144( 2025 )SPONSOR CONTENTPurpose is part of the package at Unilever CanadaNicole Bloom’s missionin life is neatly summedup by her surname: shewants to be the lightthat helps others grow and bloom.It was a realization arrived at ina perhaps unexpected place – atwo-day training session madeavailable by her employer,Unilever Canada.Bloom, a category and shopperinsights manager, recalls thesession as “one of my favouritetrainings I’ve ever taken.”Employees from across Unileverwere brought together for a seriesof “vulnerable” conversations tounearth what motivates them andwhat they want to do in the world.For Bloom, the session prompted her to get more involved inthe company’s business resourcegroups, have regular coffee chatswith interns, become a mentorand join the group of Unilever employees who attend university andcollege career fairs. Her goal atthe company is to become a seniormanager who can be a supportiveforce for those on her team.“Obviously there are timeswhen your career isn’t 100 percent aligned with your purpose,but Unilever does try to find waysto help us live our purposes,” shesays.The Canadian division ofthe consumer packaged goodsbehemoth is known for a hostof mission-driven brands: fromDove’s drive to support youngpeople’s self-esteem and combatsocial media influence on bodyimage to Hellmann’s commitmentto help consumers reduce theirfood waste.That ethos extends to Unilever’scorporate culture, says MartinPayant, Unilever’s vice-presidentand chief customer officer. Payantbegan his career at Unilever 26years ago and says the “strongsense of community” and missionis what has kept him at thecompany.“The young people coming inthese days want to change theworld, and we want to be the placethey can do that,” he says. “If yourpurpose is to help a charitablefoundation and they have a meeting on a Wednesday afternoon, it’stotally fine to leave the office andgo do that.”Payant took the purposeworkshop as well. In addition toconsidering what motivated him,he says the sessions have anotherunexpected benefit. “We learnabout each other too.“The young people coming inthese days want to changethe world, and we want to bethe place they can do that.”— Martin PayantVice-President,Chief Customer Officer Employees at Unilever Canada are encouraged to find what motivates them at the organization’s annualGrowth Summit.By sharing those parts of our lives,when someone needs to leavethe office we understand why,”he says. “It helped us understandeach other better.”His own mission is evolving:initially, he says, he wanted tobring his natural passion andenergy to leading his team. Afterrecovering from cancer, some ofhis focus is now on giving backby holding a board seat at a localcancer research institute.
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