This program is designed for early-to-mid career professionals who want to develop leadership skills, get foundational sustainability expertise, and build a unique global perspective.

You may be passionate about climate, but don't know where to start, or what changes you want to make in your career. You may be looking to change professions but not sure where your skills fit in the world of sustainability. You may be looking for an adventurous professional break, but don't want to slow down your career by getting years off. You may be looking to stay within your profession, but gain leadership skills or move to a company that better lines up with your values and causes you care about.

The EcoMBA is a leadership development experience, not a climate or sustainable technology bootcamp. There are several great programs out there focused on developing depth of sustainability expertise. If that is what you're looking for exclusively, we encourage you to visit our friends at Terra.do or Climatebase.

The climate crisis needs leaders in communications, policy, art, law, and everything in between! This is an interdisciplinary sustainability leadership curriculum with an ability to dive deeper into interest areas through electives. Non-business folks are ESPECIALLY encouraged to apply.

The EcoMBA is a free program. But participants are responsible for their own travel expenses.

We use a “donate-what-you-want” model to make the EcoMBA accessible to anyone, regardless of financial means. Participants can make donations after the first term, in line with whatever value they feel they’re getting from the experience. 50% of all donations will go to climate charities of the participant’s choice.

There is a commitment fee of $500, to be paid before the start of the program, in order to secure the cohort. This fee will be paid back at the end of the course, or can be donated.

We are hoping to allow participants with employer learning program reimbursements to be able to use them.

Financial aid is also available for the commitment fee, if necessary, as well as for some course material/books.

The main program lasts 3-4 months (Terms 1 and 2), with an expected weekly workload of ~15 hours a week (including the weekly seminars), excluding any volunteer/advocacy work done in Term 2.

Participant selection will be conducted on a competitive application basis, and will not discriminate on the basis of educational or professional background ("pedigree"). We want people who are passionate, remarkable, and committed to becoming leaders in sustainability. Applicants not accepted to the pilot will be able to join a waitlist for future cohorts.

Travel is a mandatory piece of the EcoMBA pedagogy since it 1) provides a depth of understanding to sustainability challenges, 2) develops critical leadership and problem solving skills, and 3) allows participants to meet a community of travelers with rich backgrounds, viewpoints, and careers.

Participants must plan their own trips, which should start around the start of the first term. They can pick anywhere in the world, although we encourage places in the global south, both for topical relevance and lower cost of travel. They can travel alone, with friends, or with a significant other.

EcoMBA is not a travel concierge, but can help you with ideas while you plan, and support while you’re on the road.

If you are interested in applying, but have questions on this component of the program, please contact us.

Taking time away from work is a rare opportunity, and we want to help you get the most out of the experience.

That said, the program is designed to accommodate all components comfortably. The first term will focus on coursework and travel, while the second on coursework and volunteer/activist experiences.

We expect that, between these two components for each semester, there will still be plenty of time for people to engage in other leadership and self—development opportunities.

We believe completing the coursework and taking advantage of the travel and volunteer experience requires a break from work.

That said, if you believe you can complete the required parts of the program (coursework, and experiences), while working—even part-time—you are free to apply and explain your situation.

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a job after the program. But we believe the depth of experience and learning, paired with coaching, will help guide an effective job hunt, while making participants far more attractive candidates.

The EcoMBA includes 1:1 coaching sessions every 2-4 weeks of one hour. These sessions will explore 1) personal career goals and interests, 2) advice for aligning a participant's EcoMBA experience to those goals, and 3) tactical advice and accountability to guide participants' job search.