If too many people feel excluded from the system and cannot access its benefits, they will ultimately rebel against it. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
For Unilever, investing in women is an imperative. The business and social cases for doing so are inextricably linked. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
It is unacceptable that more than 1 billion people are hungry every day while another billion are obese. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
Working together on solving something requires a high level of humility and a high level of self-awareness. — Paul Polman Awareness Copy Share Image
Around the world, businesses and investors are increasingly taking action to climate-proof their own organizations. — Paul Polman Action Copy Share Image
It is not possible to have a strong, functioning business in a world of increasing inequality, poverty, and climate change. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
While we have created prosperity for many, too many are being left behind. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
I grew up in a small town in the Netherlands which, for years, had been a center of textile production. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
Land is a great example of how we can manage and invest in sustainable infrastructure for economic, social, and environmental gains. Its… — Paul Polman Environmental Copy Share Image
Imagine all the food mankind has produced over the past 8,000 years. Now consider that we need to produce that same amount… — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
We need new, dynamic models for growth through the sharing economy, using big data to unlock new insights and adopting closed-loop cycles. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
The young give us hope because young people are certain their best days still lie ahead - which explains why they're absolutely… — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
I discovered a long time ago that if I focus on doing the right thing for the long term to improve the… — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
If the short-term decisions you make damage the long term, you should resist those. But there are many short-term decisions that you… — Paul Polman Decisions Copy Share Image
Purpose has always been part of Unilever's DNA. Our founder, William Lever, built a business around the sale of Lifebuoy soap that… — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
Businesses and governments need to work together and make a joint commitment if we want to address climate change effectively and quickly. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
What is success? I think the most important thing is to achieve what you set out to achieve. Just being a CEO… — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
The very essence of capitalism is under threat as business is now seen as a personal wealth accumulator. We have to bring… — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
We cannot eliminate poverty without enabling developing countries to engage more people in economic activity that use natural resources, and we cannot… — Paul Polman Change Copy Share Image
At the end of the day, people will follow you or people will be energised by you if they buy into your… — Paul Polman Dreams Copy Share Image
I don't think our fiduciary duty is to put shareholders first. I say the opposite. What we firmly believe is that if… — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
More and more businesses are seeing the potential of a more sustainable business model, driven both by the firm belief that business… — Paul Polman Action Copy Share Image
If you work at an insurance company that sells premiums you wouldn't even sell to your mother, how happy would you feel… — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
My biggest fear is that I become useless or less useful by not being up to date - be it with technology,… — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
There are some basic human needs that are the same. Everybody wants to succeed. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
As CEO of Unilever, my personal mission is to galvanize our company to be an effective force for good. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
I work a lot with blind people in my spare time outside of Unilever, and I count my blessings every day. — Paul Polman Blessings Copy Share Image
I do not work for the shareholder, to be honest. I work for the customer. — Paul Polman Customer Copy Share Image
When the climate hurts, people and businesses also feel the pain. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
It only takes a handful of sizeable companies to reach a tipping point and to transform markets. — Paul Polman Investing Copy Share Image
Every region in the world faces challenges - and Africa is hugely diverse, so its own challenges are varied. — Paul Polman Africa Copy Share Image
In certain cases, empowering women starts with making their lives easier and removing unnecessary burdens. — Paul Polman Burdens Copy Share Image
Leading businesses are making large strides in ensuring a sustainable future, but ultimately, they can only do so much. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
Business has a responsibility and opportunity to be the driving force for the advancement of universal human rights. — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
My father worked in a tyre factory. My mother worked as a teacher. — Paul Polman Factory Copy Share Image
We cannot choose between [economic] growth and sustainability - we must have both — Paul Polman Business Copy Share Image
The moral case for gender equality is obvious. It should not need any explanation. — Paul Polman Copy Share Image
Unilever brings together the resources and experience of a multinational company alongside our deep local roots, which enables us to grow a… — Paul Polman Africa Copy Share Image
When women are provided with training and entrepreneurial opportunities in distribution networks, they become role models in their communities, showing it is… — Paul Polman Feminism Copy Share Image
Leadership is not a contest of likeability. Leadership often boils down to making the tougher choices. You are not in a popularity… — Paul Polman Choices Copy Share Image