Christa Gyori, CEO and co-founder of Leaders on Purpose, sat down with us to talk about the immense business potential that lies in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to Gyori, the SDGs present a $28 (USD)tn business opportunity that could create 380m jobs. That’s a lot of wealth creation and the good news is this doesn’t have to be at the expense of the planet. 

During a successful career at Unilever, Gyori was part of the transformational change that took place at all levels of the business with the legendary Paul Polman at the helm of Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan. Gyori now helps support businesses and their leaders to find their purpose and to equip them with the tools for transformational change in line with the SDGs. 

The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. They provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. At the core of the 17 SDGs, is an urgent call for action by all countries in the Global South and the Global North to work in partnership toward ending poverty. Doing so goes hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our biosphere.

“Even if you’re not morally inclined to want to save the world,”says Gyori “finding growth through the SDGs is really the best business opportunity”.