Shows / C-Suite Perspectives
C-Suite Perspectives
Welcome to C-Suite Perspectives, a podcast series by The Conference Board. Hosted by our President & CEO, Steve Odland, this weekly conversation will take an objective, data-driven look at a range of business topics aimed at executives. Listeners will come away with what The Conference Board does best: Trusted Insights for What's Ahead™.
Episodes
- C-Suite Perspectives
Inside Canada: What Business Leaders Are Seeing Right Now
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe Global Impact of Middle East Tensions
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow Leaders Can Close the AI Readiness Gap
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat's Next for ESG Legislation in Europe?
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…
C-Suite Perspectives"The Water Is Not Going to Be There:" A Risk for Business
What if water -- not energy or labor -- becomes your biggest business constraint? In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, president and CEO of…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhere to Hire in Europe in a Changing Market
In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Sara Murray, managing director, international at The Conference Board, speaks with Robin Maillard, researcher in the…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Does it Really Take to Succeed in the C-Suite?
In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, president and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Jennifer Eggers, founder and president of…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe State of the Economy for March 2026
Consumer confidence has ticked up slightly but remains low in the face of tariffs, spiking prices and war. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®…
C-Suite PerspectivesConsumer Spending on Food Signals Deeper Economic Pressures
In this episode, Dana Peterson, leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance (ESF) Center at The Conference Board, speaks with Malala Lin, economic research…
C-Suite PerspectivesChina for China: How MNCs Are Rewriting Their Playbooks
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Drives CEO Succession Today—And Are Boards Ready?
In this episode, Brian Campbell, leader of the Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Blair Jones and Greg Arnold, managing…
C-Suite PerspectivesClimate Risk Is Rising. Is Our Infrastructure Ready?
As climate extremes intensify, resilient infrastructure is no longer a future consideration; it is a present-day imperative. Alex Heil, senior economist at The…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Makes Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Work?
New global data reveals strong employee support for diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)—but also a widening gap between how leaders view progress and how…
- C-Suite Perspectives
The State of the Economy for February 2026
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…
- C-Suite Perspectives
Ukraine War: Are We Headed for a Frozen Conflict—or a Bigger War?
Three years into the conflict, the Ukraine war has evolved into a brutal war of attrition—with implications far beyond the battlefield. The Conference Board…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow AI Is Reshaping Corporate Sustainability
Learn why companies need to understand AI's promise and potential drawbacks for environmental sustainability. More than 60% of companies are using AI to…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat's Next for CEO and Executive Compensation?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Could the Fed Look Like Under Kevin Warsh?
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…
- C-Suite Perspectives
Why 2026 Will Be the Year of Agentic Commerce
Learn what C-Suite Outlook 2026 reveals for marketing and communications executives as organizations prepare for the rise of A-Commerce (Agentic Commerce)—a…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhy Skills, Not Headcount, Matter Most to HR in 2026
Finding skilled talent remains difficult. Find out how CEOs and CHROs plan to develop their workforce this year. Nearly 37% of CEOs say finding qualified…
- C-Suite Perspectives
The State of the Economy for January 2026
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesGovernance Is Changing. Find Out What's on Deck for 2026
Find out how governance and sustainability are evolving, including what's next for ESG. Change is coming for governance leaders, whether it's the evolution of…
C-Suite PerspectivesControl Risk's Lessons on Keeping Your Executives Safe
CEOs are increasingly at risk, both physically and digitally. Find out what's new in corporate risk preparedness. The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian…
C-Suite PerspectivesC-Suite Outlook 2026: Top Priorities for CEOs
Our latest C-Suite Outlook reveals CEOs' biggest concerns—and why they're measuring the ROI of AI. US CEOs rank economic and geopolitical uncertainty as top…
- C-Suite Perspectives
C-Suite Outlook 2026: Where CEOs Plan to Invest This Year
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesAI Is Transforming Organizations. How Will Yours Change?
