Online Executive Certificate

Strategic Foresight For Sustainability

The EDHEC Online Executive Certificate in Strategic Foresight is designed to help professionals develop the skills needed to anticipate and manage future trends and challenges in the business environment.

Upcoming session

March 12, 2025

Programme duration

5 weeksi (12:00-13:30 CET)

Language

English

Level

Strategic Foresight for Sustainability Executive Certificate

Master the Art of Strategic Foresight

The aim of the EDHEC Executive Education certificate program is to have participants consider the journey towards sustainable development in light of what it means to safeguard the planet based on known tipping points.
This program also allows participants to discover companies that have successfully transitioned to sustainable development or are at the forefront of developing solutions fit for the future. Finally, it creates a community of like-minded pioneers in the sustainable transition.

This program combines academic content with the practical tools needed to make sense of complexity and uncertainty. This program is for General managers of medium-sized companies, Senior managers and leaders in public sector and third sector organisations facing disruptive changes in their environment, Senior functional or divisional managers, consultants, researchers or scholars interested in the areas of strategy, transformation and innovation.

The Online Certificate in Strategic Foresight at EDHEC enables participants to develop their skills in Strategic Foresight in order to build Foresight departments in current or future companies.

You will:

  • Identify and interpret signals of change and overcome common obstacles to strategic thinking
  • Build a portfolio of actions that allow you to adapt over the short, medium and long term
  • Apply tools and frameworks to move from strategy to action at pace

How does the Strategic Foresight Executive Certificate work?

1 live session per week for 5 weeks (Standard), with an additional 5 hours of coaching to be used for up to 5 weeks after the course formally ends (Premium). The platform remains accessible for one year after course completion.

The program covers key areas such as strategic foresight, scenario planning, trend analysis, innovation management, and strategic risk management. Each module is designed to build your expertise and confidence in strategic foresight.

Core modules

Why foresight matters

Why foresight matters : Explain the power of principles for thinking about the future in a transient advantage economy

Scan for signals

Scan for signals : Identify, interpret and prioritize signals of change in complex systems

Develop scenarios

Develop scenarios : Build powerful scenario narratives while actively managing diverse stakeholder perspectives

Craft strategies

Craft strategies : Systematically develop alternative strategies that can robustly challenge industry norms

Build a portfolio of actions

Build a portfolio of actions : Prepare for executing through a consistent set of actions over time

Learning Objectives

Skills

  • Scan for drivers of change and perform trend audits
  • Build scenarios and scenario narratives
  • Plan for business model transformation
  • Apply a future-back strategizing approach

Knowledge

  • Barriers to effective decision making under uncertainty
  • How the nature of competitive advantage is changing
  • How complex systems and systemic effects work
  • How to develop and scale sustainability business models

Key Benefits

  • Identify key signals affecting your environment
  • Turn these insights into actions across the short, medium and long term to build resilience
  • Enhance your capacity to think, to act and to thrive

Program Structure

  • Week 1: Identify positive & negative tipping points and their implications for the journey to sustainability
  • Week 2: Explore diverse ways to navigate towards sustainability
  • Week 3: Rethinking critical success factors of a sustainability-driven business model
  • Week 4: Systematically develop alternative strategies that can robustly challenge industry norms
  • Week 5: Prepare for executing through a consistent set of actions over time

Schedule

Online sessions taking place from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM CET

  • Session 1: 12 March, 2025
  • Session 2: 19 March, 2025
  • Session 3: 2 April, 2025
  • Session 4: 9 April, 2025
  • Session 5: 16 April, 2025

Contact

Sylvie LARDE

Project Manager

Discover your teachers

RENE ROHRBECK, PhD 

Director of EDHEC Foresight

Innovation & Transformation Chair and Professor

Camelia RAM

Research Affiliate

EDHEC Chair for Foresight, Innovation and Transformation

Tuition fees

TUITION FEES

2 495€ VAT excluded i

for the Standard version

Tuition fees are provided for information only and are subject to change.

