Business for a Sustainable Future
Businesses have an enormous environmental impact, but can—and should—be catalysts for positive systems change. Every business, regardless of whether it’s a tiny startup or a giant multinational, has the power (and the obligation) to re-think how its practices can build a better world.
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Course Content
Total content: 41 activities
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Lesson 1: The Sustainable Business Landscape
What are the models, standards, and trends for sustainability in business?
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The Sustainable Business Landscape: Introduction ViewActivity1.1
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The case for letting business solve social problems ViewActivity1.2
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Perspectives on business and the environment ViewActivity1.3
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Material biographies ViewActivity1.4
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Types of Ecosystem Services ViewActivity1.5
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Situation Assessment: Resources, Ecosystem Services & Externalities ViewActivity1.6
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Negotiation Naranja ViewActivity1.7
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Doughnut Economics: Change the Goal ViewActivity1.8
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Climate Change and Business: What Every MBA Needs to Know ViewActivity1.9
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A Business’ Impact Goals ViewActivity1.10
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Paul Polman talks about Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan ViewActivity1.11
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What’s your North Star? ViewActivity1.12
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Are these frameworks enough? ViewActivity1.13
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Is it Greenwashing? ViewActivity1.14
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Sustainability Consulting Case Studies ViewActivity1.15
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Lesson 2: Driving Change in Business: the Entrepreneurial Mindset
How do entrepreneurs design business models that open up new opportunities for scaling environmental initiatives?
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Driving Change in Business: the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Introduction ViewActivity2.1
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Let’s apply the startup mindset to our biggest challenges ViewActivity2.2
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Interview an Entrepreneur ViewActivity2.3
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Map your innovation ecosystem ViewActivity2.4
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Stakeholder Power Mapping ViewActivity2.5
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Explore revenue models ViewActivity2.6
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Introduction to the Business Model Canvas ViewActivity2.7
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Practice using the Social Business Model Canvas ViewActivity2.8
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How do you prototype a business model? ViewActivity2.9
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Prototype your business model ViewActivity2.10
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Design your business model ViewActivity2.11
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Lesson 3: Building a Sustainable Venture
How do I pitch, run, and grow my own business or initiative?
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Building a Sustainable Venture: Introduction ViewActivity3.1
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Everyone’s a superhero ViewActivity3.2
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What support do you need to grow? ViewActivity3.3
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Venture Roadmap ViewActivity3.4
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Who will you pitch to? ViewActivity3.5
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The power of the eight-word mission statement ViewActivity3.6
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Craft your mission statement ViewActivity3.7
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Tips for pitching ViewActivity3.8
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Pitch Critique ViewActivity3.9
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Storyboard your pitch ViewActivity3.10
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Pitch! ViewActivity3.11
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Parting Advice: Inside Tips from Expert Entrepreneurs ViewActivity3.12
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Explore More
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Lesson 1: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.1
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Lesson 2: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.2
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Lesson 3: Additional Resources ViewActivity4.3
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Lesson 3: Additional Resources
Next Steps for Entrepreneurs: this curation of resources that will guide you through the next steps for taking business ideas beyond the initial stages and pitch.
- Build on the roadmap activity we did in class with this more detailed version: Roadmap for Success (Design Kit) and build a more detailed Funding Strategy (Design Kit)
- Build on your 8 word mission statement: Create A Logic Model (Design Kit) or read a recap of Kevin Starr’s approach to turning the 8 Word Mission Statement into a full logic model in this great post. To hear more from Kevin Starr, explore The 8 Word Mission Statement and How not to save the world.
Other helpful resources:
- The Lean Startup by Eric Reis
- Sam Altman’s “How to Start a Startup” and Startup Playbook
- The Balance: Entrepreneurs Resources and Advice and Becoming a Small Business Owner
- Founder Library
- Stripe: Atlas Guides to Starting a Real Business
- Business design playbook (Board of Innovation): Great, in-depth resource with many more activities to explore your business design
- Acumen’s Business Models for Social Enterprise Course
- Acceleration by Ryan Roberts (and the associated site) offer a guide to the often-confusing world of startup law, incorporation, and how to protect your startup.
Social impact investors and incubators:
- 44 Social Impact Investing Ventures Changing the World Through Finance
- Impact Garden: Network | Incubators | Accelerators
More tips on pitching, as well as templates to use, are in this Pitch Deck Guide. More examples of real pitches from environmental organizations are here: Conservation entrepreneurs are ready to get down to business.
Lesson 2: Additional Resources
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