C-Suite Perspectives

AI agents can access records, initiate actions, and make decisions across multiple systems—but humans need to remain accountable for the consequences. As organizations give agents greater autonomy, leaders need clear boundaries, human oversight, and governance proportionate to the risks involved.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, is joined by Allan Schweyer, Principal Researcher in the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board. They discuss what distinguishes autonomous agents from simpler AI tools and what companies must put in place before deploying them at scale.

Together, they discuss how to choose the right workflows for agentic AI and determine which tasks belong with people or agents, why the cost of governance must be included in the business case, and how organizational values should determine what agents are permitted to do. They also consider the importance of transparency, employee involvement, and protecting entry-level pathways as AI assumes more routine work.

More from The Conference Board:

· A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign

· AI and the Workforce: Governing Risk, Opportunity, and Access

· From Principles to Practice: Governing AI in the Corporation

· Tokens and Talent: How AI Access Decisions Can Imperil Workforce Development

Europe's workers may be more prepared for AI-driven change than their employers. While 78% say their organization helped them adapt to recent major change, only 54% are confident it can effectively manage future change—a 24-percentage point gap showing that individual adaptability does not necessarily translate into organizational readiness.

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 Europe at The Conference Board and author of The Reimagined Workplace 2026: Europe. They examine findings from the first European edition of the study, based on surveys of 475 workers across France, Germany, Italy, and the UK; and 83 senior human capital executives.

Together, they discuss why AI adoption is moving faster than organizational training and support; how direct managers can turn enterprise strategy into credible everyday change; and why hiring constraints make upskilling, internal mobility, and work redesign essential. They also explore the risk of a two-speed AI workforce and why meaningful choice over workplace attendance appears to matter more than the number of days employees work remotely.

More from The Conference Board:

• The Reimagined Workplace 2026: Europe

• Reimagined Workplace Hub

• Leadership Disrupted: Preparing for an AI-Enabled Workplace

• Europe's AI Productivity Paradox: Rising Uptake, Shallow Diffusion

Consumer confidence rebounded in October, while CEO confidence moved back into negative territory in the fourth quarter. What do these contrasting readings reveal about the US economic outlook?

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, The Conference Board's Senior Economist Alex Heil speaks with Associate Economist Allen Li about what consumers and business leaders are seeing beneath the confidence headlines. They discuss persistent concerns about prices and the job market; why consumers are continuing to spend while economizing; the outlook for hiring, wages, and capital investment; and how AI investment, cybersecurity, geopolitical uncertainty, and energy prices are shaping business decision-making.

Their central takeaway: the economy continues to show resilience, but leaders should look beyond the headline measures to understand the more nuanced risks and opportunities ahead.

For more from The Conference Board:

• US Consumer Confidence

• Forecast for the US Economy

• Global Economic Outlook

Americans are living longer, transforming retirement security from a question of how much people can save into a more complicated challenge: how to turn those savings into dependable income that will last for the rest of their lives. Even successful savers can find themselves reluctant to spend, uncertain whether their assets must support 10 years of retirement—or 40.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, is joined by Phil Waldeck, Head of US Businesses at Prudential Financial, to examine how longevity, economic uncertainty, and the decline of traditional pensions are reshaping retirement planning.

Together, they discuss why workers need to think beyond account balances and develop retirement-income strategies, how automatic enrollment and contribution escalation can improve outcomes, and why employers remain one of the most trusted and effective channels for supporting financial security. They also explore the fear of running out of money during retirement; the growing need for accessible financial advice; the potential for AI to complement human guidance; and what longer lives mean for individuals, employers, and the US economy.

More from The Conference Board:

· How the National Debt Affects All Generations of Americans

· Alternative Investments in Retirement Plans

· Explainer: Social Security

· Responding to US Labor Shortages

Focusing on what's certain can help business leaders make timely decisions. But beneath this ambiguity are five certainties that offer a basis for action: China's rise, the fracturing global economy, protectionism and tariffs, technological transformation, and the end of Pax Americana.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, global affairs consultant and former President of the Committee for Economic Development—now the CEO Center—about her article The New World Order: Five Certainties Amid Uncertainty, featured in the Foreign Policy Association's book Navigating an Age of Uncertainty.

