World's first Sustainable Luxury MBA module begins

The world's first sustainable luxury MBA module just launched at IE Business School in Madrid, with a class of 24 from all continents.

Lifeworth Consulting's Professor Jem Bendell conceived, designed and led the class, with guest lectures from the Corporate Citizenship Manager of De Beers (Dr Nicky Black) and the Corporate Responsibility Director of Burberry (Sean Ansett).

IE is one of the world's leading business schools, and its incorporation of an elective on sustainable luxury indicates the growing recognition of both sustainability and luxury as fields requiring specialist expertise. The involvement of executives from leading jewellery firm De Beers and luxury fashion house Burberry, indicates their growing engagement with corporate responsibility.

The course continues in April, with a focus on how to develop and implement a corporate responsibility programme, an introduction to sustainable design thinking, and examples of innovation and enterprise in this field. The award winning eco entrepreneur and designer, Kresse Wesling of E&KO will be a guest, along with former CEO of luxury jewellery firm Carrera y Carrera, Maria Eugenia Giron. Professor Gardetti will also join by video link from the Centre for Studies in Sustainable Luxury in Buenos Aires, to discuss how firms at the base of luxury supply chains are benefiting from sustainable innovation.

For pictures of them in action, see jembendell.com

To see a documentary of the issues covered, co-written by Dr Jem Bendell, click here.