Impact Leaders Programme - Cohort Guide
Cohort Programme Guide · 2026

Impact
Leaders
Programme

The first mini-MBA for Marketing & Sustainability together - because leading with purpose and winning with impact shouldn't be a solo sport.

Duration
April - July 2026
Sessions
10 Live Sessions
Time
4:00–5:00 PM CET
Platform
Zoom
01 Welcome to a Journey Among Peers

This is a peer-to-peer learning experience. We are here to learn together and grow together as individuals and professionals. Every session will be guided by a mentor - another peer - who is there to provoke and create new thinking. No bullshit. Real insights. Practical knowledge.

It's the first-ever mini-MBA for Marketing and Sustainability together - because leading with purpose and winning with impact shouldn't be a solo sport.

02 Your Team

We are here to support you throughout the programme. Reach out any time.

Thomas
Programme Lead
Kasia
Programme Support
Anya
Programme Coordinator
LinkedIn →
WhatsApp Anya →  if you can't join a session
03 Practical Set-Up

Technology

We use Zoom for all sessions. Please have your camera on and be ready to participate actively. Test your link in advance - join from desktop or via the app.

Recording policy

Sessions are recorded. The first 30 minutes (mentor talk) will be uploaded to Google Drive after each session so you can rewatch or catch up if you miss it.

Before your first session

04 Participation & Peer Agreement

"This is not a classroom. It is a trusted peer space."

The strength of this programme depends on openness, candour, and the willingness to share real challenges - not just polished answers.

01
Confidentiality
What is shared within the cohort stays within the cohort, unless explicitly agreed otherwise.
02
Respect for Ideas & Ownership
Ideas shared remain the property of those who create them. Sharing an idea does not transfer ownership, permission, or rights.
03
Explicit Consent
Nothing discussed, developed, or surfaced will be used, shared, or implemented externally without explicit consent.
04
Partner Engagement
If group outputs are shared with partners, participants will always be informed, nothing moves forward without consent, and no contribution will be attributed without permission.
05
Respectful Participation
Generosity in sharing, respect in listening, courage in thinking, constructive challenge, and professional discretion.
06
A Space for Real Life
A genuine effort to attend, openness in contributing, and communication if you cannot make a session. No friction. No judgement.
07
The Spirit of the Programme
A space to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and think more boldly. The best ideas rarely come from playing safe. By joining, we agree to contribute to a trusted, open, and constructive environment.
05Session Format

Every session follows a peer-to-peer structured approach maximising time for conversation and exchange.

30 minThe Mentor - sharing insights and practical knowledge, followed by Q&A
10 minCohort Reflections - discussing the session and practical takeaways
10 minThe Work - reflecting on and evaluating creative examples together
5 minChallenges & Opportunities - personal reflection on what's holding you back or pushing you forward
5 minWrap-Up - preview of next session

Note: Some sessions are structured differently to allow time for group work presentations.

06The Group Brief

Across these 10 sessions, you'll work on an open brief from Carlsberg. No further guidelines - solve it however you want. Present it however you want. But you only have 1 minute.

"How do you make regenerative agriculture matter to Carlsberg's consumers - and credible to its stakeholders?"
How it works
You'll work in pre-assigned groups, self-coordinating on when, where, and how often you meet. Please be respectful of each other's time and professional commitments.
Submissions
Groups deliver a 1-minute pitch video. Send it to Anya who will add it to the shared Google Drive.

Key Milestones

By 28 May
Submit a 1-minute pre-recorded presentation - email to Anya
02 June
Midway Presentation - groups share progress during Session 6. Peer voting follows (you may not vote for your own group).
07 July
Final Presentation - 1 minute live during the final mentor session.
07Programme at a Glance

All sessions run 4:00–5:00 PM CET. Selected sessions include an additional hour of peer social time.

