What people are saying about
The ACTIVIST Leader
Paul Polman
Former CEO of Unilever
“Today’s challenges require a different kind of leadership that is well embodied in this book with some very practical suggestions on how to get there. This indeed is a must read for all current and aspiring leaders.”
Ajay Banga
President of the World Bank, Former President and CEO Mastercard
“There is no doubt that the challenges of inequality of access and climate change are not easy. They need long-term solutions, while society tends to want short-term results. The call to action for today’s leadership is what this book is all about, with some terrific insights and down to earth advice.”
Mark Schneider
CEO of Nestlé
“‘The Activist Leader’ captures the essence of what the public around us wants and expects: Business as a force for good, while staying true to what it is – a business, creating value for its shareholders and all relevant stakeholders. The roadmap for this delicate balancing act is still under development and this book, which builds on many specific examples, will serve as an important milestone”.
Judy Samuelson
Founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program
“‘The Activist Leader’ blends inspiring examples of business transformation with pragmatism and helps the reader understand the changes we are witnessing in the C-suite. This is activism unleashed; more needed.”
Henry Timms
President and CEO, Lincoln Center, Author of the International Bestseller “New Power”
“‘The Activist Leader’ will revolutionize your understanding of what leaders can – and should – deliver, to the benefit of their companies, colleagues, and to society as a whole. Prepare to be enlightened, empowered, and ultimately transformed by this remarkable exploration of how activism meets leadership in the 21st century. A must-read.”
Sarah Keohane Williamson
Chief Executive Officer of FCLTGlobal
“‘The Activist Leader’ shows why being out front on today’s most important social issues in an integrated, strategic way is key to success in the long run. Real-world examples of companies that have tackled these issues not as a trade-off, but as a way to bring future value to their stakeholders and investors, bring a much-needed practicality. This is required reading for any business trying to reorient their focus toward the long term.”
Colin Mayer
Emeritus Professor of Management Studies, Said Business School and Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
“The importance of the message of this book, the clarity with which it is delivered, and its value for business could not be greater. This is a profoundly significant book for business leaders around the world and for the world they inhabit. They should all read and learn from it for the sake of us, them and their investors.”
John Elkington
Founder and Chief Pollinator, Volans, and author of “Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism”
“The trend is clear: Activist leadership and corporate advocacy are racing up the business agenda. System change is coming – and the real question is whether you want to fight for the past or for the future.”
Andrew Morlet
CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
“In order to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world today we need to transition to a circular economy. As in all major transformations, this shift requires vision and leadership from the top. The Activist Leader clearly demonstrates how this is not only necessary, but also possible, providing both direction and practical advice on how to lead a business successfully and at the same time actively improve the world we live in.”
David Grayson
Emeritus Professor of Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield School of Management UK. Chair, Institute of Business Ethics; Co-host, “The All In Sustainable Business Podcast”
“With books such as this, business leaders have no excuses for continuing inaction on the big challenges of our times. There are big business opportunities hiding in clear sight. Businesses can find profitable solutions to the problems of people and planet.”