Sustainability, transformation and leadership were the topics at a seminar and prize ceremony for the Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development, held in Gothenburg on Friday the 21st of November.
The Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development is an international prize that recognises and supports work towards sustainable development from across the world. The first prize was given in 2000 and previously it has been awarded to Kofi Annan, Al Gore and Margot Wallström amongst others. This year’s theme was Transformative Leadership for Global Business and the prize was awarded by sustainability expert Alan AtKisson to Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever.
During the seminar, Paul Polman shared his leadership philosophy, saying that being a good leader is first and foremost about being a human being. When people are able to marry their own values with the values they bring to work - that's the recipe of good leadership and of being successful.
Speaking about the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, Paul Polman stated that he has led his company to taking responsibility for a bit more than the usual sustainability plan. In practical terms, the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan has set up 50 targets, which go beyond profits and take responsibility for the whole value chain.
Anneli Hulthén, Mayor and Chairman of the City Executive Board and the City Council of Gothenburg, stated that the prize was important to the city and the region in showing how to make changes for sustainability.
Read more, and watch the interview, seminar and award ceremony on the Gothenburg Award website