Will I love Net Positive?

I wrote extensively about Paul Polman in my own book—particularly about his courage. What I admire most is that he didn’t just talk about purpose; he lived it and delivered it.

Reading this book reminded me why I found his leadership at Unilever so compelling. Like purpose itself, Unilever isn’t perfect—but what Polman stood for and what he managed to achieve showed what’s truly possible when courage, conviction, and commitment meet strategy.

I loved how the book balances idealism with practical insight. It pushed my thinking further, reaffirming that profit and purpose can and must coexist if business is to… show more.

At a time when businesses are targeting net zero carbon emissions, Net Positive is a rallying cry for leaders to embrace a wider definition of sustainability.

As Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, who I’ve had the privilege of interviewing, and Andrew Winston explain net positive companies improve the lives of everyone they touch, increasing long-term shareholder returns in the process; take ownership of social and environmental impacts their business models create, viewing these as opportunities to innovate; and partner with competitors, civil society and governments to drive transformative change. 

Although some concepts presented in this book were not new… show more.

Net Positive adds to the growing movement on going beyond sustainability – doing less harm – to thriving, which is about doing good. The power of this book is that it is grounded in the leadership experience of former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman, and shares many practical insights and fascinating anecdotes on how he turned the multinational into a powerhouse for creating a better world. This is complemented by the research and additional case studies that co-author Andrew Winston brings to the table. Together, they have written a blueprint for how business can be a force for positive transformation… show more.