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…
- C-Suite Perspectives
Tariff Troubles? Consider FTZs and Bonded Warehouses
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe State of the Economy for December 2025
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesSustainability that Boosts Profits
Only 33% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic gets recycled in the US. What are the obstacles, and how can businesses contribute to greater plastics…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhy the C-Suite Needs to Know About Neuro-Symbolic AI
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat the AI Acceleration Curve Means for Corporate Strategy
AI is driving the next wave of corporate reinvention, moving beyond efficiency toward creativity and strategic insight. For business leaders, the question is…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Risks Should CEOs Prioritize in 2026?
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…
- C-Suite Perspectives
The State of the Economy for November 2025
Consumer expectations for six months in the future continued to worsen in November, and confidence fell to its second-lowest level this year. Will holiday…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow AI Coaching Is Redefining Leadership Development
AI is redefining what effective leadership development looks like. Coaching, once limited to the few, can now reach the many, empowering managers and employees…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat Business Leaders Need to Know About the Global Trade Shake-Up
Globalization is being rewritten as geopolitics, trade, and industrial policy collide. Shifting alliances are reshaping markets, supply chains, and the balance…
- C-Suite Perspectives
Are Companies Paying Enough Attention to AI Risks?
Companies in the S&P 500 are increasingly disclosing AI-related risks. Find out what this means for C-Suite leaders and boards. More than 70% of the S&P 500…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow the Administration Aims to Change the Workplace
The modern workplace is being reshaped by a sweeping "whole-of-government" approach to policy, enforcement, and regulation. From diversity and inclusion to AI…
C-Suite PerspectivesCan the US Grid Keep Up with the Demand for AI?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe State of the Economy for October 2025
What does the latest Consumer Confidence Index reveal about the economy's true pulse amid a prolonged government shutdown? In this episode, host Dana M…
- C-Suite Perspectives
The Politics and Real Costs of a Government Shutdown
"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…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow Corporate Sustainability Went from Optional to Essential
In just a few decades, corporate sustainability has grown into a core corporate function, particularly at publicly traded companies. What is the state of…
C-Suite PerspectivesActivism Has Gone Mainstream. How Can CEOs Respond?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesCEO Confidence Dips Slightly in Q4 2025
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow Well Do You Know Your Suppliers? Here Are the Risks
The US and the EU are both cracking down on human rights violations in the supply chain. What should the C-Suite and board do to avoid not just regulatory…
C-Suite PerspectivesGovernment Shutdown: How CHROs Should Respond
The government shutdown affects much more than the federal workforce. How can CHROs guide their companies through this latest stressor? The government shutdown…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe Workplace in 2025: More Hybrid Work, More Layoffs
Find out how business leaders and workers feel about the workplace amid uncertainty and cost-cutting. Layoffs are on the rise, with 41% of organizations…
C-Suite PerspectivesRussia Is Testing NATO's Resolve. What Are Its Options?
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…
- C-Suite Perspectives
The State of the Economy for September 2025
In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Dana Peterson speaks with economists Stephanie Guichard and Alex Heil about declining US consumer confidence, rising…
- C-Suite Perspectives
Shutting Down the Economy? Impact of US Government Shutdown
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat's at Stake in the Supreme Court Tariffs Case?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesIs Stagflation a Looming Risk?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesSalary Budgets 2026: What to Expect
As organizations head into 2026, pay planning has become more strategic than ever. Salary budgets remain firm, but workforce strategies are shifting toward…
C-Suite PerspectivesBoards Under Pressure: Succession, Activism, and AI Risks
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesHow CVS Health Is Rethinking Health Care Delivery
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesCan Fed Governors be Fired?
The Federal Reserve has come under scrutiny, including uncertainty over whether the President can remove Fed governors — and under what circumstances. What…
C-Suite PerspectivesInside the BLS: What Executives Need to Know
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesWhat's Next for Wind, Solar and Other Renewable Energy?
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…
C-Suite PerspectivesThe State of the Economy for August 2025
Consumer confidence mostly held steady in August – what's driving people's current mood and spending habits? The latest update from The Conference Board…
C-Suite PerspectivesAs Deals Come Together, What's Next for Tariffs and Trade?
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…
C-Suite Perspectives10 Priorities for Every Business Operating in China in 2025
Doing business in China increasingly requires an entirely different approach to supply chain, IT, government relations, and innovation. How can multinational…