Alan Jope Discusses the Secrets of Building a Purpose-Driven Business that Does Good and Performs Well

Navigating Our World

Thinking that you have to trade off financial performance and sustainability is a “false dichotomy” and a “ridiculous mindset,” according to Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever, one of the largest consumer goods companies on the planet. Jope wants Unilever to be famous for three things: creating an envied portfolio of purpose-driven brands, proving the link between sustainable business and better financial outcomes, and serving as a beacon for diversity and inclusion—and he believes that radical transparency is the way to get there.
Brown Advisory’s Mick Dillon, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Global Leaders equity strategy, sat down with Jope to discuss radical transparency, attracting the next generation of consumers and employees, shaping social and environmental change, the power of capitalism and the need to evolve it. And then Mick and sustainability specialist Katherine Kroll sat down the next day to consider their takeaways as investors.

Navigating Our World is the podcast where we seek insights about some of the most pressing questions that we face as investors and as a society. We examine “what’s next”—the forces shaping the post-pandemic world, moving capital and raising the future—with the thoughtful experts across our network. These conversations help us make better decisions for our clients, and we welcome you to join us. Stay tuned at the end of each episode for our investment team’s observations and analysis.

Guest:
Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever

Host:
Mick Dillon, CFA
Portfolio Manager, Brown Advisory

Katherine Kroll
Senior Institutional Sustainable Investing Specialist, Brown Advisory

Background Reading:

• The Circular Economy: A Transformative Covid-19 Recovery Strategy, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, October 27, 2020
• Unilever is Using Geolocation Data and Satellite Imagery to Check for Deforestation in Its Supply Chain, CNBC, September 24, 2020
• Global Leaders Strategy: 2019 ESG Transparency Report, July 14, 2020
• Dove Self-Esteem Project | Our Mission in Action, April 22, 2020

If you would like to explore this issue in more depth, visit the sustainable investing section of our website, where you can find thought pieces by our ESG analysts.

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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Brown Advisory. These views are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as investment advice and are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. The information provided in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be considered a recommendation or suggestion to engage in or refrain from a particular course of action or to make or hold a particular investment or pursue a particular investment strategy, including whether or not to buy, sell, or hold any of the securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. There is a risk that some or all of the capital invested in any such securities may be lost. This piece is intended solely for our clients and prospective clients, is for informational purposes only, and is not individually tailored for or directed to any particular client or prospective client.