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We hear a lot about social capital these days. At Women’s Impact Fund, we talk about our wealth of social capital and that we should leverage it to aid others. But what exactly is social capital? According to a recent article from McKinsey, it is “the presence of networks, relationships, shared norms, and trust.” The Institute of Social Capital located in Australia acknowledges that there is no one precise definition, but that social capital relates to social relationships that have productive benefits.

When I think about social capital, I think about my personal network and how I use it. I recently connected my daughter’s friend with the executive director of a nonprofit with whom I have a relationship. The friend is interested in the work of the nonprofit and needs to do a capstone project as part of his high school graduation requirements. Through this connection, he was successful in securing an internship. Moreover, he will start to build his own connections at this organization.

We do things like this all the time for friends and acquaintances. The question then becomes, how do we include more people in this network of ours; people who may not have the robust networks that we have. I think the answer may be rather simple. We need to be intentional in bringing more people into our network. Maybe the older sister of the student you tutor is looking for an internship. Maybe the friend you made when canvassing for a candidate last fall is looking to change jobs. Being intentional about sharing our social resources is another path toward being impactful. 

If you want to think more about social capital, come to WIF’s Women LEAD session on February 1: Social Capital, Using Your Voice for Influence. The event will be led by Sherri Chisholm, the Executive Director of Leading on Opportunity. Register now. On an organizational level, WIF is thinking about social capital too. In December, the Board of Directors and Advisors held their annual joint meeting. During that time, members discussed various forms of social capital and engaged in discussions about how WIF and its members could leverage social capital for social good. These discussions will be used as part of the strategic planning update that is being undertaken currently. 

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.