C-Suite Perspectives

Consumer confidence has  ticked up  slightly  from March  but  remains  lo w, and the global economic outlook has been downgraded for a second time.     The growing impact of tariffs,  inflation  and ongoing war is extending to consumers' expectations for their incomes, job  prospects  and overall confidence in the economy.  The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up by 0.6 points to...

In this episode of  C-Suite Perspectives , Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Gillian Riley, President of The Conference Board of Canada * , about what busi ness leaders need to know when  operating  in and with Canada.   They discuss how CEOs are navigating heightened volatility, evolving US - Canada trade tensions, and a shifting economic landscape. The conversa...

What does the ongoing conflict in the Middle East mean for European markets? Join Sara Murray and Alejandro Fiorito as they unpack the latest developments and economic implications.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Diana Scott, leader of the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Robin Erickson, head of human capital research, and Matt Maloof, human capital researcher, to discuss insights from  The Reimagined Workplace 2026 :  Adopting AI Today, Poised for Tomorrow .     They explore how organizations are assessing and accelerating AI maturity, why...

Join  Bárbara Mendes-Jorge  and guest  Radhika Ralhan, an ESG and sustainability global impact leader  and  a  guest  lecturer at the Maastricht School of Management , to find out  how the EU compares with India and the US ,  why she's excited about  the  Circular Economy Act , and why  younger generations are unafraid to question a company's commitment to   sustainability.     For more from The C...

What if water -- not energy or labor -- becomes your biggest business constraint?     In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland,  p resident and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Alex Heil,  s enior  e conomist at The Conference Board, to examine the rising business risks tied to water scarcity.     They discuss how limited freshwater supply, aging infrastructure, and ineffic...

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Sara Murray, managing director, international at The Conference Board, speaks with Robin Maillard, researcher in the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, Europe, about where multinationals should hire in today's shifting European labor market. They explore how the Where to Hire Index helps leaders balance skills, cost, productivity, and long-term c...

In this episode of  C-Suite Perspectives ,  Steve Odland, president and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Jennifer Eggers,  f ounder and  p resident of LeaderShift Insights, to explore what it truly takes to succeed at the highest levels of leadership.     They discuss why transitioning to  the C -Suite is more challenging than many  expect,  the mindset shifts  required  to lead at an e...

Consumer confidence has ticked up  slightly  but  remains  low in the face of tariffs, spiking  prices  and war.     The Conference Board  Consumer Confidence Index ®  edged up in March to 91.8 (1985=100), from 91.0 in February. The  Present Situation Index —based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased by 4.6 points to 123.3. The  Expectations Index —bas...

In this episode, Dana Peterson, leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance  (ESF)  Center at The Conference Board, speaks with Malala Lin,  e conomic  r esearch  a ssociate  at the ESF Center , about new research on shifting consumer habits. They explore the widespread move toward value   seeking , how strategies differ across income groups, and what these changes signal for businesses planning in...

China  remains  one of the most essential  --  and complex  --  markets for global companies. In this episode of  C-Suite Perspectives , host Steve Odland sits down with  David Hoffman,  Senior Advisor and China Center Leader  at  The Conference Board , to unpack  what's  really happening on the ground.   Fresh from a three-week visit to Beijing and Shanghai, David shares a nuanced view of a marke...

In this episode, Brian Campbell, leader of the Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Blair Jones and Greg Arnold, managing directors at Semler  Brossy , to examine the evolving role of the board in CEO selection and transition. Drawing on recent research, they discuss internal versus external hires, the signaling challenges boards face, and how disciplined succes...

As climate extremes intensify, resilient infrastructure is no longer a future consideration ;  it  i s a present-day imperative.   Alex Heil, senior economist at The Conference Board, speaks with Greg Stonehouse, chief strategy officer at HDR, about how infrastructure design is evolving in response to rising climate risk. From transportation and water systems to health   care and energy facilities...

