C-Suite Perspectives

Find out how CEOs are planning to win this  year  amid a world of uncertainty.       As 2026 begins, CEOs  are worried about uncertainty   —   in the economy, geopolitics ,  trade policy ,  supply chains , and more .  What does the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey tell us about how  CEOs plan to grow and invest despite the headwinds ?       Join  Steve Odland  and guest  Dana M. Peterson, chief economi...

Learn how companies  can develop a strategy  to redesign their structures  and processes for AI.       AI   not only transforms how companies  operate,   it's  also transforming how they differentiate,  according to a  new report  by The Conference Board. How  can  companies  reimagine themselves  with  A I  at every level of the enterprise ?       Join  Steve Odland  and guest s   Erka  Amursi  a...

Learn how businesses can store and even process goods without incurring immediate tariff obligations.       The effective US tariff rate  soared to 17% in 2025.  What options are available to  businesses  that need to import goods but want to mitigate tariff burdens?       Join Alex Heil and guest Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at The Conference Board in the Economy, Strategy  &  Finance (ESF)...

In this episode of  C-Suite Perspectives , Dana Peterson and Allen Li unpack the latest  Consumer Confidence Index ®  and the surprisingly strong Q3 US GDP report.   US consumer confidence edged lower in December, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline and ending the year on a cautious note. While confidence improved after the federal government shutdown ended, expectations for the next six...

Only 33% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic gets recycled in the US.  What  are the obstacles , and how can businesses contribute to greater  plastics  sustainability and circularity?   Join Alex Heil and  guest John  Galt,  chairman  and former CEO  of Husky Technologies ,  to learn  about designing  an  extended  producer responsibility system ,  why most microplastics originate in vehi...

What is neuro-symbolic AI, and how can  it  help  businesses  generate value in new ways?       If generative AI is a productivity engine, then neuro-symbolic AI promises to be  the  growth engine that turns data into business value. But what is this technology, and why should C-Suite leaders move quickly to explore its potential?       Join Ivan Pollard and guest Jeff Schumacher,  G rowth  P latf...

AI is driving the next wave of corporate reinvention, moving beyond efficiency toward creativity and strategic insight.   For business leaders, the question is no longer whether to use AI   but how to  lead with  it.     In conversation with John  Metselaar ,   The Conference  Board CEO  Steve Odland explores the new frontier of human-machine collaboration. The episode highlights how forward-looki...

2026 is  almost here . Find out what risks CEOs are prioritizing in the year ahead.       CEOs have had to spend much of  this year dealing with the fallout from  tariffs and  a  government shutdown,  but  those challenges are far from resolved. What are the biggest risks CEOs  ar e thinking about as the new year approaches?       Join Steve Odland and guest David Young, president of the Committee...

Consumer expectations for six months in the future continue d to worsen in November, and confidence fell to its second-lowest level this year. Will holiday spending turn the tide on this rising pessimism?   Join Dana M Peterson, Chief Economist and Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, and Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, both of The Conference Board , to find out how co...

AI is redefining what effective leadership development looks like. Coaching, once limited to the few, can now reach the many ,  empowering managers and employees alike.   Diana Scott welcomes Allan Schweyer ,  both of  The Conference  Board ,  to discuss how embedding AI coaches into daily workflows is redefining employee development, scaling mentorship, and enabling organizations to cultivate a m...

Globalization is being rewritten as geopolitics, trade, and industrial policy collide. Shifting alliances are reshaping markets, supply chains, and the balance of economic power.     In this episode, Steve Odland of The Conference Board, speaks with Maria Demertzis   about what these shifts mean for corporate decision-makers. Together, they share how business leaders can adapt to rising uncertaint...

Companies in the S&P 500 are  increasingly   disclosing   AI-related  risks . Find out what this means for C-Suite lead ers and boards .       More than 70% of  the  S&P 500  disclosed  material AI risks in 2025, up from only 12% in 2023. What  are  the biggest AI-related risks for  these  companies, and how can they  integrate AI into governance and risk frameworks?       Join Steve Odland and gu...

