Paul Polman

Sustainability makes good business sense, and we're all on the same team at the end of the day. That's the truth about the human condition.

I think the most important thing is to achieve what you set out to achieve. Just being a CEO in itself is not success. I would not relate success to a title or a position.

Let's work together to make our economies strong and our climate sustainable. It can be done.

I discovered a long time ago that if I focus on doing the right thing for the long term to improve the lives of consumers and customers all over the world, the business results will come.

Permissible growth in the future has to be based on sustainable and equitable models.

The young give us hope because young people are certain their best days still lie ahead - which explains why they're absolutely convinced they can change the world for the better.

Business must go on reiterating its absolute commitment to embedding human rights in all it does, driving industry change through collaboration with governments, international organizations, and each other.

Left unchecked, climate change risks not only making the poorest poorer, but pulling the emerging middle classes back into poverty, too.

When we empower women, society benefits, grows, and thrives.

Safe working conditions, fair wages, protection from forced labor, and freedom from harassment and discrimination - these must become standard global operating conditions.

Imagine all the food mankind has produced over the past 8,000 years. Now consider that we need to produce that same amount again — but in just the next 40 years if we are to feed our growing and hungry world.

Leadership is not a contest of likeability. Leadership often boils down to making the tougher choices. You are not in a popularity contest.

I work a lot with blind people in my spare time outside of Unilever, and I count my blessings every day.

Unless we change direction, models show that the profit of the entire consumer goods sector could be wiped out by 2050.

If we all act together - business, governments, NGOs and citizens and, especially, the young - just imagine the good we could create.

At the end of the day, people will follow you or people will be energised by you if they buy into your vision or purpose. So the most important thing is to be true to yourself. That's why I would say to be a great leader - you, first and foremost, have to be a great human being. And sharing that purpose and sharing the values.

Too many companies are running their business into the ground, I would argue, by being myopically short-term focused on the shareholder.

While we have created prosperity for many, too many are being left behind.

Empowering women is one of the most important things we - and indeed, every business - can do.

Businesses and governments need to work together and make a joint commitment if we want to address climate change effectively and quickly.

Looking at the world through a sustainability lens not only helps us 'future proof' our supply chain, it also fuels innovation and drives brand growth.