In recent years, the use of the term ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has seen significant growth, both in the need to put it into practice and in the interest of individuals looking to work in the field. On social media, the term has seen a 2,600% increase over the past four years, going from 4,000 mentions to 109,000 in the first few months of 2023, according to research conducted by the United Nations Global Compact in partnership with the consulting firm Stilingue.

This growth on social media is also reflected in various areas, especially in the job market. With more people concerned about incorporating practices related to the term, companies and businesses have started to address environmental, social, and governance aspects in their internal routines, moving from merely talking to taking action. Stating that you're sustainable is no longer enough; it's necessary to demonstrate your actions in practice. Much of this concern is related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which must be achieved by 2030.

The growth of ESG has also influenced all aspects of the social and environmental sectors, and, in the view of lawyer and mentor Ana Carolina Laaf, the business consulting field has been significantly impacted. "As a consultant in the 'New Era of Business,' I've noticed a substantial increase in interest in these topics: Impact Business, ESG, Social Entrepreneurship, Conscious Leadership, Humanized Companies, and other related topics. I've noticed that the environment where these topics are demanded has expanded greatly recently, whether because companies perform better by adopting best practices, or because of pressure from the consumer market, or due to requirements like ESG and UN SDGs. I also think there's a greater awareness among leaders who seek to do something with purpose that positively impacts society as a whole."

When it comes to integrating ESG into offices or companies, the question arises: should you hire professionals who are already specialized or provide training for all employees? There are many options, and the practice of offering specialization to existing employees is one of them, as in the case of Carolina de Brito Maciel, a Sustainability Analyst at Farm.

Carolina, like mentor Ana Clara, is pursuing an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Business through the 2023 Legend Scholarship Program for Black Women Who Transform, offered by the Legado Institute of Social Entrepreneurship. She observes that all the content from the MBA is transforming her role. "Just like the program's name - Black Women Who Transform - the content I've learned in the course has helped me learn and transform many realities. In my professional role, I can bridge the gap between the two sides of the coin: I support people in creating their organizations with a focus on social and/or environmental impact, and I support companies of all sizes in discovering their sustainability maturity and permeating this culture throughout their structure," she says.

The analyst works with corporate sustainability, ranging from responsible fashion to ESG, and she says that some things have changed since she started her postgraduate studies. "Some things have changed, including how I amplify my purpose in the world. Today, five months after starting the MBA, I've been able to dive into myself, and through self-awareness, I've been able to better direct my social, professional, and emotional skills. I've improved my advisory vision, developed my language and listening skills, my methods and tools, my systemic vision, my critical thinking, and sensitivity. Before, there was no balance between my most creative ideas and my knowledge of compliance to make them real. Today, I can make the impossible possible, tangible, and measurable."

MBA in Social Entrepreneurship

With over 10 years of experience in the impact ecosystem, the Legado Institute operates on several fronts, including education. In pursuit of this purpose, the Institute offers an MBA in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Business in partnership with Kultivi, an educational platform that has been democratizing education since 2017, with its more than five thousand classes reaching around three million students. The methodology is approved and registered with the Ministry of Education (MEC), and one of its differentiators is that students can earn their diploma in as little as four months. The MBA is certified by the Faculty of Higher Education of the Lake (FAESLA) and is offered in the distance learning (EaD) mode, providing dynamic and flexible learning for students, allowing them to study from anywhere.

The course curriculum consists of 440 hours, divided into 11 subjects, with classes recorded by renowned professors and professionals in the impact field. The content has been developed to create an experience of building and managing social impact initiatives and businesses, enabling students to enhance their professional skills in line with emerging social and environmental changes.

Speaking of transformations, this was one of the reasons why female leadership mentor Ana Clara embarked on the MBA journey. The business consultant has her own company, founded in 2012, which offers training for managers to stay updated regarding changes in the organizational landscape. For over 12 years, Ana Clara has been following the evolution of this 'New Era of Business,' and she affirms that thinking and acting for a better world through business is her life mission. "When I saw the launch of the MBA, I felt I couldn't miss it. The topics were very interesting to me, and I realized that the curriculum was very robust and consistent. In addition, it features professors who are authorities in their respective fields," she reports.

The consultant also emphasizes how the specialization is contributing to her professional work. "The course is making a huge contribution to the development of my work. As a mentor and business consultant, I can see that I'm receiving up-to-date and high-level information that allows me to offer work of high quality and relevance in the current scenario. I've noticed that in my presentations, mentioning 'Postgraduate Student in Impact Business and Social Entrepreneurship' receives special attention and enriches my resume. I must also highlight the monthly online meetings, featuring guests who are always of a very high caliber, further enhancing the course. These meetings also allow students to connect, which leads to rich exchanges and strengthens networking and potential partnerships."

Currently, 115 students are enrolled in the MBA in Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Business, changing the environmental, social, and governance reality in their workplaces and social spaces. Despite being an online program, the course content allows interaction among students through the Mentoring Program, where they can receive advice and exchange experiences with mentors from the Legado Institute.

"The Mentoring Program is a major differentiator of the course. After all, for the Legado Institute, education is not an end in itself; it is a means by which we can contribute to real projects and initiatives that are changing realities across Brazil. The 11 subjects of the course challenge students, and in mentoring, they receive the individualized support they need for their projects," emphasizes Daniela Nunes, the academic coordinator of the Legado Institute.