Inside the EY Masterclass: Transforming Businesses to Support a Sustainable Economy
The EY masterclass gave EDHEC students a practical look at how organisations advance sustainable business transformation. This article shares the session’s key insights and relevance for future sustainability professionals.
In November, EDHEC welcomed a team from EY for a masterclass dedicated to transforming businesses to support a sustainable economy. Designed for students of the MSc in Sustainable Business Transformation, the session offered a clear and grounded view of how major organisations are shifting towards more responsible models—and what this transformation requires in practice. The result was an engaging and open discussion that brought the realities of sustainability work into sharp focus, reinforcing EDHEC’s commitment to connecting academic insight with real-world expertise.
We spoke with Madlen Sobkowiak, MSc in Sustainable Business Transformation programme Director, to gain deeper insights into the session.
What was the main objective of inviting EY to deliver this masterclass on transforming businesses towards a sustainable economy?
The aim was to give students first-hand exposure to how a major consultancy supports companies through sustainability transformation. EY’s extensive experience across industries helps make the topic far more concrete and relatable for students.
Why is EY’s approach to sustainability transformation especially relevant for MSc in Sustainable Business Transformation students?
Our students are increasingly drawn to roles that combine strategy, data, and sustainability. Consulting is an industry many of them are interested in and are considering for their work placements.
What were the key takeaways or most inspiring insights students gained from the session?
They appreciated the candid discussion about what transformation truly requires within an organisation: the complexity of data work, the challenges involved, and the need for cross-functional collaboration. The concrete examples and project stories resonated most strongly, and I believe the case studies in the second half of the session were particularly engaging for them.
Did any specific discussion or student question stand out during the masterclass?
Many questions focused on current challenges—particularly the evolving regulatory and political landscape in the US and EU—how these shifts affect companies’ willingness to transform, and what types of change are realistically achievable within organisations.
How do events like this help bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world business practice?
They make sustainability transformation feel less abstract and far more actionable. They also give students the chance to discuss and debate ongoing developments, share their own perspectives with practitioners, and explore whether advisory work might be a compelling career path after graduation.
In what ways do sessions like this prepare students for careers in sustainability consulting or corporate transformation?
They help students understand the expectations of these roles and the variety of positions available within the field. They also offer valuable insight into what the work actually entails: which industries or clients they might support, the types of projects they could encounter, and the limitations inherent to this kind of work.
