Page 124 - How We Lead Matters

In the Afterlife

“How do you plan to give back after your retirement?”
As I consider my departure from the role of CEO of a global company,
I empathize completely with the indignation that Nestle’s chairman and
CEO, Peter Brabeck, expressed when asked this question by a reporter.
President Clinton was asked a similar question in light of his robust
post presidential philanthropic activities. He was quick to respond that he
would never have a larger platform for making a difference than the presi-
dency of the United States. Peter Brabeck basically said the same thing about
being the CEO of a company that is recognized for socially responsible busi-
ness throughout the world. I concur.
That’s not to say that after retirement we won’t continue to pursue
ways to contribute to the common good, but it’s hard to imagine that any of
us ever again will have the influence and resources we have had at our dis-
posal to improve lives on a global scale.
I suspect that Peter counts as some of his greatest contributions his
company’s efforts to improve farmers’ yields and the quality of crops in Latin
America, the advances in water management policies he has championed to
promote efficient use of water by business, and the R&D efforts the company
invests in to ensure better “ecodesigns” of product packaging to eliminate
waste. This story about a chocolate manufacturer gets sweeter still.
For more than 135 years, millions of people all over the world
have found employment at Nestle. And ultimately, a job is the best form of
philanthropy.

Marilyn Carlson Nelson 107