Social Entrepreneurs
For people building ideas, ventures, and initiatives with a social purpose.
5-Week Online Course · August 25 - September 29, 2026
Ethical Marketing
Communication and Storytelling for Positive Change
Build an ethical marketing strategy that aligns with your values, grows community, and helps your work reach the people it is meant to serve.
Live Zoom sessions · Saturdays 10:00-11:30 AM EST
3-6 hours per week
Certificate from a UN-established institution
Marketing For Positive Change
Tell your story with clarity, strategy, and ethics.
Marketing, communication and storytelling can all be powerful tools for positive change. This course invites you to question your understanding of marketing and its purpose, and to develop an ethical marketing strategy that aligns with your values.
You will explore how to authentically connect with your audiences and community, talk directly to the people you serve, and better understand the growing list of social media platforms and tools available today.
Who Should Take This Course?
For people using communication to move meaningful work forward.
This certificate course is designed for, but not restricted to, professionals and changemakers who want to communicate with greater purpose and strategy.
Nonprofit Leaders
For teams that need to grow community, visibility, support, and trust.
Community Organizers
For people mobilizing people around shared values and collective action.
Innovative Executives
For professionals who want marketing to reflect mission, values, and impact.
Recent Graduates
For emerging professionals ready to build communication skills with purpose.
Flexible Schedule
Compelling content built for your busy week.
With an average of 3-6 hours of work per week, this online course includes videos, live webinars, articles, and forums for discussion.
Each week, a new module opens on Moodle with readings, animated presentations, videos, forum questions, and assignments that can be completed offline at a convenient time before the next week.
Online format
LiveSaturday Zoom sessions from 10:00-11:30 AM EST
Self-pacedWeekly Moodle modules with videos, articles, forums, and assignments
OptionalWeek 6 bootcamp to discuss strategy, connect with participants, and dig deeper into the material
What To Expect
Course Skills And Benefits
Flip the circles to explore how this course helps you communicate online with more strategy, emotional intelligence, and ethical clarity.
Build Your Communication Portfolio
This course counts toward the Diploma in Social Innovation or Global Leadership Diploma.
This online course will use the Moodle platform. Course readings, animated presentations, videos, forum questions, and assignments will be posted each week, and students must complete the required tasks by the following week.
Weekly journey:
Week 01The Ethics of Marketing
Week 02How Emotions Can Change Hearts and Minds
Week 03The Marketing Mix and Social Media
Week 04Audience and Community
Week 05Strategy Meets Function
Week 06Bootcamp (optional)
Course Details
Everything you need to plan your experience.
Co-Facilitators
Laura Garcia
Laura Garcia is a Mexican multimedia storyteller with a wide range of television and online experience. She has worked in different newsrooms across the UK, including ITV Meridian, BBC South East, BBC Radio Kent, NBC News, R4's The World Tonight and ITN's Channel 5 News. Currently, she teaches journalists from all over the world how to spot and verify disinformation.
Shelley Bragg
Shelley Bragg is the co-founder and Director of Development of GOOD Travel, a New Zealand based social enterprise focused on transforming the tourism industry into a force for GOOD. She has worked for international schools in China and Thailand as Director of Marketing and Communications and consults with schools in various countries.
Course Schedule
This is a 5-week online course running from August 25 to September 29, 2026. This course has an optional Bootcamp in the 6th week. Live Zoom Sessions are held Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM EST.
Course Format
This is an online course. Each week, a new module opens that includes videos, articles, and forums for discussions that can be completed offline at a convenient time for the participant.
This course also includes an optional 6th week of bootcamp to discuss strategy. While this is not mandatory, it is highly recommended for creating connections with other participants and digging deeper into the course materials.
Course Cost
$650 tuition rate. A certificate is awarded upon completion by the Centre for Executive Education at the University for Peace, established by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Enroll with a colleague and each will receive a 15% discount. Contact us for groups of 3 or more.
If your participation needs a financial plan to be possible, contact us and we will be happy to share available options.
University for Peace alumni and alumni of the Centre for Executive Education receive a discount.
Questions?
Have a question? Contact us at centre@upeace.org, or visit our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Trusted By Organizations
Designed by a centre trusted by teams across sectors.
Past Participants Say
Real reflections from professionals who joined us.
I have always recognized the potential power of social media in real-time communication and engagement of like-minded people and organizations to achieve common goals. UPEACE's Social Media course made the global audience more reachable, and I would highly recommend it!
Fabiana Artiñano
Costa Rica · Executive Coach and Director of Education
If you have never received any social media training before, then this is the course for you! Excellent content, inspiring facilitator, and a final project that allows you to bring everything together!
La Daana Kanhai
Trinidad and Tobago · Scientist & Lecturer in Marine Biology/Ecology
I loved the sessions. They provided opportunities to connect and learn from the leaders and course mates. Discussions were interesting. This is an inspiring and valuable course, well structured and with great content.
Karolin Mae
Estonia · Education Specialist and Lecturer
This course teaches you how marketing can be planned and executed ethically, and you come away with a well-conceived plan that incorporates your values. You gain the knowledge and ability to tell your story and make your work known to those who are looking to find what you have to offer!
Lori Crever
Seattle · Global Speaker, Author & Learning Facilitator
Ready To Join Us?
Build an ethical marketing strategy that helps your work reach the right people.
Join a 5-week online course designed for professionals and changemakers ready to communicate with greater clarity, purpose, and integrity.