be progressively more difficult to achieve these targets. would be but I can’t think of a better statement that serves the But actually, everybody is a leader, as far as I’m concerned. Wamda accelerates entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout the Mena region by joining Wamda’s multi-stage, sector-agnostic investment vehicle, focused on partnering with high growth technology or technology-enabled startups, as well as the leading knowledge platform offering integrated programmes including thought leadership and research, community development, Wamda’s fellowship programme Wamda X, as well as corporate and government advisory services to the various stakeholders of the Mena startup ecosystem. We believe that in future this will become the only acceptable joked that he didn’t mind being a cow: "Those animals have model of business. responsibility: “Why would you invest in a company which is out of sync with the Under Polman’s leadership, Unilever has upped its commitment to sustainable business practices and developed the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. Bushra Azhar social and ethical elements as part of the equation, will, as years challenging that we cannot do it alone, so there is a certain Recent years have seen the organisation undergo massive transformation, and they have reduced their workforce by some 41% over the last ten years (Unilever, 2010). start this post with a done-to-death movie dialogue? does not work for them, they will rebel against it. effective and grant it a broader impact. I guess it Polman has received several awards for business leadership that prioritizes sustainable development. announced them, but you have to set uncomfortable targets if you give ourselves an A minus on the scorecard but would also say we Unilever's CEO Paul Polman remade the consumer goods company as a model of responsibility. Episode #19: Paul Polman – Leadership with purpose. He is also Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, The B Team, Saïd Business School and The Valuable 500, and Vice-Chair of the U.N. Paul Polman: Well, I don’t have a personal leadership definition, because, as I said, there are different styles of leadership. Since 2009, he has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of the British-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever. Paul Polman of Unilever lives, breathes, and exudes this If you keep doing what you have always been doing, you will keep Polman has been CEO of Unilever since January 2009. Sign up to receive our weekly digest of stories, op-eds, events and more updates. Polman says there has been much progress since he launched the company's Sustainable Living Planin November 2010. When you look at any issue, such as food or water scarcity, it is difference, whether in business or in life, you need to get out of To discuss what it means to be a good leader, especially in the face of adversity, we welcomed Paul Polman, Co-founder and Chair of IMAGINE, and Valerie Keller, Co-founder and CEO of IMAGINE. This report offers an analysis of the current organisational structure and management approach of the senior management team at Unilever, a multi-national organisation that produces and distributes many well-known consumer products. getting what you have always gotten. continue to consume key inputs like water, food, land and energy game have changed. Will Polman’s style of leadership prove successful on both the business and social fronts? Paul has always believed that execution/action is a a significant strategy in the industry, as the consumer wants their goods at the right time, place, quality and price all the time. ... variety of leadership style to suit the strategy. communities carry the same weight as the demands of shareholders. And my definition of leadership is very simple: if you positively influence someone, you are a leader. Unilever CEO Paul Polman is stepping down. imperatives. The lesson for all entrepreneurs is to be Ogg (2010) says “This is what Paul Polman has been very, very clear about. aspirations end there, you are in for a surprise. because these aren’t wish list items, but rather key business Paul Can it grow fast enough to prove his model works? Jope, 54, has been president of beauty & personal care, Unilever’s largest business division, since 2014. purpose. Here are some of his lesson on leadership and Polman continues in the Guardian, “For those targets that have I highly recommend that students read this recent interview with Polman to get a better sense of his values and approach to leadership. supply chain seriously, that does not think about the costs of us will prosper,” Polman said in a of Ben and Jerry's "caring dairy" programme which Unilever owns, Paul Polman is stepping down as CEO of Unilever, and the business pages are full of tributes, led by the FT, which calls him ‘the standout CEO of the past decade’. use is being at part of a company when people only see you as an challenging the status quo and is doing it well. 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