Thomas Kolster and IAA launch a mini-MBA to Tackle Brand and Sustainability Challenges
Thomas Kolster – Danish sustainable marketing pioneer and member of the IAA Sustainability Council – and International Advertising Association (IAA) announced the launch of a groundbreaking program that brings Chief Marketing Officers and Chief Sustainability Officers together for the first time: the C-Suite Impact Leaders Accelerator (CIL)
Taught by global leaders from brands like P&G and Tony’s Chocolonely, this future-fit mini-MBA closes the disconnect between marketing and sustainability so leaders can create impact that’s real, measurable, and market-moving.
As climate, social, and regulatory pressures mount, brands are being forced to navigate one of the most complex landscapes in modern business. Marketing leaders face rising skepticism from consumers. Sustainability leaders face growing demands for measurable impact. Yet too often, the two functions operate in silos weakening the ability of organizations to act decisively and authentically.
It’s the first integrated programme bringing together Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs). Over six months, the Accelerator combines learning, peer exchange, and hands-on casework to equip leaders with the tools and mindset needed to drive both brand and societal impact. It’s like a future-fit mini-MBA.
“We can’t solve today’s challenges with yesterday’s playbook. Marketing without sustainability is spin. Sustainability without marketing is silence. The future belongs to leaders who can do both – and do it with authenticity,” says programme leader Thomas Kolster, internationally recognized as Mr. Goodvertising and author of several books.
The programme is designed around the UN Global Compact’s CMO Blueprint and focuses on personal, creative, and brand excellence. Participants will learn how to:
- Define authentic purpose and measure real impact
- Craft stories that cut through complexity and skepticism
- Build trust with stakeholders
- Embed sustainability at the heart of innovation
- Influence boardrooms with a compelling purpose agenda
To ensure real-world impact, the Accelerator draws on hands-on experience, live case studies, and speakers from pioneering brands including Tony’s Chocolonely and Procter & Gamble – brands that are reshaping industries through bold action on purpose and sustainability.
Unlike traditional leadership courses, the CIL doesn’t end when the sessions stop. Participants join an ongoing global community of CMOs, CSOs, and thought-leaders – creating a rare space for honest exchange across functions, industries, and regions.
The need for authentic, impactful leadership has never been greater. The C-Suite Impact Leaders Accelerator aims to prepare leaders not just to survive these shifts, but to set the agenda.