certified ESG Manager:in

• Overview of relevant sustainability tools (e.g. double materiality analysis, stakeholder engagement, ecosystem analysis).
• Introduction to life cycle analysis (LCA) and cradle-to-cradle principles.
• Understanding the circular economy and applying it along the value chain.
• Develop impact orientation and awareness in the ESG context.
• Shaping corporate culture and values for sustainable transformation.

Self-study unit: Stakeholders - allies in sustainability.

• Structure and apply ESG and sustainability instruments.
• Conception of ESG workshops to build an organizational ecosystem.
• Effectively plan and implement stakeholder involvement.
• Carry out a double materiality analysis (impact & financial materiality).
• Developing a sustainability strategy step by step.
• Management theory and sustainability: profit orientation vs. impact - new ways of thinking in management.

Self-study unit: Analyze tools along the Sustainable Excellence Roadmap and their application in your own company.

• Integrate ESG into existing management systems (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EMAS, ISO 45001, etc.).
• Anchoring sustainability in the organization in the long term through process management.
• ESG controlling: Understanding key figures, indicators and data basis.
• Establish links between sustainability strategy and reporting.
• Overview of current frameworks and their links (UN, SDGs, OECD guidelines, EU directives, laws, etc.).

Self-study unit: Fundamentals of sustainable business models.

• Define and strengthen your own role in sustainability management.
• Self-coaching: Stay motivated even in the face of headwinds.
• Positive psychology & systemic thinking for ESG managers.
• Lead, motivate and support ESG teams.
• Tools for team moderation and co-creative work.
• Dealing with resistance - an excursion into change management.

Self-study unit: The change management process and the basics of sustainability reporting.

• Develop communication strategies for internal and external target groups.
• Building trust through credible sustainability communication.
• Differences between voluntary and mandatory reporting (e.g. CSRD/ESRS, VSME, GRI, ISSB/IFRS S2).
• Designing collaboration & partnerships for sustainable impact.
• Exam preparation.

Examination requirements:

The prerequisite is the completion of all training modules as well as the completion of the self-study units. Four weeks before the examination date, a presentation on a current or upcoming project in your own organization on the topic of "ESG" is submitted to the Haufe Akademie .

Duration of the examination:

The duration of the examination is limited to one day per participant . Attendance on site is required on this day. The group and time allocation takes place approx. 12 weeks before the exam date. 

Examination content:

Presentation of a current or upcoming project from your own organization.

Focus of the presentation:

• Initial situation & project objective.
• Reflection on your own role in the project.
• Reflection on the approach and selection of methods, tools, etc.
• Presentation of the learning process within the project.

Examination procedure:

every participant presents the submitted project in a plenary presentation. This is followed by a brief discussion with the other participants and the experts. You will answer the questions of the other participants and can ask your own questions in order to gain valuable input for the successful implementation of your project.