“The course helped me make sense of sustainability frameworks and apply them to real-world decisions”
Imogen Reynolds
Finance Manager and B Corp Champion at OxfordSM
Diploma in Business Sustainability Graduate
Tell us about your role and background
I work at OxfordSM, a sales and marketing consultancy, where I’m the finance manager. As we’re a small company, we all wear multiple hats, so I also lead our B Corp certification, which we first achieved in 2020. I’ve been with the company a long time, and as our sustainability journey evolved, I wanted to build my own knowledge and be able to contribute meaningfully to our impact strategy.
Why did you decide to take the Diploma course?
While we don’t have a huge environmental footprint (most of our team works remotely, and travel is limited to client engagements), I recognised that sustainability is about more than just carbon. I wanted to understand the full picture and identify areas where we could still improve, especially across governance, reporting, and social impact.
I came across a few options, but the ISS Diploma was much more suited to my needs. I wanted a strong overview of sustainability, without it being too academic or requiring lots of writing outside of work. The flexibility to study around my job and home life was a huge plus.
How was your learning experience?
The course struck a great balance – it was practical and well-structured, and I appreciated the mix of videos, reading, and interactive elements. Some of the modules tied in directly with our B Corp work, especially on topics like materiality assessments, impact reporting, and sustainability planning. The expert faculty made a real difference. Even though I wasn’t a sustainability professional by background, I felt able to ask questions and engage. It was like a bridge between the academic and business worlds. Overall, the content was both clear and actionable.
Do you feel the course had an impact on your work?
The course gave me the confidence to take part in sustainability discussions with both colleagues and peers in the B Corp community. It helped me make sense of the terminology, frameworks, and what’s expected in practice, not just theory.
There were definitely “aha” moments, like recognising where course concepts aligned with our B Corp certification or helped clarify what actions we should take. Even in wider conversations, when something sustainability-related is in the news, I now feel I can connect and contribute to the topic in an informed way.
Would you recommend the course to others?
Without a doubt. The Diploma is ideal for anyone in a business support role or from a non-sustainability background who wants to upskill and become part of their company’s sustainability journey. It’s practical, well-paced, and a valuable investment for professionals and businesses alike.
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