Paul Polman, Unilever Former CEO on “Net Positive”
Published September 26, 2022 by pgalums in
Paul Polman, one of our most prominent and vocal P&G Alumni, also happens to be the former CEO of Unilever. In this talk from 2021 P&G Alumni Global Conference Paul talks about a book he co-authored called “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take.” Declared one of the “standout CEOs of the past decade” by The Financial Times, Paul is a leading proponent that business should be a force for good. The Economist declared Paul “An advocate of sustainable capitalism who explains how it’s done.”
Paul Polman is the co-founder of IMAGINE, where he is mobilizing businesses to tackle climate change and global inequality. Paul also served as the CEO of Unilever from 2009-2018, where he created—and proved—a long-term approach to global problems can also drive business performance. Prior to Unilever, he was Nestle’s CFO & Head of Americas. And of course, Paul got his start at P&G, where he spent 27 years rising through the ranks ultimately leading Europe for P&G. Paul continues to be active on the world stage, bridging the private/public sectors. Alongside the UN Secretary General, he helped develop the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Paul is chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, The B Team, Saïd Business School and Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact.
You’ll enjoy this very frank, compelling, and action-oriented talk about what we can all be doing as business and community leaders to face the challenges we have in front of us, and to be a force for good.