Credentials that set you apart in the boardroom

Equip yourself with the insight and foresight to navigate rising boardroom expectations with confidence.

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Trusted by 1,100+ alumni in 60 countries.

Global Competent Boards Designation

Global Competent Boards Designation (GCB.D) and Certification

12 modules – $8,000 (USD)

Learn on-demand while attending live sessions for a safe space discussion with global peers and a faculty of world leaders.

  • Earn the globally respected (GCB.D) designation to highlight your competencies.
  • Learn from a diverse faculty with extensive experience in guiding board members and executives through critical issues like geopolitics, AI, cybersecurity, stakeholder expectations, future of good governance, and more.
  • Build a global network.

Invaluable guidance on what boards must do if the businesses they guide are to respond successfully to today’s enormous economic, environmental and social challenges.”

Martin Wolf - Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times

Get your GCB.D certification
Sustainability-Governance-Certificate-Program-

Sustainability Governance Certificate Program

12 modules – $5,000 (USD)

Learn on-demand at your own pace.

  • Learn to create value, enhance resiliency, and establish good governance, while achieving a modern credential to advance your career.
  • Get the skills to balance long-term planning with the emerging risks of regulation, technological advancements, climate, geopolitics, data security and cyber breach.
  • Access an extensive curriculum from a best-in-class faculty of board members, experts, and thought leaders.

The Competent Boards Program is hands down the best director education out there. Global in its scope, deep in its content and extraordinary speakers. I am far more prepared to perform at a high level on the most important issues boards are grappling with today and in the future.”

Eric Wetlaufer – Board Director; Managing Partner, TwinRiver Capital

Get your certification
Climate-and-Nature-Certificate-Program

Climate & Nature Certificate Program

12 modules – $8,000 (USD)

Learn on-demand while attending live sessions for a safe space discussion with global peers and a faculty of world leaders.

  • Earn the globally respected (GCB.D) designation to highlight your competencies.
  • Learn from a diverse faculty with extensive experience in guiding board members and executives through critical issues like geopolitics, AI, cybersecurity, stakeholder expectations, future of good governance, and more.
  • Build a global network.

Invaluable guidance on what boards must do if the businesses they guide are to respond successfully to today’s enormous economic, environmental and social challenges.”

Martin Wolf - Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times

Get your certification

What impact do our alumni report?

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55%
Said their Competent Boards credentials helped them get a new board seat or committee appointment.
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98%
Believe they are better equippedto make more informed decisions, resulting in stronger oversight.

What do the programs cover?

Flexible, high-impact, self-guided eLearning modules designed to help current and aspiring board members sharpen their competencies and demonstrate their commitment to responsible, future-ready leadership.

Choose a program from the dropdown to see its modules:

Choose a program
  • GCB.D
  • Sustainability Governance
  • Climate & Nature

Understanding new geopolitical risks & expectations for companies

Learn how environmental, societal and geopolitical issues are changing expectations of businesses and the future of work, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, high inflation, the effects of COVID-19, data usage, AI, human rights and social justice.

Dealing with dilemmas: Turning business risk into opportunities

Learn how to lead and plan to ensure resilience and business continuity during major disruptions, such as geopolitical upheaval, climate change, pandemics, societal changes and digital innovation.

How to use the UN Sustainable Development Goals strategically

Learn about the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they are affected by regulatory trends and government incentives in different parts of the world.

Impacts of climate change and biodiversity: A board’s accountability

Take a closer look at why and how climate change impacts the environment, oceans, biodiversity, health, and the global economic and socio-economic outlook.

How to build ESG oversight and foresight

Learn how environmental, societal and geopolitical issues are changing expectations of businesses and the future of work, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, high inflation, the effects of COVID-19, data usage, AI, human rights and social justice.

Understanding human rights and environmental issues in supply chains

Learn about the impact of environmental and social disasters on supply chains, plus how to identify, assess and manage important risks.

Elevating oversight of human capital management and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

Learn how to foster a pipeline of diverse talent into and through your company, understanding the full spectrum and business value of diversity itself as well as the regulations around it.

Gaining trust: Anti-corruption, integrity and transparency best practices

Learn the changing risks and expectations associated with anti-corruption, integrity, ethical practices and transparency.

Understanding responsible use of data, cybersecurity, AI and digitalisation

Learn the business impact of the digital revolution, including blockchain, big data and AI generated opportunities.

Addressing tax, investment and pay in an ESG-focused world

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Maximising shareholder and stakeholder engagement around disclosures

Learn and manage the material issues that you need to communicate to your shareholders and stakeholders.

Becoming a steward of the future: Best practices in corporate governance

Learn what good governance means now, and how that will evolve in the future.

Navigating climate and nature risks and opportunities in the boardroom

Learn how climate change and nature loss will impact your business, stakeholders, and the communities they serve, now and in the future.

Staying on top of disclosure requirements and reporting and regulatory trends

Understand the fast-changing regulations on climate change and nature loss, their shift from voluntary to mandatory, and their impact on your business.

Responding to climate and nature related stakeholder expectations

Discover ways to effectively manage increasing climate and nature-related investor and stakeholder expectations.

Enhancing board governance for climate and nature initiatives

Learn why board directors must ensure good governance and accountability in boardrooms and what to ask senior management about your net-zero and nature-positive ambitions.

Boardroom strategies for climate and nature goals

Learn how to implement effective transition strategies for business in the face of climate change and nature loss.

Looking at the future: Proactive leadership

Gain practical insights on how to address water conservation, ocean health, circular economy practices, and the alignment of business strategies with global sustainability goals, while adopting holistic stewardship approaches to integrate nature-positive actions into operations.

Meet our faculty

Our world-class faculty of business and thought leaders play an active role in the Global Competent Boards community.

Paul Polman
Co-founder, co-author, former CEO, Unilever
Agnes K Y Tai
PhD, CCB.D, SCR®, Responsible AI, ESG Investing, FRM, CAIA
Curtis Ravenel
Vice Chair of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero
Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin
Executive Director, International
Monetary Fund
David Craig
Co-Chair, TNFD
Ngozi Edozien
Managing Director, InVivo Partners Ltd.
Mark Konyn
Group Chief Investment Officer, AIA
Yasuhiro Kawasugi
Director Strategic Project, KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Pia Heidenmark Cook
Senior Advisor, Teneo and Eurazeo Planetary Impact Fund
Martin Wolf
Associate Editor, Financial Times
Erika Karp
Executive Director, Finance Leaders Fellowship (FLF)

Board excellence starts with you

The demands on directors have never been greater. Equip yourself with the knowledge and credentials to lead decisively in a fast-changing world.