If your company’s values were erased today, would anyone notice? It’s time to rethink how we activate values—not just list them. What do you think? Can corporate values drive real purpose, or are they just another page in the company handbook?
If every company has the same values, how do employees find real purpose? Integrity. Respect. Responsibility. Innovation. Sustainability. These words look great on a corporate website, don’t they? But here’s the problem: they’re everywhere. Take Mondelēz International, Unilever, and Nestlé—three global giants, all with almost identical values. When every business claims to stand for the same things, how does an employee find a deeper sense of purpose? How do they know they’re part of something special, aligned to them and their values? We talk a lot about engagement, culture, and meaning at work—but how can people feel truly connected to their organisation’s purpose when the values guiding them feel generic? Real purpose isn’t just a list of words. It’s felt. It’s lived. It’s embedded in the energy of a business, in how people show up, lead, and work together. It’s in the moments when employees feel they are part of something truly distinct and alive. So, here’s the real challenge: If your company’s values were erased today, would anyone notice? Or would they be easily replaced with another company's words? Let’s rethink how we define purpose in business—starting with how we activate the power of values, rather than just listing them. What do you think? Can corporate values be a true source of purpose, or are they just another page in the company handbook? Can you guess whose are whose below ?? ?? #Purpose #CorporateCulture #Values #EmployeeEngagement #Humanness