New global data reveals strong employee support for diversity, equity  &  inclusion (DEI)—but also a widening gap between how leaders view progress and how workers experience it.     Allan Schweyer , principal researcher  in the  Human Capital  Center ,  speaks with Marion Devine ,  p rincipal  r esearcher, Human Capital Europe,  and Matthew Maloof ,  r esearcher, Human Capital Center,  about find...

The Conference Board  Consumer Confidence Index ®  increased by 2.2 points in February to 91.2 (1985=100), from an upwardly revised 89.0 in January. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—decreased by 1.8 points to 120.0 in February. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor mark...

Three years into the conflict,  the Ukraine  war has evolved into a brutal war of attrition—with implications far beyond the battlefield.     T he Conference Board CEO  Steve O dland and  Dr. Lori Esposito Murray , a global affairs consultant most recently with  the  Council on Foreign Relations   and the Committee for Economic Development,  discuss the history underpinning the conflict, the reali...

Learn why companies need to understand AI's promise and potential drawbacks for environmental sustainability.       More than 60% of companies are using AI to support or advance environmental sustainability.  What  are the use cases  they're  exploring , and how can businesses  also  guard   against  the environmental risks of AI ?       Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, principal res...

Find out  what's  new in CEO and executive compensation, including say-on-pay practices and SEC  regulations .        CEO pay  in the S&P 500   increased 7% year - over - year in 2025, with stock awards as the largest driver . What are th e latest  trends  in CEO and executive compensation  f or go vernance teams and boards to consider ?       Join  Steve Odland  and guest  Dana  Etra , managing d...

Find out what Kevin Warsh's nomination for Fed chair means for interest rates—and the potential Senate battle ahead.       Kevin Warsh  has been  known as an inflation hawk. Will that change if he is confirmed as Federal Reserve chair, and what  c ould that mean for the economy?       Join Yelena  Shulyatyeva  and guest John Gardner, head of public policy and research at the Committee for Economic...

Learn what  C-Suite Outlook 2026  reveals for marketing and communications executives as organizations prepare for the rise of  A-Commerce (Agentic Commerce) —a new model of commerce driven by autonomous, AI-powered agents. CEOs and CMOs agree: boosting profitability through business model change is a top priority in 2026, according to  The Conference Board C-Suite Outlook 2026  survey. But how sh...

Finding skilled talent  remains   difficult .  Find out h ow  CEOs and  CHRO s  p lan to develop  their workforce  this year.       Nearly  37%  of CEOs say finding qualified workers  is   a challenge , according to the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey by The Conference Board. How  hav e   labor  challenges evolved since  the Great Resignation, and what  can CEOs  do to  attract and keep  skilled  tale...

Consumer confidence has plummeted. What does it mean for the economy?     The Conference Board  Consumer Confidence Index ®  fell sharply in January, from 94.2 in December to 84.5. Consumers'  assessment of both current business and labor market conditions,   and their short-term outlook of the same, fell by 9.9 and 9.5 points, respectively, to 65.1, well below the threshold of 80 that typically s...

Find out how governance and sustainability  are evolving, including  what's  next for ESG.       Change is coming for g overnance leaders , whether  it's  the evolution of ESG, the risks around AI, or an increased focus on strategic execution.  How can  these executives  adapt   in   this rapidly changing and uncertain environment ?       Join  Steve Odland  and guest  Brian Campbell, leader of th...

CEOs  are increasingly at risk, both physically and digitally. Find out  what's  new in  corporate risk preparedness.       The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024 has forced companies to rethink their executive security posture, both in terms of physical and digital security.  How   can  companies and boards assess their security readiness?       Join  Steve Odland  and guest ...

Our latest C-Suite Outlook reveals CEOs ' biggest concerns —and why   they're  measuring the ROI of AI.       U S CEOs  rank economic and geopolitical  uncertainty  as top risk factors for  2026 , according to  the  C-Suite Outlook 2026  survey  from  The Conference Board .  How can CEOs  overcome the lack of policy  certainty while making  investments  that  lead to  long-term success?       Join...