What business leaders are saying about The Purpose Upgrade

An incredible range of business leaders are recognising the importance of a Purpose Upgrade.

‘The Purpose Upgrade is thoughtful, practical and inspiring. The private sector can and must play a key role in overcoming the significant challenges the world is facing. After all, as a business you cannot be successful – nor call yourself successful – in a society that fails. Impact and leadership come with responsibility, and this book offers must-have insights for leaders from across all industries.’ 

Feike Sijbesma, CEO of Royal DSM (2007–2020), Co-Chair Global Climate Adaptation Centers, Fortune World’s 50 Greatest Leaders (2018) and UN Humanitarian of the Year 2010 

‘Paul Skinner is one of the best and here he tackles the purpose agenda with erudition and originality. His book will be standard reading for everyone who seeks a Purpose Upgrade personally or professionally.’

Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer of MediaCom and co-author of Belonging

‘In some ways the tragedy of recent capitalism is that, while it has ostensibly created a breadth of wealth and opportunity, it has narrowed the minds of everyone who participates in it. The shareholder value movement was a great example of this. This book is a necessary and timely contribution to a more organic, more nuanced and more complete appreciation of what a business can achieve.’ 

Rory Sutherland, Vice-Chair of Ogilvy and The Spectator’s ‘Wikiman’

‘As we face into what some might argue is the greatest reset of the modern era, The Purpose Upgrade challenges us to think deeply about what purpose really means, while providing us with a framework for bringing true meaning and purpose to organisational culture, aligning corporate aspiration with stakeholder ambition. A must-read for anyone who cares about the role they, and their organisation, play in creating a whole that is much more meaningful than its constituent parts.’

Célia Pronto, Managing Director of Love Home Swap and Non-Executive Director of South East Water, Moto Hospitality and Samworth Brothers

‘This excellent book will change how you think about the purpose of your organization. A tangible manifesto for organizations to build greater value with all stakeholders, to become stronger and more sustainable.’

Peter Seymour, Vice-President of Marketing and Strategy Europe at Mondelēz

‘The Purpose Upgrade offers a profoundly human response to the challenges facing businesses today. It provides the insight, wisdom and practicality needed for leaders to succeed by creating the more inclusive and sustainable future we so urgently need.’ 

Sophie Devonshire, Chief Executive of The Marketing Society and co-author of LoveWork

‘Reading The Purpose Upgrade encourages us to view purpose through an interconnected lens – compelling and challenging us to rethink everything that’s been alluded to as “purpose”, re-imagining the problems you seek to solve, re-designing the solutions you offer and uplifting the goals you seek to achieve in the first place. Important and urgent. Read it. Absorb. Ponder. Question. Upgrade your purpose.’  

Michelle Carvill, entrepreneur and co-author of Sustainable Marketing

‘The Purpose Upgrade is a reflection of Paul’s business experience at the Agency of the Future and MarketingKind, with practical case studies, exploring how we can transform not only the way in which we do business, but our business itself: the “why” then the “what” of the enterprise — and an invitation to a deeper reflection on the kind of economic system we should decide to build together.’ 

Daniela Barone Soares, Chief Executive of Snowball Impact Investments and Non-Executive Director of Intercontinental Hotels Group and Halma PLC

‘Every great book, always contains a single sentence that anchors its richness and this one is no exception– “True listening best begins by taking an interest in the lives and priorities of the people we serve in their own terms”. That’s what purpose ultimately is, listening, planning and acting together with people and planet, not on our terms but theirs and here’s a route map to turn this higher truth into granular action across all you do.’

Mike Barry, former Head of Sustainable Business at M&S