Paul Polman: A Different Kind of Bottom Line
- andres8314
- May 26
- 2 min read
When Paul Polman became CEO of Unilever in 2009, he did something that shook the financial world: he told investors he wouldn’t be giving quarterly earnings guidance anymore. For many CEOs, those quarterly numbers are sacred, but Polman saw them as short-term distractions that pulled companies away from real purpose. He believed leadership should serve not just shareholders, but society—and that’s not a slogan. It was a principle that shaped everything he did.
What many people don’t know is that this belief didn’t come out of a business school playbook. It came from Polman’s upbringing in a Catholic working-class family in the Netherlands. His father, who survived World War II, taught him about sacrifice and standing up for what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable. And when Polman’s father passed away, it left a deep mark. He’s spoken openly about how that loss pushed him to think beyond professional success, toward legacy—what we leave behind, not just what we accumulate. That grief turned into fuel. It made him want to lead differently.
Polman’s vulnerability was never performative. He didn’t share personal stories to impress anyone. He shared them to connect—with employees, with activists, with young leaders inside Unilever who wanted to make a difference but didn’t always feel they had permission to. By being clear about his values and where they came from, Polman created a culture where doing the right thing wasn’t a branding exercise—it was the expectation.
Under his leadership, Unilever committed to bold sustainability targets, championed fair trade, and put climate, equity, and human dignity on the business agenda. Not because it was trendy, but because Polman believed companies should act like they plan to be around in 100 years. His legacy isn’t just what he built—but how he made people feel capable of leading with heart.
Do you lead from your values, even when it feels uncomfortable or unpopular? Have you ever been shaped by a moment of loss or clarity that changed how you lead? Share your story in the comments—or reach out to us at Storia Connect. We believe those stories deserve to be told.
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