TUITION FEES

3 495€ VAT excluded i

for the Premium version

Duration: 1 live session per week for 5 weeks (Standard), with an additional 5 hours of coaching to be used for up to 5 weeks after the course formally ends (Premium). The platform remains accessible for one year after course completion.

*Project coaching is available for groups of up to five participants from the same company or individuals seeking personalised guidance on strategic foresight. Each participant or group receives 5 flexible coaching hours to be used within 5 weeks after the course. For effective engagement, sessions should last at least 2 hours for groups & 1 hour for individuals

Admissions Process

Prerequisites:

  • A minimum of three years of management experience recommended.
  • Good command of working English.

Participant profile:

  • Functional leaders in private sector organizations with responsibility for execution of short and long-term sustainability goals
  • Managers in public sector and third sector organizations facing disruptive changes in their environment with a strong sustainability focus
  • Senior functional or divisional managers, consultants, researchers or scholars interested in the areas of strategy, transformation and innovation for sustainability

Contact sylvie.larde@edhec.edu if you would like to register for the upcoming session.

Find the answer to your questions about our distance learning program!

What are the 6 steps of strategic foresight?

The six essential steps of strategic foresight are:

  1. Understanding why foresight matters to build principles for navigating complex environments.
  2. Scanning for signals to identify and interpret signs of change.
  3. Developing scenarios that include diverse stakeholder perspectives.
  4. Crafting strategies that challenge industry norms.
  5. Building a portfolio of actions to ensure adaptability over time.
  6. Implementing strategies effectively, leveraging frameworks from the Strategic Foresight Online Course.

These processes form the core of EDHEC’s program and ensure participants develop a robust skillset.

What does a foresight strategist do?

A foresight strategist identifies signals of change and helps organisations adapt by creating scenarios and strategies that prepare them for the future. Through foresight training, these professionals support third sector organisations, businesses, and public entities in managing disruptive changes. They apply tools learned in the Strategic Foresight Certificate Online to lead transformation and innovation initiatives effectively.

What is a certified foresight practitioner?

A Certified Foresight Practitioner is an expert who has completed comprehensive foresight training and acquired the skills to anticipate trends and build actionable strategies. Graduates of the Strategic Foresight Certificate Online gain credibility in the field, demonstrating their ability to manage uncertain futures, craft innovative solutions, and lead transformation projects across a range of organisations.

What is strategic foresight?

Strategic foresight is the discipline of anticipating and planning for the uncertain future by analyzing trends and creating actionable strategies. The EDHEC Strategic Foresight Certificate equips participants with tools to identify signals of change, conduct trend analysis, and address challenges in a transient advantage economy. This skillset is essential for professionals managing innovation and strategic transformation.

Why is foresight knowledge essential for professionals?

Foresight knowledge is crucial for navigating the challenges of an uncertain future and preparing organisations for transformation. Through foresight training and strategic foresight courses, professionals develop the ability to identify signals of change, conduct trend analysis, and build actionable strategies. The Strategic Foresight Certificate Online offered by EDHEC provides participants with a solid foundation to anticipate trends and lead innovation, supported by a recognized foresight certification. This knowledge is indispensable for leaders aiming to create impact across industries.

Alumni

Ghida Sarieddine

Business Director, ADNH Catering

“This course is useful for anyone engaged in strategic planning and strategic decision making. It helps you build skills to stay open minded, to challenge your assumptions in a fast-changing environment.”

Oliver HANS

Oliver Hans

Head of StoDesign & StoForum, Sto global

“Great reflection to improve strategic thinking and strategic planning. Scenarios are powerful to reduce biases and build robustness in business models. Find high performance strategies that are far from the status quo.”

Philippe Said

Philippe Said

Senior Manager Strategy & Business Design, Accenture Song

“Brilliant hands-on foresight training from top Foresight Experts Camelia and René with peers from around the globe.”