C-Suite Perspectives

The lawsuit against certain US tariffs could be resolved soon, but uncertainty for businesses will likely linger .       The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule in November on certain tariffs issued by the Administration. What's at stake in the case, and how can businesses prepare for all possible outcomes ?       Join Steve Odland and guest John Gardner, vice president of public policy at the Comm...

The global economy is slowing — but is it a recession, stagflation, or just a soft patch? In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives , Steve Odland speaks with Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist at The Conference Board, about the latest forecast for the US and world economies.   They break down:   Why US growth in 2025 will feel sluggish   The role of tariffs, inflation, and labor markets   Outlooks...

As organizations head into 2026, pay planning has become more strategic than ever. Salary budgets remain firm, but workforce strategies are shifting toward automation, reskilling, and greater pay transparency.   Diana Scott welcomes Mitchell Barnes and Rita Meyerson of The Conference Board to discuss how salary budgets are evolving; why pay equity and transparency are critical to retention; and ho...

Only one in four governance leaders say succession planning is a top priority, even as activists press for change and many CEOs stay in their roles longer than ever.   In this episode, host Steve Odland sits down with Bonnie Gwin, Vice Chair and Global Co-Managing Partner, CEO and Board Practice, Heidrick & Struggles, and a leading voice on governance and board effectiveness .   Together, they unp...

CVS Health is striving to improve health care delivery in five key areas: cost, quality, access, experience, and equity. What changes are necessary to ensure better outcomes across the US health care system?       Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Sree Chaguturu, executive vice president and president of healthcare delivery at CVS Health, to find out what value-based care looks like, why primary car...

The Federal Reserve has come under scrutiny, including uncertainty over whether the President can remove Fed governors — and under what circumstances. What does it mean to call the Federal Reserve "independent," and how does that work in practice?        Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior US Economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out abou...

Every month, Americans – both consumers and businesses --   turn to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to understand the health of the US economy and what to expect next. How can businesses and Congress support and improve the work of this agency?        Join Steve Odland and guest Erica Groshen , former commissioner of BLS from 2013 to 2017, to find out how BLS conducts surveys, how monthly rev...

Electricity demand is expected to increase 25% by 2050. How can renewable energy sources in the US help fill the gap?   Renewables will soon produce 25% of US electricity generation, and they've already surpassed coal as a share of output. How can renewables continue to meet the growing demand for energy, and what can we expect from emerging sources such as geothermal and fusion?   Join Steve Odla...

Consumer co nfidence mostly held steady in August – what's driving people's current mood and spending habits?   The latest update from The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® shows a slight dip in August, with the i ndex slipping to 97.4 from July's 98.7. Both the Present Situation Index and the Expectations Index fell, with expectations remaining below the recession-warning threshold of 8...

How successful has the US been with tariffs, and what other aspects of trade could be negotiated next?   The US is inching closer toward certainty on tariffs, but China, India, Canada, and Mexico are key markets with unanswered questions. How can business leaders prepare for further changes in tariffs, trade politics, and import-export controls?   Join Steve Odland and guest Erin McLaughlin, senio...

Doing business in China increasingly requires an entirely different approach to supply chain, IT, government relations, and innovation. How can multinational companies operating in China evaluate the risks and opportunities —i ncluding gray swans and even black swans?       Join Steve Odland and guest David Hoffman, China Center Leader and senior advisor for Asia at The Conference Board , to explo...

The average credit decision at Synchrony relies on 9,000 pieces of data. How does the company use all this information to expand credit access while giving consumers the right amount of cred it at the right time?       Join Steve Odland and guest Brian Wenzel, chief financial officer at Synchrony , to find out how the company is improving financial literacy , how Synchrony uses machine learning, A...

Find out how FIS is staying on the cutting edge of technology while serving clients and communities.   FIS processes more than 10% of the global economy and handles $16 trillion in assets annually. How does the company simultaneously safeguard data, pursue innovation, and serve its communities?   Join David Young and guest Stephanie Ferris, CEO and president of FIS, to learn about Ferris' journey...

