009 - Creating a Return on Humanity (When ROI Isn't Enough) with Philippa White

About this episode

Philippa White discusses the importance of humanity in business and the lessons learned from her uncle's experiences in apartheid South Africa.

As her classmates chanted the purpose of business (spoiler: to make money), Philippa White couldn’t help but feel like she'd wandered into the wrong room, as the business school black sheep. She'd grown up watching her uncle bridge worlds in apartheid South Africa – endlessly curious, fascinated by people and possibility, and the doctor of Nelson Mandela. He taught Philippa something that no business school curriculum was ever going to: the return on being more human. Today, she takes this co...

People in this episode

Host: Dr Myriam Hadnes

Guest: Philippa White

Topics covered

• humanity in business
• return on investment
• social impact
• business ethics
• personal growth

Keywords

• return on humanity
• business purpose
• social responsibility
• Philippa White
• Nelson Mandela

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: business school

Places: South Africa

More episodes of Unprofessionalism

• 022 - Speak Up or Shut Down with Gustavo Razzetti · June 9, 2026 · 41 min
• 021 - Innovation Before Consensus with Rori DuBoff · June 2, 2026 · 47 min
• 020 - Fitting Out at Work with Emanuele Mazzanti · May 26, 2026 · 43 min
• 019 - How to Find Your Real Voice Again with Cathey Armillas · May 19, 2026 · 42 min
• 018 - The Norm Breaker's Privilege with Benjamin Taylor · May 12, 2026 · 54 min
• 017 - Small Talk Is Big Talk with Julie Brown · May 5, 2026 · 45 min