Does Purpose Influence Corporate Performance?

Many business leaders now have spoken about purpose in business. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Group has said, “It’s always been my objective to create businesses with a defined Purpose beyond just making money… our newest investment in OneWeb is also very much a Purpose-driven business, looking to create the world’s largest constellation of satellites to bring connectivity and communications to billions who don’t have access to the web.” Similarly, Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, has supported the importance of purpose in business, “We have committed to help provide good hygiene, safe drinking water and better sanitation for the millions of people around the world who are still denied these basic human rights… It is about opportunity and aligning our purpose in business with this opportunity.”