“I had the title of Head of Operations & ESG, but I needed to figure out what ESG actually meant in practice”
Antoinette Bradley
Head of Operations & ESG, AFLAC
Diploma in Business Sustainability Graduate
Why did you decide to take the Diploma course?
I’ve worked in IT operations all my life, but about a year ago, it was decided that we should have more of a sustainability angle in the business. Our operation is relatively small, and I wanted to do more.
I ended up taking on the role of Head of ESG, and then had to figure out what on earth that meant and what we actually needed to do. At that stage, I had managed to get sustainability included as one of our strategic pillars, and I was starting to think about things like environmental awareness training across the business. I didn’t really know what would be meaningful or impactful and that’s what led me to the Diploma.
Why did you choose this course over others?
I had done carbon literacy training previously, but what stood out about this course was that it was much more comprehensive – it covered everything end-to-end. The course was priced sensibly, and it felt like exactly what I needed at that point. It also had a strong level of rigour and credibility, which was important to me.
How was your experience with the content and learning format?
The platform was excellent – very intuitive and easy to use. The early modules were particularly valuable because they aligned exactly with what I was trying to do at the time. The templates and downloadable resources were extremely helpful. I found myself trying to understand what documents and structures I actually needed, and the course gave me a clear way forward.
Did the course have an impact on your work?
Yes, definitely. Initially, my focus was more environmental, but through the course I started to take a much broader, more holistic view. For us, the environmental impact will always be relatively small. But our social impact could be significant. The course helped me bring everything together (environmental, social, and governance) into one cohesive approach.
It also helped me move beyond more tactical activities into something more robust and mature. I was able to position sustainability more clearly within the business and engage different people based on what matters to them, whether that’s environmental issues, inclusion, or something else.
How has this impacted you as a professional?
It has definitely made me more confident. It changes the language you use and how you engage in conversations. You’re able to contribute in a much more meaningful way.
Sustainability is still a relatively new space, and there isn’t a defined pathway into it. So having this qualification, alongside practical understanding, is a real differentiator.
It’s also about understanding the bigger picture. That’s never a waste, regardless of where your role goes in the future.
Would you recommend the course to others?
Yes, absolutely. It was very well put together, and the support from the team was excellent. There was a real sense that they wanted you to complete it, which helped with accountability. Overall, it was practical, credible, and very good value. I would definitely recommend it.
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Dedicated to harnessing the power of storytelling to raise awareness, demystify, and drive behavioural change, Bronagh works as the Communications & Content Manager at the Institute of Sustainability Studies. Alongside her work with ISS, Bronagh contributes articles to several news media publications on sustainability and mental health.
