Leadership - Forum for the Future

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Masters (MA) in Leadership for Sustainable Development. London Full- ... Renewable Energy Lead at Adapt Commercial, and
Masters in

Leadership for

Sustainable Development

Training leaders for a sustainable future

Masters (MA) in Leadership for Sustainable Development London Full-time If you want to fast-track your career as a sustainability leader, join this unique, leading post-graduate programme. It was established 17 years ago by Forum for the Future, a sustainability non-profit that works globally with business, government and others to inspire new thinking and develop practical solutions. This MA is validated by Middlesex University, and includes access to all their facilities. One year full time intensive course – September start

What our graduates say: “Fantastic cross-sectoral view and accelerated development put me ahead on the career ladder”

“The placements give a very rare insight into the profound differences of cultures in sectors that have been very valuable to me”

Key course features: 

Six months of practical experience, comprising four different work placements with Forum’s partner organisations. Undertake projects in the private, public and nonprofit sectors to gain first-hand insights and invaluable work experience. 2012-13 placement organisations included: Marks and Spencer, Unilever, Kingfisher, Committee on Climate Change, Triodos Bank, Good Energy, Friends of the Earth, Sainsburys, Town & Country Planning Association, Cooperative Bank, BskyB, Carillion, O2, Environment Agency, Islington Council, CAFOD, TUI Travel, Fairtrade Foundation, Pret a Manger



Coursework only – no examinations



Small group learning, as part of a select group of only 12 in the programme



Group project work to develop and pitch ideas for real-life sustainability enterprises



Skills-based modules - including leadership development - delivered by experts



Tuition from a diverse group of experts and practitioners, including leaders like Jonathon Porritt and Professor Tim Jackson



A track record of extremely high post-study employment rates



Close support and guidance from tutors, placements supervisors and a tight knit alumni network

Miriam Turner Graduated 2004 Innovations Director Europe, Middle East, Africa and India at InterfaceFLOR

Why I chose the masters What I liked about the masters was the opportunity to dip your toe into other sectors and see where you could make the most change.

What I learnt When you’re working with people across sectors, you have to recognise that everyone has their own language and their own motives. They vary greatly from a non-profit to a business. So it’s important to be able to translate. I saw my role as the ‘glue’ between different sectors, helping them to meet and stick together. Making those connections enables change to happen – it’s a real skill in sustainability. It was also a huge privilege to go the Leadership Trust as part of the course so early on in my career. That’s where I learnt about the importance of seeing so-called failure as a learning experience, a means to success in itself.

Career to date I was offered a short-term contract for InterfaceFLOR in India – and I’m still with the company seven years later! I went out to India initially to ask big, open questions, like how you can create a product that has both a social and environmental story to tell. I worked with all sorts of stakeholders and drew massively on the facilitation skills I’d learnt on the Masters course. One group I convened came up with a new [fair trade] business model for modular carpet tiles. It was a great idea, but turning it into a commercial reality was really difficult. Since then I’ve gone from coordinating innovation projects, to managing them, to directing them. I could never have guessed it would take me this far.

Toby Hammond Graduated 2001 Renewable Energy Lead at Adapt Commercial, and Co-founder of Better Generation

Why I chose the masters It seemed such an obvious step. I had studied biology for my undergraduate degree and was heavily involved in green politics. So when I heard about this Masters in Leadership through a friend, I just thought, ‚yeah, that’s what I want to do.‛ There was never any debate in my mind.

What I learnt The work placements at the Co-operative in Manchester and the RSPB were particularly rewarding, as I had the chance to spend time with really senior people. I’m not sure how much I contributed but I learnt a lot. I also made friends with Seb Wood, a fellow scholar with an entrepreneurial streak that matched my own, and we started to bounce around various ideas for our own business.

Career to date I joined Environmental Resources Management, a corporate consultancy. Then, after a couple of years, I left to set up Better Generation with Seb. Our (rather lofty) aim was to demystify home renewable energy. The core product was The Power Predictor, which makes it easy to assess the potential of a site for small-scale wind or solar installations. I now work for Adapt Commercial.

Advice for future leaders Focus and believe in yourself. I think the perception in mainstream business is still that environmentalists are a bit naïve and don’t have a good business head on them. Whereas, actually, the instinct that most people have in this sector is to do the right thing – and that makes for good business as well.

“Experiential, work-based learning has been one of the fundamental cornerstones of this year. I do not think I have ever learnt so much, from so many extraordinary experiences, and people, in such a short space of time” Celia Cole, MA Graduate 2010

Hannah Greenaway Graduated 2011 Environment and Corporate Responsibility Specialist at O2 UK

Why I Chose the Masters After completing my undergraduate degree in Physical Geography, I worked as a Transport and Sustainable Development Planner for three years. Although I enjoyed working within this industry, I wanted to broaden my knowledge and experience. The Forum course provided me with this opportunity. The work-based learning (experiencing how sustainability is embedded and practised within the NGO, private and public sectors), together with the taught theory, group work and leadership development made the course truly unique. I took a sabbatical from work to complete the MA course. Taking a year out to study again was no easy decision, but I knew that this course was right for me and I haven’t looked backed since.

What I learnt That different organisations and people have different world views, values and perspectives. Experiencing this for myself made me realise just how these perspectives shape the culture of the workplace and how it affects the way change is planned and implemented. Understanding this as a sustainability change maker enables you to build and develop effective solutions that bring about lasting change.

Career to date After completing the course, I returned to my previous employer – a medium sized consultancy firm. I worked on a variety of urban regeneration and master planning projects, providing transport and sustainable development consultancy support, for clients in the private and public sectors. Now, I work for O2 UK. I re-joined the Think Big Sustainability team in June 2012. O2 UK was one of my work placements as part of the MA course, and I am really pleased to be back! My responsibilities include delivering and supporting a range of environmental and Corporate Responsibility initiatives, which mainly form part of our three year sustainability plan. This role has been hugely rewarding.

Advice for potential scholars Make the most of the opportunities that you are given. This course provides you with a great platform to experience different sectors – the experience, knowledge and personal and professional development from this course inspired me to find a significant role within sustainability. It could do the same for you!

See our website for full details and to download a prospectus: www.forumforthefuture.org/masters For advice and information contact – Carol Edwards, Tel: 020 7324 3674

Follow us on Twitter: @F4FMA