From 6 to 10 October 2025, the MGIMO School of Business and International Competencies hosted the advanced training program “Business Management Based on ESG Principles.” This educational initiative, developed in collaboration with Baikal Communications Group, is aimed at integrating the principles of sustainable development into corporate governance and strategic management.

The program was implemented as part of the federal initiative “Priority 2030” and brought together corporate leaders responsible for ESG transformation from various regions of Russia.

Experts from both the business and non-profit sectors shared their practical experience with the participants. The program’s lecturers included:

  • Svetlana Gerasimova, Head of the Project Office “Strategies and Practices of Sustainable Development,” lecturer of MBA and corporate programs at MIRBIS, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, and RANEPA;
  • Anastasia Tsumerova, Director for Sustainable Development, VEB.RF;
  • Ilya Kaminsky, Head of the Department for Market Access and Trade Dispute Settlement, Eurasian Economic Commission;
  • Vladimir Gorchakov, Head of the Sustainable Development Risk Assessment Group, ACRA (JSC);
  • Daneliya Dzhumberovna, Head of Structured Finance, T-Business Department, T-Bank JSC;
  • Viktoria Karpunina, Project Manager, Department of Strategic Social Projects, T-Bank JSC;
  • Ksenia Topokorova, Head of Sustainability, VK;
  • Ekaterina Kopaeva, Deputy General Director, ANO “Public Capital”;
  • Olga Amelkina, Deputy General Director, Lake Baikal Foundation;
  • Margarita Pozhidaeva, Sustainable Development Project Manager, O1 Standard;
  • Artem Marinin, Head of the Climate Solutions Division, SIBUR LLC;
  • Oleg Kalinsky, Director, Institute of Economics and Management, NUST MISIS, Doctor of Economics, Professor, and Director for Government Relations, Uralkali PJSC;
  • Ksenia Kosogorova, Head of Sustainability, Delo Group;
  • Marina Rakhmanina, Head of ESG, MTS PJSC;
  • Evgeny Belov, Climate Risk Manager, Severstal PJSC;
  • Ekaterina Lukyanchikova, Sustainability Manager, Roche Russia;
  • Kristina Popilyuk, Director for Sustainable Development, NOVATEK PJSC;
  • Natalia Malashenko, Communications Lead, Dobrota Severa Foundation;
  • Anastasia Kalinina, Head of Volunteer Development Programs, Perekrestok Retail Chain;
  • Oksana Kostiv, ESG and Sustainability Consultant (formerly Lamoda, WB, Mosbrew);
  • Marina Artyukh, Head of ESG, Siberian Wellness.

During the course, participants explored the infrastructure of sustainable development in Russia, the legal aspects of ESG integration, and the mechanisms of climate policy regulation within the EAEU, as well as the specifics of green finance.
Particular attention was given to new standards of corporate social capital, ESG ratings, and social project design as a key tool for collaboration between government, business, and society.

Upon completion of the program, more than 100 participants gained a comprehensive understanding of ESG approaches and acquired practical skills in developing and implementing ESG strategies.

At the conclusion of the course, representatives of the Lake Baikal Foundation and the MGIMO School of Businessannounced the upcoming launch, in 2026, of a new educational initiative focused on the international aspects of climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.

The program “Business Management Based on ESG Principles” reaffirms the growing importance of cooperation between academia and the business community in building the professional competencies essential for the sustainable development of the economy and society.

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