The modern workplace is being reshaped by a sweeping "whole-of-government" approach to policy, enforcement, and regulation. From diversity and inclusion to AI and immigration, the Administration's actions are influencing how both federal and private employers manage compliance, talent, and organizational risk.   In this episode, Steve Odland speaks with Camille Olson, partner at Seyfarth, about wh...

Find out why a 1 - 2% increase in annual electricity demand could create  stress to the US electrical grid.       US electricity demand has been  largely flat  for 20 years, thanks to e fficiency gains . But with rising  power  demand from AI, electric vehicles, and other forms  of electrification ,  how  can the US grid keep up ?        Join  Steve Odland  and guest  Alex Heil, PhD, senior econom...

What does the latest Consumer Confidence Index reveal about the economy's true pulse amid a prolonged government shutdown?   In this episode, h ost Dana M. Peterson , Chief Economist and Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center , talks with Stephanie Gu ichard , Senio r Economist of Global Indicators, both of The Conference Board, about the latest Consumer Confidence Index results a...

"This is a self-inflicted wound on our economy,"  says former Congressman Ron Klein.     In this episode of  C-Suite Perspectives , Steve Odland , CEO of The Conference Board,  sits down with Klein to unpack the ongoing US government shutdown: what it really means, who it affects, and how it might end. Together, they explore the technical mechanics behind a shutdown, the political dynamics fueling...

In just a few decades, corporate sustainability has grown into a core corporate function, particularly at publicly traded companies . W hat is the state of corporate sustainability in 2025 , and how will it evolve in the coming decade ?       Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, principal researcher at The Conference Board's Governance & Sustainability Center , to find out what " corporate su...

Learn what the latest research on US shareholder activism can teach CEOs and boards.   Activism has evolved from a niche effort to a mainstream investment strategy, with campaigns in the US quadrupling since 2018. Learn how activists are targeting not only small-cap firms but increasingly large S&P 500 companies, using sophisticated communication strategies and exempt solicitations to influence bo...

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Chief Economist Dana M. Peterson sits down with Associate Economist Allen Li to unpack the latest findings from The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™  in collaboration with The Business Council. CEO confidence slipped slightly to 48 (down from 49), signaling cautious optimism among US business leaders amid ongoing tariff uncertainty and geopolitic...

The US and the EU are bot h cracking down on human rights violations in the supply chain . What should the C-Suite and board do to avoid not just regulatory penalties but also reputational damage?       Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, principal researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, to find out what human rights means in a supply chain setting , the challe...

The government shutdown  affects much more than the federal workforce. How can CHROs guide their companies through this latest stressor ?        The government shutdown has an impact on your private company, whether  it's  missing economic data, delayed regulatory action, or emplo yees affected indirectly by a family member's furlough or job loss. How can CHROs lead their workforces through yet an...

Find out how business l eaders and workers feel about the workplace amid uncertainty and cost-cutting .       Layoffs are on the rise, with 41% of organizations issuing them in 2025 compared with only 30% in 2024. What does this uncertain economic environment mean for human capital leaders as they try to shape res ilient organizations in 2026 and beyond?       Join Diana Scott and guests Robin Eri...

Find out what NATO is, how it functions, and why Russia's recent incursions could force the alliance to act.        Recent Russian violations of Polish and Estonian airspace have NATO considering a possible Article Five response , something last seen in response to 9/11 . What are NATO's options, and what happens if the alliance fails to present a united front ?       Join Steve Odland and guest S...

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives , Dana Peterson speaks with economists Stephanie Guichard and Alex Heil about declin ing US consumer confidence, rising inflation concerns, and lowered spending expectations -- and explores how the global energy transition is reshaping markets, costs, and business strategy.     This episode provides a dual lens on the economy: the current thinking of US cons...

What happens when Washington fails to fund the government? In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives , guest host Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, sits down with Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior US Economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to unpack the economic, business, and consumer impacts of a government shutdown.    From delays in critical economic...