Date#SessionMentor
28 Apr01
Leading Between Worlds
Leadership, Empathy & Shared Value
Thomas Kolster
05 May02
Beyond Purpose Theatre
Purpose, Credibility & Measurement
Alessandro Manfredi (Ex-Dove)
12 May03
If People Don't Get It, Nothing Changes
Creative Excellence & Storytelling
John Schoolcraft (Ex-Oatly)
19 May04
Trust Is Earned, Not Claimed
Partnerships, Proof & Reputation
To Be Announced Soon
26 May05
Stop Acting as the Hero
Customer Empowerment & Behaviour Change
Sadira Furlow (Tony's Chocolonely)
02 Jun06
What Really Matters: Killing the Noise
Materiality, Focus & Strategic Choice
Simon Boas, Carlsberg Group
09 Jun07
Changing Behaviour Is the Job
Nudging, Movements & Lifestyle Shifts
To Be Announced Soon
16 Jun08
Build It or It Doesn't Count
Innovation, Product & Service Design
To Be Announced Soon
30 Jun09
Making Change Stick
Organisational Change & Implementation
Dirk Voeste, Volkswagen Group
07 Jul10
Choose Your Legacy
Integrated Leadership & Long-Term Impact
Virginie Helias, P&G

We reserve the right to adjust speakers and session topics across dates, reflecting the dynamic schedules and seniority of our mentors.

08Session Details
01
28 April 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET + 1hr peer social
Leading Between Worlds: The Messy Middle Where Change Actually Happens
Leadership, Empathy & Shared Value
Mentor
Thomas Kolster - Programme Lead
Note
First session includes 60 min peer social - nothing to prepare

Thomas frames the shift from CMO vs CSO to CMO + CSO, positioning impact leadership as a commercial, cultural, and strategic necessity - not a nice-to-have add-on.

What the Session Covers
Why functional silos no longer work
What "impact leadership" looks like in real organisational contexts
Introduction to the UN Global Compact Framework
How the programme is structured and what you will gain
Introduction to the Carlsberg brief
Outcome for Participants
A clear mental model for impact leadership and a shared understanding of the programme journey.
The Work - Examples to Watch
02
05 May 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Beyond Purpose Theatre: What Actually Holds Up Over Time
Purpose, Credibility & Measurement

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

03
12 May 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
If People Don't Get It, Nothing Changes
Creative Excellence & Storytelling

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

04
19 May 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Trust Is Earned, Not Claimed
Partnerships, Proof & Reputation

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

05
26 May 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Stop Acting as the Hero: Design for Participation, Not Applause
Customer Empowerment & Behaviour Change

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

06
02 June 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
What Really Matters: Killing the Noise in Materiality
Materiality, Focus & Strategic Choice

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

07
09 June 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Changing Behaviour Is the Job
Nudging, Movements & Lifestyle Shifts

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

08
16 June 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Build It or It Doesn't Count
Innovation, Product & Service Design

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

09
30 June 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Making Change Stick: Power, Politics, and the Reality of Organisations
Organisational Change & Implementation

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

10
07 July 2026 · 4:00–5:00 PM CET
Choose Your Legacy: The Kind of Leader You Decide to Be
Integrated Leadership & Long-Term Impact

Details published ahead of session

Pre-reads, mentor information, and session materials will be shared with the cohort before this date.

09Key Resources

All materials are in the shared Google Drive. Below is a consolidated reference for everything used across the programme.

Google Drive Folder
All session materials, pre-reads & recordings
Featured Resource
The Hero Trap
Audiobook
Listen to The Hero Trap audiobook - free with code: IMPACT
▶ Listen Free →
Books in the Folder
The Hero Trap - Kolster (Intro, Oatly, Partnerships chapters)
John Izzo on Leadership (Chapters 4 & 6)
Reports in the Folder
WARC: Sustainability vs Effectiveness 100
Project ROI: Financial Advantages of CR & Sustainability
Patagonia Impact Report (latest)
Ad Net Zero Framework
To our cohort

A Warm
Thank You

This programme only works because of the people in the room. Each of you brings a unique perspective, a distinct set of challenges, and - most importantly - a genuine commitment to doing things differently.

We are deeply grateful that you've chosen to be part of this journey. The conversations you'll have, the ideas you'll challenge, and the connections you'll build over the next ten sessions are what will make this experience truly extraordinary.

Welcome. We can't wait to learn alongside you.

10Your Cohort

32 leaders. 10 sessions. One shared mission. Connect with your peers on LinkedIn.