University of Cambridge
Communicating for Influence and Impact
- Curriculum: Learn critical skills for effective communication as a leader. Enhance collaboration, problem-solving, etc.
- Fully Online: Includes interactive videos, module notes, assignments, quizzes, and presentation briefs.
- Faculty and Alumni: Learn from top practitioners and industry experts. Receive 1:1 support. Access the CISL Alumni Network.
Start date
22 July 2026
95%
Cohort-based learning
Group learning, expert guidance
8 weeks
Excluding orientation
English
Access resources from start date
8–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The proportion of communications leaders who say their top priority is building sustainable growth and long-term value for their organisation, as expectations on communication teams continue to rise.
Cision (Accessed April 2026).
Analytical thinking is the #1 core skill contemporary employers are looking for in candidates.
World Economic Forum (Accessed April 2026).
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
In today's increasingly competitive markets, effective communication facilitates collaboration, strengthens problem-solving and enables more informed decision-making.
Why this course now?
Markets do not stand still. Climate impacts, regulatory shifts, investor expectations and changing customer behaviour are reshaping value creation across every sector. In this context, incremental improvement and isolated initiatives are not sufficient and it is a time for courageous, connected leadership. This course is grounded in CISL’s perspective that market change is inevitable. Leaders must learn not only to respond to disruption, but to anticipate and shape it. Voluntary action alone cannot deliver the pace, scale or durability of change required.
Effective communication is therefore a critical lever. Through influence, narrative and coalition-building, leaders can help shift norms, align incentives and mobilise collective action to transform systems, sectors and places while strengthening long-term competitiveness.
If you want to strengthen your ability to communicate with influence and purpose, the Communicating for Influence and Impact online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) offers a rigorous and practical leadership development opportunity. The course equips you with the tools and skills to communicate with clarity and intent in complex systems, navigate resistance, and influence decisions that set future vision in service of people and planet Crucially, the course positions communication as a lever for competitive sustainability and long-term value creation – aligning business success with the transformation of markets and systems. Upon successful completion, you will earn a digital certificate recognising your learning.
Is this course for you?
This online short course is for established and aspiring leaders who see the value of advancing their communication skills and ability to effect change within an organisation and across their wider business ecosystem. The course benefits professionals committed to achieving positive economic, social and environmental outcomes in balance with commercial success. The curriculum is tailored for individual leaders or leadership team cohorts seeking to build on their experience and prior training in an online course setting. If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at the CISL Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy bundle. Designed for marketing, media and creative professionals, this three-course series will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate an action plan for sustainable business practices.
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our online business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning.
Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)
In today's increasingly competitive markets, effective communication facilitates collaboration, strengthens problem-solving and enables more informed decision-making.
Why this course now?
Markets do not stand still. Climate impacts, regulatory shifts, investor expectations and changing customer behaviour are reshaping value creation across every sector. In this context, incremental improvement and isolated initiatives are not sufficient and it is a time for courageous, connected leadership. This course is grounded in CISL’s perspective that market change is inevitable. Leaders must learn not only to respond to disruption, but to anticipate and shape it. Voluntary action alone cannot deliver the pace, scale or durability of change required.
Effective communication is therefore a critical lever. Through influence, narrative and coalition-building, leaders can help shift norms, align incentives and mobilise collective action to transform systems, sectors and places while strengthening long-term competitiveness.
If you want to strengthen your ability to communicate with influence and purpose, the Communicating for Influence and Impact online short course from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) offers a rigorous and practical leadership development opportunity. The course equips you with the tools and skills to communicate with clarity and intent in complex systems, navigate resistance, and influence decisions that set future vision in service of people and planet Crucially, the course positions communication as a lever for competitive sustainability and long-term value creation – aligning business success with the transformation of markets and systems. Upon successful completion, you will earn a digital certificate recognising your learning.
Is this course for you?
This online short course is for established and aspiring leaders who see the value of advancing their communication skills and ability to effect change within an organisation and across their wider business ecosystem. The course benefits professionals committed to achieving positive economic, social and environmental outcomes in balance with commercial success. The curriculum is tailored for individual leaders or leadership team cohorts seeking to build on their experience and prior training in an online course setting. If you’re interested in this course, you may also want to take a look at the CISL Sustainable Marketing and Communication Strategy bundle. Designed for marketing, media and creative professionals, this three-course series will teach you how to develop, mobilise and communicate an action plan for sustainable business practices.
CISL Connect: Online live sessions
CISL has developed three bonus CISL Connect: Online Live Sessions for all students joining any of our online business sustainability leadership courses. Through these sessions, you’ll get direct access to CISL's leading voices on today’s most urgent business topics – competitiveness, AI and resilience. This format gives you the chance to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas with a far broader global network of professionals beyond your cohort.
This course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 80 hours of learning.
Note: should students wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is upon them. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
This is your opportunity to unleash your potential for extraordinary impact. By completing a course with CISL, you'll develop the skills, confidence, and network to lead change in your sector, organisation and sphere of influence to make significant contributions to society. Extraordinary change happens when passionate and inspired individuals share a common purpose to drive meaningful impact for the collective good.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
The tools to effectively and persuasively communicate with various stakeholders in your network.
A Personal Impact Plan aligned to system-level change in your organisation or sector.
The ability to inspire and mobilise others to drive innovation, competitiveness and resilience at scale.
A broader network and meaningful peer relationships that strengthen your connection with the wider Cambridge sustainability community.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
The need for impactful communication
Module 2
The role of communication in shaping society
Module 3
Attributes of an effective communicator
Module 4
Communicate effectively using listening and storytelling
Module 5
Purpose-driven communication and influence
Module 6
Influence change within and beyond your network
Module 7
Collaborating to achieve impact
Module 8
Maximising your influence and impact
Course Convenors
Zoë Arden
Fellow and Leadership Consultant, CISL
Martin Roberts
Sustainability and education specialist and former Director of Digital Learning, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
About the certificate
Acquire the abilities necessary to become a persuasive communicator and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Get more information
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an enrollment specialist, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your enrollment specialist who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our enrollment specialists before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
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