More C-Suite leaders view their boards as effective in 2025, but numerous challenges remain , including keeping up with AI .       More than one-third (35%) of C-Suite executives surveyed by PwC and The Conference Board say their board's effectiveness is "excellent" or "good." Wh at ar e these board s doing well , and where do they need to improve ?       Join Steve Odland and guest Arielle Berlin...

In this episode, we break down the latest data from  The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® , released today. The numbers show a modest but notable improvement in consumer sentiment as we move through summer 2025. We explore:   Overall Confidence Ticks Up :  The Consumer Confidence Index rose by 2.0 points to 97.2, rebounding from a revised June figure of 95.2. This marks the second month...

Learn how Clorox invested in technological innovation so it could continue delivering superior consumer experiences.   Almost 90% of US households use Clorox products, giving the company a unique window into consumer behavior during this uncertain time. How ha s The Clorox Company used innovation and technology to reinvent itself and respond to shifting consumer needs ?   Join David Young and gues...

2025 is half over. What  issues  should human capital leaders  focus on durin g  the  re st of the year?       In this time of rapid change,  chief HR officers (CHROs)  should focus  on issues  such as AI transformation, leadership  resilience ,  and strategic workforce planning. What else  made The Conference Board's top 10 CHRO priorities for the rest of  2025?     Join Steve Odland and guest Di...

Learn why culture and constant innovation are essential to developing life-changing biopharma treatments. Vertex Pharmaceuticals focuses on "serial innovation" because this year's billion-dollar blockbuster drug could become next year's failure. How does this biopharmaceutical company recruit and onboard employees, and how does it create a culture where the best ideas thrive? Join David Young and...

We've just passed the midway point of 2025 -- what are the top 10 priorities for chief marketing officers (CMOs) for the rest of the year?       CMOs have been tasked with driving growth even while they grapple with external uncertainty , widespread burnout , and the rise of AI . What else made The Conference Board's top 10 C M O priorities for the rest of 2025?       Join Steve Odland and guest I...

Learn how General Mills t ake s strategy from  concept into reality—all while standing for good.       General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening had the company pick 10 areas where it would "stand for good" and deliver meaningful impact,  including regenerative agriculture and packaging reductions. What can other businesses learn about executing a strategy that delivers sustainable results for shareholders...

After a brief rebound in May, consumer confidence slipped again. What changed in June—and what might it mean for the economy this summer?   The Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 93.0 from 98.4, wiping out half the gains seen last month. Consumers are feeling less optimistic across the board: both their assessment of current business and labor market conditions and their short-term expectations...

Employer branding reflects your organization's public  perception —and you can measure its e ffectiveness .       In a world where any job candidate can see your reputation at a glance online, employer branding is essential.  How is  employer  branding different from other branding, and how can companies measure the ROI?       Join Steve Odland and guest Erka  Amursi , principal researcher in the...

Science and technology will bring more change to health care over the next decade than we saw in the past century, says Joaquin Duato , Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson, and a 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award honoree . Wh at drives his confidence, and how is the company creating this future?       Join David K. Young and Duato to discover what he has learned in 36 years at J&J , how the comp...

If you work in sustainability or ESG, you're already grappling with a rapidly evolving regulatory and policy landscape , all while proving the ROI of your sustainability strategy . What other crucial issues should sustainability executives prioriti ze for the remainder of 2025 ?       Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, principal researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainab...

Cybersecurity has become top of mind for Fortune 500 companies, and yet attacks, breaches, and other incidents keep happening. C an companies really prevent cyber risks, and what approach should they be taking?   Join David Young and guest Jay Chaudhry, CEO, chairman , and founder of Zscaler , to find out the three lesson s his parents taught him , why Zscaler has a customer obsession , and why ze...