shifting consumers preferences, political advocacy and technological breakthroughs are radically transforming markets and business models, casting the sustainability imperative at the center of the stage and giving rise to the so-called purpose-driven economy. Corporations, financial institutions and social ventures will have to redesign their missions and business models in order to pursue, jointly and intentionally, purpose and profit objectives, delivering positive impact on the environment and society. Against this background, a profound rethinking of management practices, governance models, strategies and operations is inevitable and urgent.

The Major Sustainability and Social Impact aims to get students acquainted with the societal challenges, the new economic paradigms and the technological breakthroughs that are giving rise to the purpose-driven economy. Students will learn how to develop and implement managerial models, innovations, strategies, finance and investing approaches able to envision solutions that proactively tackle social and environmental problems while also pursuing economic sustainability and profit.

The Major Sustainability and Social Impact consists of 3 courses:

This course is designed to provide students with concepts and instruments that are necessary to gain a better understanding of sustainability and impact management

The program includes the analysis of strategy, technology and impact management, financial instruments, accounting and control tools, performance management approaches as a function of the objectives of newly established social ventures or consolidated and mainstream corporate models, striving to exploit the opportunities related to emerging societal challenges.

This laboratory is designed as a training arena based on learning by doing.

Classroom-based, collaborative (small-group) sessions will provide students with an opportunity to apply concepts, methods, and tools acquired throughout the courses.

Students will explore and become familiar with the business models and corporate strategies through new managerial approaches, new forms of collaboration, innovative technology, and product and process innovation.

The course will cover the following topics:

• The role of sustainability for innovation
• New models of innovation for sustainability
• Enablers of innovation for sustainability
• Collaborations for sustainability