BECOMING A COURAGEOUS, NET POSITIVE LEADER

Abstract

AbstractThe authors bring years of experience to the task of writing about net positive leaders. Polman was the CEO of Unilever from 2009 to 2019, and Winston is a leading adviser on sustainable business strategy, who co‐authored a recent book with Polman. They discuss leaders who have taken courageous stands on social issues, beginning with an anecdote about Ed Stack, who was CEO/Chief Executive Officer of Dick's Sporting Goods in 2018, at the time of the Parkland, Florida school shootings. They write that “key stakeholders, and especially employees, are demanding that companies take a stand. Because of these changing norms and expectations, companies are increasingly wading into thorny debates about LGBTQ rights, guns, immigration, climate policy, racial equality, and more.” The authors discuss “five critical traits that help create and distinguish a net positive leader,” which in their words are: A sense of purpose; Empathy, humility, and humanity; Courage; The ability to inspire; and Openness to deep collaboration. In the first point, they write: “Tackling the biggest issues, such as fighting against climate change, or for justice and equality, while doing business well, is not easy work. Work is not always fun, but it's much easier when you feel that you have meaning.”