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. Religion and politics used to be topics that were considered risky to discuss at work. But times are changing, and some Social Capital leaders are taking faith into account in their diversity, equity & inclusion efforts. In "Keep The Faith--At Work," you'll learn how companies in the vanguard, such as Cotopaxi (which you may recall from "The Capitalist Revolution to Save Humanity"), Intel and PayPal are showing their respect for their employees' faiths. With about 84% of people around the world and 76% of Americans saying that faith and/or identification with a religion is an important part of their lives in some way, it is a trend that is likely to remain important in the future. 

Why and how respecting your employees' spiritual beliefs is the right thing to do.

Founder Maraia Tanner shares what capitalism can do to open up opportunities in space.

"Delta Raises The Bar--And Its Wages--Again!"
"Kendra Scott Fashions Success For Women--And Her Company"
"Financial Strength--And Strength of Character--Both Are Needed For Success"

Ron Lovett grew his security company in Halifax, Canada into one of the leading firms in its industry, with more than 1,500 frontline staffers. He used simple, scalable systems and processes to unlock the innate wisdom of his team, helping them to connect to its mission and purpose and empowering them to execute. It all started with giving a security guard from Toronto the job of purchasing the next company vehicle. When Lovett saw how this front-line employee researched the best deals, models and contracts, he quickly understood the power of "giving employees their brains back." Outrageous Empowerment provides a powerful roadmap for other Social Capital leaders who want to empower their teams in new ways. For more ideas on how to tap into your employees' hearts, minds and talents, see "The Empowerment Principle."

Summer is coming, and the temperatures are rising. If you're in the market for a new swimsuit, why not make it a sustainable one? Snapperrock makes swimsuits for the whole family from recycled bottles and fishing nets. And if you're shopping for an early Father's Day gift, check out the matching "Dad and Me," suits, like the Sunrise Shark Valley Board Short ($75 for men; $48 for boys). 

Jopwell Scales Up Professional Opportunity for Communities of Color: Porter Braswell founded for-profit business to make positive social impact. (Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter so you don't miss any stories like this here.)

Engagement levels among U.S. employees dipped to 32% in 2022, down from 36% in 2020, according to Gallup. The elements of engagement that declined the most since the pandemic started were: clarity of expectations, connection to the mission or purpose of the company, opportunities to learn and grow, opportunities to do what employees do best, and feeling cared about at work. The data is a powerful reminder of why running a company according to Social Capital principles is so important. If you're facing lower employee engagement levels, check out "Gallup Knows Why Your Employees--And Everyone Else--Is Unhappy."

Final exams are coming up in school, and there are now study methods to suit every learning style. Nerdy's founder revolutionized online learning by scaling individualized tutoring. In "Nerdy's Online Tutoring Helps Schools Tackle America's Education Crisis," you can find out from our story and video interview with IBT Times Editor-At-Large Chris Benguhe what founder Chuck Cohn is learning on the front lines of education and how he's bringing that knowledge to professional education--a topic of vital concern for many Social Capital leaders. 

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