ESG Data & Accountability from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Using Advanced Technology for Further Analysis

As conducting fundamental analysis on ESG-related issues can be quite a daunting task – especially given the massive amounts of variables that may be considered relevant – many companies and organizations have been working to establish more advanced, technological tools and scoring systems to aid in the effort. For example, certain companies, including Refinitiv, Morningstar’s Sustainalytics, FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, and MSCI, among others, may employ artificial intelligence, with machine learning, natural language processing (NLP) and sentiment analysis algorithms to help arrive at data that may assist in ESG investing analysis. In this module, we will take a broad look at the landscape of how Big Data and certain impact tools can help guide you through making investments in the ESG space.

Exploring Investment Sentiment Signals: Industry Insights from Sentifi (Parts 1-3)

In the following webinar, “Making Informed Investment Decisions with Alternative Data “, you’ll learn how less traditional financial sources – namely investment signals from social media, news, and blogs increasingly offer meaningful insights on market momentum shifts as they occur. Among other features in this presentation, Marina Goche, chief executive officer at alternative data provider Sentifi, evaluates what constitutes “good data” for investment decision-making, how alternative data stacks up, and key considerations in selecting alternative data sources to make informed investment decisions. Goche also walks through certain characteristics of alternative data quality such as reliability, granularity, timeliness, and actionability, and how these may be used to inform investors’ buy, sell, and hold decisions.

Exploring Investment Sentiment Signals: Industry Insights from Sentifi (Parts 4-6)

The “Making Informed Investment Decisions with Alternative Data” webinar continues with Marina Goche, CEO of Sentifi, illustrating how alternative data may close the timeliness gap with traditional data sets, how investment sentiment signals from ESG events may impact asset valuations, such as a company’s stock price, and explores how investors may rebalance a portfolio using investment sentiment signals based on ESG events.

Exploring Investment Sentiment Signals: Industry Insights from Sentifi (Parts 7-8)

The “Making Informed Investment Decisions with Alternative Data” webinar continues with Marina Goche, CEO of Sentifi, fielding participants’ questions about investment sentiment signals, such as corruption, provides details about how machine learning models can help determine source credibility, and addresses how alternative data may be considered “actionable” when making investment decisions and rebalancing a portfolio. Goche also highlights certain technology features designed to handle Sentifi’s massive volume of alternative data sets.

Big Data & Accountability: Industry Insights - Panel Discussion (Parts 1-3)

In the webinar, “ESG Investing: How Big Data Helps Drive Financial Decisions”, panelists from Refinitiv, FactSet-owned Truvalue Labs, Quantum Research Group, and IBKR provide their insights into a wide range of topics, including finding the right balance between technology and human analysis, as well as how much weight to assign to each of the E-S-G factors in terms of materiality. They also offer, among other commentary, how ESG investing and Big Data may evolve over the next 5 to 10 years.

Big Data & Accountability: Industry Insights - Panel Discussion (Parts 4-6)

The “ESG Investing: How Big Data Helps Drive Financial Decisions” webinar continues with panelists addressing the challenge of subjectivity when assessing financial materiality in ESG, how the mentality of the financial market has shifted towards ESG, sustainability and impact, and how ESG factors can connect with investors’ personal values when making investment decisions.

Big Data & Accountability: Industry Insights - Panel Discussion (Parts 7-8)

The “ESG Investing: How Big Data Helps Drive Financial Decisions” webinar continues with panelists providing their outlook on how ESG investing may evolve over the next 5-10 years, as well as addresses participants’ questions about how Big Data interprets ESG factors, and how ESG data can be used to make more informed investment decisions. Following the webinar, we will also walk-through different forms of deceptive business practices, including green washing, social washing, blue washing, and pink washing, and how companies have historically sought to sidestep controversies, and their associated, potential adverse financial impacts. You’ll learn what forces can help cajole these companies from being held accountable, as well as how regulatory reform may play a key role in eliminating these practices. After completing the videos and webinars in this module, you should be able to discuss, among other topics, how, despite the proliferation of ESG investing-related marketing, products, research, data-driven tools, and inflows into funds, the discipline itself remains subject to a host of unresolved issues, and how conducting due diligence when integrating ESG factors into your financial and credit analyses may ensure whether your investments will be truly aligned with your values.

Reading Reinforcements

This Reading Reinforcements module explores more in-depth details about data collection, ESG scores, and how artificial intelligence can aid ESG investing practices, as well as specific examples of green washing activity. After completing the lessons that follow, you should be able to draw conclusions about how Big Data and artificial intelligence can aid in ESG investing analysis, as well as provide insights into historical, and more recent, forms of deceptive business practices.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for those with background in traditional financial products

Helps you understand how ESG-related issues can be analyzed using data-driven resources

Provides insights into deceptive marketing practices related to ESG

Discusses how millennials' values are influencing ESG investing

Course requires knowledge of traditional financial analysis

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in ESG Data & Accountability with these activities:

Review Basic Data Science Skills

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It's helpful to first review the main concepts that we will be building on in this course.

