TED talks: profit’s not always the point – Harish Manwani

Businesses must be more than just numbers on a balance sheet, says Harish Manwani in this week’s featured TED talk.

Manwani is chief operating officer at Unilever, a poster child in the sustainable business world because of its leadership in this area.

On his first day at the firm in 1976 as a management trainee, Manwani’s boss asked him why he was here. “I’m here to sell a lot of soap”, was his reply. His boss disagreed, saying, “No, you’re here to change lives.” It was then he realised that simple acts, like selling a bar of soap, can save lives by improving personal hygiene and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

“Small actions can make a big difference”, Manwani says, in what is a refreshing talk about the value a sustainable business can create and the impact it can have.

To watch this video on the TED website, click here.