Welcome to the latest edition of the Social Capital Newsletter. Social Capital is an intangible asset at the heart of a new and dynamic view of success, one that is changing business and the world as we know it during one of the most difficult and turbulent times in recent history. Austin Allred, the CEO of BloomTech, which provides students with education funding in exchange for a share of their future salary, is a leader who is bringing the Social Capital concept to life in new ways every day. In "Shifting Gears to Rev Up Customer and Community Service," Allred shows the power of actively listening to both customers and the community. When students said they had trouble finding the time to participate in rigorous technology training, BloomTech introduced a new learning experience that lets them access live sessions, career experts and job hunt resources on their own schedules. It's just one of the innovative ways that BloomTech is making education more accessible to all--an idea a growing number of Social Capital leaders embrace.

BloomTech CEO explains why social entrepreneur companies must adapt to make a lasting impact.

CEO Roger Hochschild opens eyes and opportunity by opening a call center in Chatham.

Real Sustainability Is about People 
The Doctor Is In: Pulling Double Duty as a Physician and CEO
Fred Hassan Proves Big Pharma Can Have A Big Heart

The devil may wear Prada in the movies, but, as jewelry designer and CEO Kendra Scott shows, many leaders in the fashion industry are embracing Social Capital ideals in real life. Scott, whose designs you can see in the IBT Times shop, has built a culture at her eponymous company that empowers employees and prioritizes work/life balance, with a robust benefits package including 100% paid parental leave, paid philanthropy days and an in-house smoothie bar. In Born to Shine, she shows how she's brought to life her belief that each person is a "one-of-a-kind gem that could never be replicated." The book is available for pre-order now. 

Looking for a new way to get the family out into the backyard over Memorial Day weekend (and for the rest of the summer, for that matter)? CROSSNET, a four-way volleyball game ($149.99), is the ultimate backyard game, and there's even a version for the pool, CROSSNET H20 ($124.99). Players each have one square of the court to themselves, so it's the ultimate social distancing sport. As we note in "Family Matters: 10 CEOs Who Support Our Most Important Institution,"  family, whatever form yours takes, is an important part of society and worth nurturing. 

The Un-Leader in Action: UKG CEO Aron Ain proves the leadership strength of honest humility.

The engagement slump among U.S. employees is continuing, with Gallup finding that engagement dropped two percentage points in early 2022, to 32% of part- or full-time employees. That means Social Capital is more important than ever. To be engaged, employees need to have clear expectations, the right materials, and a connection to the mission and purpose of their organization. Gallup found that companies with the highest engagement levels--those with ratings of 70% or higher are choosing best practices that add to their Social Capital: Letting their organizational values guide business decisions, embracing flexible work, focusing on employee wellbeing, embracing transparent communication, and up-skilling mangers to lead in time of change.  

The old days when leadership was about building a cult of personality are over. Servant leadership--also known as conscious capitalism and Triple Bottom Line--is picking up steam in a fast-changing business environment that's all about bringing out the best in your team. Former Popeye's CEO Cheryl Bachelder explains her unique take on this in "Is Servant Leadership Finally Catching on?" 

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