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. The foundation of a Social Capital company is a focus on people--employees, customers, and in the community. In "The Forgotten Employee Benefit That Pays Off Big Time," Grokker CEO Lorna Borenstein looks at the power of building a great culture--and how its presence may trump the standard list of benefits and perks when it comes to attracting and keeping employees. "Companies invest untold hours and costs in cobbling perks and benefits together but rarely measure what impact it is having in the context of caring and connection," writes Borenstein. "Is your benefit making people more connected with your organization's purpose and with each other? Is it caring for all of them or a few of them? Is it caring for them in ways that match their life?" 

Grokker CEO Lorna Borenstein reveals how to create a winning culture cost-effectively.

CEO Steve MacMillan leads charge for a global 'what gets measured gets results' tool.

"Kendra Scott Fashions Success For Women And Her Company" 
"To Promote...or Not"
"Cultivating Trust As A Leader"

If you're looking to build a great culture on a tight budget, It Pays To PLAY offers a boatload of inspiration. Kristi Herold, founder of JAM, one of the oldest recreational sports leagues for adults in the world, offers a multitude of ideas for connecting your team through play. Along the way, she shows how play is a tool that can help your people to become more engaged, energetic, healthy and creative—and make employees want to stay. The spontaneous fun doesn't have to cost you a fortune. One company created a popular ritual out of attaching a stuffed monkey to a rocket and launching it outside the building--tapping into the inner third-graders of its team.

Love chocolate? Treat yourself to a Thomas Keller K+M Milk Chocolate Truffle Fries bar ($10), which will make you rethink all of the chocolate bars that have come before it in your life. The gourmet bars combine the flavor of French fries and milk chocolate, with the a hint of truffles. They are made with cacao from Ecuador and roasted, ground and hand-molded in Napa Valley, California and, in the spirit of Social Capital, packaged in recycled paper and compostable foil. For more on sustainability in the food industry, check out "Chipotle's Amazing Recipe For A Better World." 

We Can Make Technology the Path Out of Poverty: Someone Somewhere founder wowed by what he saw at CES 2023 – and by what he didn’t see. (Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter so you don't miss any stories like this here.)

Women are as satisfied as men with their lives in many important areas, such as education, housing, community, job and personal health, according to new research by Gallup. They're also equally content with their family lives and the amount of leisure time they have. But there's room for improvement in one area: their finances. They have more financial worries, according to the research. It's no surprise, given that women still earn less than men in many fields. Fortunately, many Social Capital companies are putting compensation front and center, and addressing gender pay equity. For more ideas on how to create a better workplace for women, see, "Family Still Matters: CEOs Who Support America's Most Important Institution." 

As Women's History Month comes to a close, many Social Capital companies are looking for new ways to make sure they are building a culture that is friendly to moms, 12 months a year. If you're looking for new ideas to attract and retain the women on your team, don't miss "Penny Pennington Is Committed To Growth--Of Families," which looks at the groundbreaking ways that Edward Jones Investments is supporting working families and the moms who play a central role in them. 

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