Browse courses on Data Science

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Re-familiarize yourself with foundational principles
Practice some basic data analysis techniques

Review Fundamentals of Finance

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This will help you refresh your knowledge on key finance concepts.

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Revisit textbooks or lecture notes
Take practice quizzes

Practice algebra

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Review algebra skills to strengthen your foundation for ESG investing analysis.

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Review notes and textbooks from previous algebra courses.
Take practice tests or quizzes to assess your understanding.
Join a study group or connect with a tutor for additional support.

Seven other activities

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Join a Study Group

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Discuss course topics and share insights with peers.

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Find other students taking the course
Schedule regular online meetings
Discuss lecture materials

ESG Investing Webinars

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Attend webinars to gain insights from industry experts on ESG investing practices.

Browse courses on ESG Investing

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Identify reputable organizations or platforms offering ESG investing webinars.
Register for webinars that align with your interests.
Actively participate in the webinars and take notes.

Follow Along with Industry Experts

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These tutorials will help you gain insights on how data is used in the industry.

Browse courses on ESG Investing

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Find industry-specific sources
Search for tutorials from experts
Follow the tutorials to learn best practices

Data Analysis Exercises

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Engage in hands-on data analysis exercises to reinforce ESG investing concepts.

Browse courses on ESG Investing

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Use online platforms or textbooks to find data analysis exercises.
Analyze ESG-related data sets using statistical techniques.
Interpret the results and draw conclusions about ESG factors.

Analyze ESG Data Sets

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These drills will help you develop your skills in analyzing ESG data.

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Find ESG data sources
Practice extracting and cleaning ESG data
Analyze ESG data using different techniques

ESG Investment Analysis Report

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Demonstrate your understanding of ESG investing by creating a comprehensive analysis report.

Browse courses on ESG Investing

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Select a company or industry to analyze.
Gather data on ESG factors using reliable sources.
Analyze the data and identify key ESG risks and opportunities.
Write a report summarizing your findings and recommendations.

Build a Simple ESG Screener

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This project will help you apply the concepts to a practical scenario.

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Identify ESG factors
Gather ESG data
Create a screening model
Test and evaluate the screener

Career center

Learners who complete ESG Data & Accountability will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chief Sustainability Officer

The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is responsible for overseeing a company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for CSOs who want to stay up-to-date on the latest ESG trends and best practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Sustainability Officer

Sustainability Analyst

Sustainability Analysts are responsible for evaluating a company's ESG performance and providing recommendations on how to improve it. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a strong foundation in ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Sustainability Analysts who want to develop their skills in ESG analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants provide advice to businesses and organizations on how to reduce their environmental impact. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Environmental Consultants who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to promote environmental sustainability.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Social Responsibility Manager

Social Responsibility Managers are responsible for developing and implementing a company's social responsibility programs. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Social Responsibility Managers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to promote social responsibility.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Responsibility Manager

ESG Fund Manager

ESG Fund Managers are responsible for managing investment funds that invest in companies with strong ESG performance. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for ESG Fund Managers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to generate superior returns.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Fund Manager

Impact Investor

Impact Investors are investors who seek to generate both financial returns and positive social and environmental impact. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Impact Investors who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to generate positive social and environmental impact.

See salaries and explore the career path for Impact Investor

Corporate Social Responsibility Officer

Corporate Social Responsibility Officers are responsible for overseeing a company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Corporate Social Responsibility Officers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to promote CSR.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Officer

ESG Analyst

ESG Analysts are responsible for evaluating a company's ESG performance and providing recommendations on how to improve it. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a strong foundation in ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for ESG Analysts who want to develop their skills in ESG analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for ESG Analyst

Philanthropy Advisor

Philanthropy Advisors help individuals and organizations develop and implement their philanthropic giving strategies. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Philanthropy Advisors who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to promote social and environmental change.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers provide financial advice to companies and governments on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and other financial transactions. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Investment Bankers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to advise clients on ESG-related transactions.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts evaluate the financial performance of companies and make recommendations on whether to buy, sell, or hold their stocks. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Financial Analysts who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to generate superior returns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers manage investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Portfolio Managers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to generate superior returns.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify and manage risks that could impact a company's financial performance. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Risk Managers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to manage ESG-related risks.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure that a company's operations comply with all applicable laws and regulations. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Compliance Officers who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to ensure that a company's operations comply with all ESG-related laws and regulations.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make informed decisions. The ESG Data & Accountability course from Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive overview of ESG investing, including how to use data and technology to assess a company's ESG performance. This course would be particularly beneficial for Data Analysts who want to learn more about ESG investing and how it can be used to analyze ESG-related data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst