The social capital trap: Why higher ed still rewards privilege over potential.
Riipen Co-Founder and CEO Dana Stephenson recently shared his perspective with Training Magazine on why closing the social capital gap may be just as critical as closing the skills gap in creating equitable pathways from education to employment.
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August 20, 2026
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Source: Training magazine
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In the piece, Dana explores how social capital can shape who gets access to early career opportunities, with family connections and established alumni networks often giving some students an advantage regardless of their skills or potential. He also examines how higher education and industry can help close that gap by creating more structured opportunities for students to build professional relationships through real-world work. Drawing on programs already putting this approach into practice, Dana makes the case for employer-connected experiences that allow more students to develop the networks, experience, and connections that can help open doors after graduation.
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