Kind Business

‘Can business be both kind and profitable? David Cooke’s Kind Business answers with a resounding yes. This powerful book bridges the gap between commercial success and compassionate leadership, serving as a roadmap for anyone ready to challenge the status quo and lead with heart.

‘David’s exceptional leadership in promoting these values sets a much-needed example for current and future leaders who dare to achieve sustainable profit without forgoing core values of empathy, decency, and kindness towards people and the planet. David’s approach stands as a cornerstone for the future of ethical business practices - making it essential reading for visionary leaders.’

Cassandra Kelly - Member of the European Union Global Tech Panel, Chair Treasury Corporation of Victoria and co-founder of Pottinger

‘David would be in the top drawer of Australian business leaders who have led profitable businesses with strong compassion and purpose. I am pleased he is taking the opportunity to reflect on his career and share with us many of his lifelong learnings.’

Tony Stuart - CEO, UNICEF Australia

‘One of the most compelling and complete books on business, culture and sustainable performance available. This book is a must for any business leader looking to realise the benefits of a fully integrated approach to ESG.’

Alison Cameron - International Leadership Coach, author Leadership for the New Millennium

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‘This book is a refreshing antidote to growing distrust in business. David Cooke shows by powerful example how companies can do well when leaders have the courage to do good.’

Narelle Hooper - Non-executive Director The Ethics Centre, former Editor AFR BOSS and former Editor-in-Chief Company Director magazine

‘Business as usual has put us on the road to ruin. If we are to rein in climate change and yawning inequality, then we need an alternative approach that doesn’t put profit ahead of people and the planet. Dr David Cooke mounts a compelling case for kind business practices. He presents a wealth of evidence to show that if corporate leaders followed his advice, then they would lead happier and more fulfilling lives - and so would the rest of us.’

Peter Mares, Moderator, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, author of No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis

‘Dr David Cooke remains one of the most forward thinkers in how we can restructure capitalism in a manner that prioritises kindness to provide better outcomes for people and planet. I strongly recommend this book to anyone currently leading, or having aspirations to lead a business, and particularly to those who have the courage to take the lessons Dr Cooke offers into the real world to enable our society to be net positive and thrive.’

Kylie Porter, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Business Ethics Fellow

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‘In a world still dominated by “greed is good”, Cooke challenges the status quo, asserting that profit and purpose can coexist. With compelling examples from corporate Australia, he advocates for a shift from shareholder primacy to stakeholder inclusion, redefining leadership with moral courage and empathy for a more sustainable future.’

Susan Mizrahi - Sustainability Thought Leader and Strategist, Non-executive Director UN Global Compact Network Australia

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Dr. David Cooke has 35 years of corporate experience, including at CEO level in a global technology company. He is also an Adjunct Professor at UTS Business School and has been awarded two business doctorates. Dr. Cooke is a well-known public speaker, having delivered over a hundred talks and workshops, including speaking at the UN in New York and Geneva. He is the Executive Director of ESG Advisory and the author of Kind Business: How Values Create Value. David previously held senior executive roles at Xerox and Canon, and most recently, the position of Managing Director and Chair for Australia and New Zealand for Konica Minolta. He previously held the positions of Chair at the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Institute Advisory Committee. He has also chaired or served as a non-executive director of a number of not-for-profit organizations. He was awarded a doctorate for his research entitled “Building Social Capital through Corporate Social Investment” and has been awarded an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) for the implementation of responsible business initiatives including addressing modern slavery within corporate supply chains. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at UTS Business School.