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. Besides all of the other damage it wrought, COVID-19 cast more than 10 million people into extreme poverty, reversing many positive trends in human development. At the outdoor gear brand Cotopaxi, CEO Davis Smith is working to reverse that through efforts like directly supporting the people who sew its goods, many of whom are struggling to put food on the table, as well as reducing the company's carbon footprint to lower its impact on the environment, creating healthier communities. You can read about his company's innovative approach to living its Social Capital values in "Can Corporations End World Poverty?" 

Davis Smith and Cotopaxi are showing us how.

O2E founder and CEO fuels success on fun and company-wide interpersonal connections.

The Well-Being Factor
The Un-Leader In Action
Lorna Bornstein Markets Empathy and Humanity, and Business Is Booming

Marshall Goldsmith's wisdom has helped shape many a successful career, and he was an early adopter of many of the ideas powering the Social Capital movement long before they caught on. With the world throwing down new challenges for every leader every day, there's never been a better time to take a look back at Goldsmith's now-classic What Got You Here Won't Get You There. Armed with a great title that's now part of the popular lexicon, it's the definitive guide to getting out of your own way and tapping into the collective wisdom around you. Fortunately, when you are running a company based on the Social Capital principles of giving back to employees, the community and the world at large, there's a lot of momentum to carry you and your team forward. And if you can't get enough of Goldsmith's ideas, check out our story, Marshall Goldsmith Shows You How to Increase Value By "Giving It Away."

Backyard socializing is one of the high points of summer, and there's nothing like the right lawn chairs to set the tone. We love Lawn Chair USA's Blue Sands Classic Chair with Blue Arms ($69.99), which evokes the basic values of simpler times that Social Capital is all about. Grab an ice team or a mimosa and you're all set. 

Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith is intent on using all the resources of capitalism and his company to solve what he considers to be the greatest global challenge in the world today – poverty – and he’s succeeding in incredible ways. Read Part II of our series on his groundbreaking ideas – inspiration for your own Social Capital endeavors. 

86% of employees said financial well-being benefits influence their desire to stay with their employer in a recent study by SoFi. Social Capital companies around the globe have embraced this idea by giving employees a bigger share of the profits and through a host of innovative ideas. For ideas on how to move their needle for your employees' financial well-being, check out "CEOs Who Share The Wealth." As they've figured out, if you want team members to think like owners, treat them like owners. It's hard to solve big problems for your employer if you can't afford to fill your gas tank and keep your fridge well-stocked.

One of the biggest challenges for any Social Capital CEO is to leave no stone unturned in creating a caring company. That's why we've been so excited to be at the forefront of a movement of hundreds of CEOs of leading organizations who are defining what it means to be a Social Capital company through actions that are impacting millions of people. Check out the 100 companies that made our Top 100 list for 2021. We're looking forward to seeing more leaders embracing the ideas that are driving the performance and contributions of these companies to new heights. 

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