Masters of Scale

How redefining boundaries drives performance, w/former Unilever CEO Paul Polman

Dec 7, 2021

Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, shares insights from his tenure where he transformed the company by emphasizing sustainability and long-term growth. He discusses the importance of redefining boundaries to invigorate teams and drive performance. Polman highlights how shifting corporate purpose from short-term profits to societal impact can lead to greater accountability and success. His experiences underscore that true change requires not just a focus on mission but also on the boundaries that shape behavior within organizations.

33:36

Episode guests

Paul Polman

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Redefining Boundaries in Leadership

8min

Courage Amidst Chaos

7min

Innovative Employee Engagement and Leadership Challenges

3min

Redefining Corporate Purpose

13min

Redefining Boundaries for Greater Impact and Growth

3min

When Paul Polman joined Unilever as CEO in 2009, the consumer goods company – home to 400-plus brands including Dove soap, Ben & Jerry’s, and Vaseline – had been stagnated with years of lackluster performance. His famous turnaround of the company centered around his ability to redraw the boundaries of Unilever’s mission to emphasize sustainability and long-term growth. He’s a perfect example of why every leader should consistently reexamine the boundaries that limit their business – and be prepared to redraw them as you grow. By redrawing boundaries, you can reinvigorate your team with a new sense of power. As Polman says, “You cannot change people's behaviors if you only work on the purpose – and don’t change the boundaries around it that drive people's behavior.”

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