Paul Polman: A Business Leader with a Purpose

Paul Polman is a business leader with a unique approach to success. He served as the CEO of Unilever from 2009 to 2019, leading the company's transformation into a more sustainable and socially responsible business.

Polman's vision for Unilever was centered around making sustainable living the "new normal." He set ambitious targets for the company, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy.

Under Polman's leadership, Unilever made significant progress in its sustainability goals, including reducing its carbon footprint and increasing the use of sustainable palm oil.

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Paul Polman was born and grew up in the Dutch city of Enschede, in a Catholic family with three brothers and two sisters.

He had a pretty typical family setup, with a dad who was a tyre company executive and a mom who was a former schoolteacher.

Polman had initially hoped to become a doctor, but unfortunately, medical school places were allocated by lottery and he wasn't chosen.

Instead, he studied at the University of Groningen, graduating with a BBA/BA in 1977.

He then went on to complete his MA in Economics and MBA in Finance and International Marketing at the University of Cincinnati in 1979.

Polman's education was quite the journey, taking him from the Netherlands to the US and back again!

Paul Polman's career is a great example of how experience and hard work can lead to success. He joined Nestlé in 2006 as chief financial officer.

Polman's leadership skills were soon recognized, and he became vice president and head of the Americas in February 2008.

Polman joined Nestlé in 2006 as chief financial officer. This was a significant move in his career, marking a new chapter in his professional journey.

As vice president and head of the Americas, Polman took on a leadership role in the company, overseeing operations in a crucial region.

Unilever is a great example of a company that has prioritized sustainability under the leadership of Paul Polman. Polman succeeded Patrick Cescau as chief executive officer in 2009 and has since made significant changes to improve the company's revenue.

Polman's focus on sustainability has led to Unilever setting a target to decouple its growth from its overall environmental footprint. This target has been met with success, as Unilever has seen eight years of top-line growth, averaging twice the rate of overall market growth.

Polman's leadership has also been recognized by investors, with Bernstein's 2017 Blackbook rating Unilever top-of-class for absolute market share gains. This is a testament to Polman's ability to balance financial performance with sustainability goals.

However, Polman's focus on sustainability has also been criticized by some shareholders, who worry that it may come at the expense of financial performance. For example, Unilever missed sales targets for six out of eight quarters in 2013 and 2014.

Despite this, Polman remains committed to his vision for Unilever, including increasing the company's sales in emerging markets from 57% to 70% of turnover. This ambition is part of Polman's broader goal of making Unilever a more sustainable and successful company.

Polman's leadership has also been marked by significant management changes, including the scrapping of short-term targets at the company. This move was made in 2013, and has allowed the company to focus on long-term sustainability goals.

In 2016, Polman's total compensation was €8.3 million, including a basic salary of €1.2 million and other benefits.

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Paul Polman is a highly accomplished business leader, and his achievements are a testament to his dedication to sustainable development. He has received numerous awards for his leadership and efforts in this area.

Some of the notable awards he has received include the European Business Leader of the Year by Wall Street Journal/CNBC in 2003 and the Investor Magazine CEO of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Polman's commitment to responsible capitalism has earned him the Award for Responsible Capitalism in 2012, which is a significant recognition of his efforts. He has also been honored with the INSEAD Business Leader for the World Award in the same year.

In addition to these awards, Polman has received the WWF's Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal in 2013 and the Rainforest Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He has also been recognized for his leadership with the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership award - Synergos in 2014.

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Polman's contributions to business and society have been recognized by various institutions, including the University of Bath, which awarded him a Doctorate of Laws. He has also received 14 honorary doctorates in total.

Here are some of the notable awards he has received:

Effective leadership begins with personal development, as Paul Polman believes. It's a driving force behind his leadership style, which he's cultivated over time.

According to Rumi, "Yesterday, I was clever. I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise. I'm changing myself." This quote resonates with Polman's approach to leadership.

Resiliency is key to effective leadership, and it has multiple dimensions: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Polman emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with one's humanity to build resilience.

Taking a break from the corporate world to walk on a farm in England can be a transformative experience, as Polman has found. It helps leaders tap into their core purpose and strengths.

Leaders have a responsibility to serve the 95 percent of the global population that lacks basic privileges like clean water, a roof over their head, and education. Paul Polman believes that with privilege comes responsibility.

The world will never function if we don't ensure that more people can participate in the economic system. This is a challenge that leaders like Polman are taking on, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable world.

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Paul Polman is a leading proponent that business should be a force for good.

As CEO of Unilever from 2009 to 2019, he demonstrated that a long-term, multi-stakeholder model can go hand-in-hand with excellent financial performance.

Paul was a member of the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel, which developed the Sustainable Development Goals.

He continues to champion the 2030 development agenda, working with global organizations and across industry to advance it.

Paul's new book, "Net Positive", is a call to arms to courageous business leaders, setting out how to build net positive companies.

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These companies profit by fixing the world's problems rather than creating them.

Paul Chairs IMAGINE, a social venture dedicated to systems change, and Saïd Business School.

He is Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact as well as a B Team Leader.

Paul is also Honorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, which he led for two years.

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