Paul Polman Books

Runaway climate change and persistent inequality are threatening humanity and the planet. Business has a crucial role in leading us toward a better future. Challenges such as pandemics, resource constraints, and biodiversity loss require urgent collective action, yet division and discord hinder our response. Global partnerships and leadership are lacking, while free trade and globalization face increasing opposition, and populism fuels intolerance and disruption. At this pivotal moment, reimagining our economies and companies is essential. Many in the business sector, from large corporations to microenterprises, are addressing these challenges with long-term, purpose-driven models that prioritize people and the planet. They are finding profitability through new tools, AI, data-driven transparency, and advancements in clean technologies. The question has shifted from "Why pursue sustainability?" to "Why not?" In this transformative work, former Unilever CEO Paul Polman and sustainable-business expert Andrew Winston present a framework for building net positive companies—those that contribute more to the world than they consume. They reveal the intrinsic link between purpose and profits and emphasize the need for collective action to achieve meaningful change. This essential guide is aimed at leaders and professionals who understand that success involves a commitment to serving the world, providing a roadmap for creating a net p

The topic of trust has been a much discussed issue since the recent global financial crisis. However, the business world's response has lagged behind, and trust in organizations and corporations remains low. This book helps leaders create a trust-building strategy for a globalized, technology-enabled, diverse, and increasingly skeptical world.Through coaching exercises and interviews with CEOs, combined with academic research, "The Trusted Executive" provides the tools to build trust through three key areas: ability, integrity, and benevolence. It explains how to develop and measure organizational trust, handle trust violations, and manage a constantly changing work environment and diverse workforce. Moving from self to organizational transformation, chapters show leaders how to set their organizations on a path to achieving a better reputation, more sustainable operations, and creating a structure and ethos that supports trustworthy behavior on all levels.

"Tom Szaky sets out to do the impossible - eliminate all waste. This book paints a future of a "circular economy" that relies on responsible reuse and recycling to propel the world towards eradicating overconsumption and waste"-- Provided by publisher

With a Foreword by Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever. Frugal innovation is a way that companies can develop high-quality products and create more value with limited resources. In today's cost-constrained environment, companies in the developed economies are seeking new routes to long-term business success - while also appealing to cost-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers. With an estimated trillion-dollar global market for sustainable products, and with potentially huge cost savings to be gained, frugal innovation is revolutionising business and reshaping management thinking. This seminal book gives an overview of the principles, perspectives and techniques behind frugal innovation, connecting with key contemporary business concepts such as the sharing and circular economies and the maker movement. It offers a blueprint for leaders and managers in companies of all sizes and across all sectors on how to profit from doing business frugally.Based on the author's six key principles of frugal innovation, and packed with targeted advice and specific recommendations for business functions such as R&D, operations, HR and sales and marketing, Frugal Innovation is a masterclass in the art of doing more with less.