Available to book
Paul Polman
Drive meaningful change through purposeful leadership with Paul Polman, speaker, former CEO of Unilever, and co-author of “Net Positive"
Paul Polman is a business leader, author, and advocate for purposeful leadership. As the co-author of “Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take,” which was named a Financial Times Business Book of the Year, he emphasizes how businesses can thrive by prioritizing purpose for profit. Ranked #3 in Thinkers50, Paul is renowned for his commitment to integrating purpose with business strategy.
Paul's leadership philosophy revolves around driving transformative change to address critical global issues. As CEO of Unilever from 2009 to 2019, he demonstrated that prioritizing purpose alongside financial performance not only leads to significant returns but also fosters a thriving workplace and societal impact. Under his stewardship, Unilever achieved a 290% return for shareholders while pioneering in social and environmental responsibility.
Today, Paul continues to champion purposeful leadership through his work with various organizations, including Systemiq and private equity. He collaborates across industries and with diverse stakeholders—ranging from fashion and food sectors to government and civil society—to advance goals that regenerate economies, renew societies, and drive systemic change. His previous roles include leading the UN Global Compact and serving as an Ambassador for the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.
Passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, Paul chairs the Oxford University Saïd Business School and engages with INSEAD, IESE, PRME, and One Young World. His advocacy extends to human rights and disability inclusion, through initiatives like the Valuable 500 and the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, which he founded with his wife, Kim.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this session, Paul Polman, a renowned business leader and climate advocate, shares his insights on purposeful leadership in action. Drawing from his tenure as Unilever CEO and co-author of "Net Positive," he explores how businesses can thrive by embracing sustainability and social equity. He will discuss his ongoing efforts to unite industries, governments, and civil society to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating how leaders can drive transformational change for a more inclusive, resilient, and regenerative world.
In this keynote, Paul Polman explores how businesses can play a pivotal role in addressing inequality. Drawing from his experience at Unilever and his advocacy for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he demonstrates how companies can leverage their resources and influence to drive social progress. He will share insights on creating inclusive growth, forming impactful partnerships, and fostering a culture of equity, proving that tackling inequality is not just a moral imperative but a business opportunity.
In this session, Paul Polman discusses the critical role of corporate transformation in today's rapidly changing world. Drawing on his experience as CEO of Unilever, he illustrates how companies can achieve lasting success by integrating purpose with profit. He will share strategies for fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability that addresses global challenges, and how courageous leadership can unlock growth, resilience, and positive impact across industries.
In this keynote, Paul Polman delves into how innovation can combat climate change. Drawing from his tenure at Unilever and ongoing work with global organizations, he explores how businesses can pioneer cutting-edge solutions to reduce environmental impact. He will share strategies for integrating sustainability into core operations, leveraging technology, and fostering collaborations that drive meaningful progress, illustrating how innovative approaches can create a positive climate impact while driving business success.
Book Paul Polman to inspire your team with transformative insights on sustainable business practices. His proven track record at Unilever and expertise in tackling climate change and inequality will empower your organisation to thrive while making a positive impact. Elevate your vision and drive meaningful change with his compelling message.
Featured Projects
often considered together
Theresa May
Leadership Development
Gender Equality
Resilience
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Paul Polman draws on his tenure as CEO of Unilever and his co-authorship of Net Positive to frame sessions around case-based evidence, using Unilever's measurable outcomes — including a 290% shareholder return alongside sustainability targets — to illustrate how purpose-led strategy operates in practice.
Paul Polman speaks on purposeful leadership, corporate transformation, and tackling inequality through business. He served as CEO of Unilever from 2009 to 2019, during which the company delivered a 290% return for shareholders, and he is co-author of Net Positive, named a Financial Times Business Book of the Year and ranked third on Thinkers50.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
