Discover powerful and actionable insights from these powerful exclusive articles and Q&A’s from trailblazing business leaders earlier this year at the Center for Social Capital

As summer approaches and we reach the year’s halfway point, we thought it was a great time to take a quick look back at some of the most amazing articles this year – either written by our people‑centric leaders or drawn from powerful written Q&As with them. This exclusive roundup really drives home the point that people are the point of profits, as each of these top executives has leveraged people‑centric leadership to simultaneously drive sustainable profitability and build valuable social capital within their organizations, because they realize the two are inseparable. Discover the key takeaways that define success in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Most New Managers Fail; the Solution Is Obvious but Ignored

By Mark Donohue April 16, 2026

LifeGuides founder Mark Donohue has a game-changing answer.

Empowering employees begins with a simple belief: People perform at their best when they feel supported as human beings, not just managed as workers.

Today’s employees are navigating an increasingly complex world. Economic uncertainty, constant technological change and rising expectations at work and at home can leave people feeling overwhelmed. When employees face these challenges, they rarely take them straight to HR or senior leadership. They bring them to the person closest to them: their manager.

That is why empowering employees ultimately begins with empowering the people managers who support them every day. In today’s environment, leadership cannot mean simply assigning responsibility or driving performance. Managers need the support, reflection and guidance that allow them to help their teams navigate both work and life with confidence.

Read the rest of the article at: Most New Managers Fail; the Solution Is Obvious but Ignored

Garry Ridge: Leadership Is Purpose, Not Power

By Garry Ridge March 5, 2026

Another insightful exclusive excerpt from former WD-40 wunderkind CEO’s newest book.

Excerpted with permission from Garry Ridge and Martha Finney’s “Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It” (Matt Holt Books; March 2025).

Chapter 23: Leadership Is Purpose, Not Power

Back in 2001, I wrote a personal purpose statement: My life purpose is to use my leadership skills and common sense to motivate and encourage people so they can maximize their opportunities, meet our common goals and have a lot of fun doing it. My paramount aim is to act in the best interest of those I lead.

Now here’s my current personal purpose statement: I help leaders build cultures of belonging where love, forgiveness, and learning inspire a happier, more connected world.

Read the rest of the article at: Garry Ridge: Leadership Is Purpose, Not Power

The CEO AI Dilemma: Short-Term Efficiency or Long-Term Sustainability?

By Vince Barsolo December 11, 2025

Televerde CEO Vince Barsolo explains why the choice you make could be life or death for your organization.

AI is already replacing jobs. That’s not a forecast. It’s already happening. And as CEOs, we’re the ones signing off on it. The pressure is real: Deliver growth, cut costs and satisfy investors. AI and automation give us the levers to pull.

But let’s be clear: Algorithms can’t build trust, inspire loyalty or spark creativity. They can process tasks but can’t hold a company together when the ground shifts. The companies that survive disruption won’t be the ones with the most tools. They’ll be the ones that safeguarded their human foundations and kept their people connected and committed.

The best leaders I’ve worked with shared one thing in common: They invested in people. They treated mistakes as coaching moments. They valued contributions and made space for every voice. And they believed in unlocking potential, even when someone’s background didn’t look “traditional” for corporate success.

Read the rest of the article at: The CEO AI Dilemma: Short-Term Efficiency or Long-Term Sustainability?

The Secrets of Dave Alexander’s Powerful (and Unique) Path to Success

By Chris Benguhe, RaeAnne Marsh and Elaine Pofeldt March 19, 2026

How taking care of people, 287 triathlons, and an unexpected honor later in life shaped his incredible legacy — and there’s more to come.

Dave Alexander founded Caljet of America in 1982, using a credit-card loan of $1,000 to fund the company. At the time, there was a monopoly on fuel storage in the Arizona area, and Dave was, essentially, the new guy on the block. Over the next 43 years, he built it into the largest fuel-storage company of its kind in the state. Today, it handles, trades and sells more than $8 billion a year in products and services.

He’s done that while taking care of his employees better than his competitors in measurable ways, such as giving them a premium healthcare policy for $1 per paycheck. “I had found out, at an early age, when you give back, you keep people’s loyalty and dedication,” says Dave, who was named one of the most caring people in America by the Caring Institute in Washington, D.C., nine years ago.

He was also named to our Top 66 People-Centric Leaders of 2025.

Dave is the perfect example of a successful people-centric leader who rightly belongs on this powerful, prestigious list for all those reasons.

But there is one more really big one: He believed in our center, our team and our vision of promoting the power of capitalism done right through people-centric business strategies two years ago and continues to be our biggest advocate.

Read the rest of the article at: The Secrets of Dave Alexander’s Powerful (and Unique) Path to Success

Wealth for Everyone: How Business Can Actually Deliver It

By Chris Benguhe, RaeAnne Marsh and Elaine Pofeldt February 5, 2026

Mike Brady discusses how we are on the verge of a business revolution of access, fairness and economic empowerment. 

We recently had a chance to get Mike’s powerful thoughts on what he is doing and what is being done to make it all happen.

Editors: Mike, first of all we want to thank you for all you have done in your career to advance people-centric and social capital principles. That’s why we have honored you repeatedly and truly consider you a part of our community and our movement. We also truly value the powerful ideas and insights you have contributed to our center, since we first connected with you as CEO of Greyston Bakery through now as CEO of 40 Million Owners. In keeping with that — as you know, fairness, and all the elements of that principle and how to institute it into a business setting and policy structure, is an important effort that we have zeroed in on as integral to being a people-centric CEO. Tell us a little about why you consider it so important, and how you define it.

Read the rest of Mike’s amazing insights at Wealth for Everyone: How Business Can Actually Deliver It

 Check out the rest of our articles and interviews in our archive at: Social Capital Insider Archives