Together, they examine how China is challenging Western economic and geopolitical leadership, why sanctions and competing payment systems are accelerating global fragmentation, and why tariffs are likely to remain a prominent policy tool beyond the next election. They also discuss the shift toward regional military powers as Pax Americana ends, the risks of declining transparency and international cooperation, and why business and government leaders must work together to shape global rules and standards for emerging technologies.

More from The Conference Board:

· How the National Debt Affects All Generations of Americans

· AI Policy and Regulation in the US: What Companies Need to Know

· Charting Pathways for US-China Economic Cooperation Amid Strategic Competition

· Tariff Tracker

AI is advancing so quickly that companies may need to rethink their strategies every nine to 12 months. But keeping pace is not simply a matter of adopting more technology: lasting gains will require companies to redesign business processes, establish clear metrics, build secure common architectures, and treat AI as a CEO-led transformation.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with John Chambers, former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, about what business leaders can learn from the internet revolution as they navigate the faster and potentially more consequential AI era.

Together, they discuss why CEOs must own AI strategy, how companies can move from experimentation to measurable pilots, and why productivity gains should fund growth and new revenue opportunities—not simply reduce headcount. They also explore the cybersecurity risks posed by agentic AI; the need to combine speed with repeatable processes and governance; and the culture, workflows, and leadership practices that will separate the next decade's winners from the companies left behind.

More from The Conference Board:

· A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign

· From Principles for Practice: Governing AI in the Corporation

· AI and the C-Suite: Implications for CEO Strategy in 2026

· Transforming Organizations for AI: Critical Factors for AI Success

After two decades of relatively flat US electricity consumption, power demand is growing again as AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing expand. Solar and battery storage can add capacity relatively quickly and economically—but lengthy development and grid-interconnection processes could prevent new power from coming online fast enough.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, speaks with David Zwillinger, CEO of DESRI, about what it will take to meet America's rising demand for reliable, affordable power.

Together, they discuss why solar accounted for 54% of new US generating capacity last year and how falling battery costs are making renewable energy more attainable and attractive. They also explore the role of natural gas and other energy sources in maintaining reliability, how developers can build community support, why the business case for renewables has shifted from ESG goals to cost and speed, and what CEOs and CFOs should understand about power agreements and transferable renewable energy tax credits.

More from The Conference Board:

· Wired for AI: What US Tech Giants' Growing Energy Appetite Means for Business

· Data Center Buildout Puts Pressure on Power Infrastructure, Input Costs

· Can the US Grid Keep Up with the Demand for AI?

· US Power Surge: How Businesses Can Prepare for Electricity Demand Spikes from AI

An established company can be profitable and still lose its place in the future. Avoiding that fate requires treating disruption as an opportunity, preserving what remains valuable, and renewing the organization for the next era.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, speaks with George Kurian, CEO of NetApp and a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award, about leading an established technology company through the rise of cloud computing into AI.

Together, they discuss how customer empathy informs strategy, why CEOs must be willing to say no, and how authenticity can help employees understand difficult decisions. They also explore NetApp's response to cloud computing and AI, the importance of cyber resilience and responsible risk-taking, and why business leaders should view themselves as stewards responsible for building institutions that will endure beyond their own tenure.

This episode is part of the Leadership in Challenging Times series from The CEO Center at The Conference Board. The series features discussions with the business leaders who are recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Awards.

No CEO can personally master every technological, geopolitical, and economic challenge confronting a modern organization. The leadership advantage now comes from building a system that draws on the knowledge of the entire team—and enables the business to keep transforming without depending on one person for every answer.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates and author of The Catalyst CEO, about why the traditional command-and-control model is no longer enough.

Together, they explore why effective CEOs lead from the center of the organization rather than the top; how empowerment differs from abdication; and why humility, adaptability, resilience, and self-awareness are becoming essential leadership capabilities. They also discuss the board's role in transformation, how AI is changing jobs and workflows, and why CEOs must build cultures and leadership systems capable of continuous change.

More from The Conference Board:

· What Does It Really Take to Succeed in the C-Suite?

· A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign

· Transforming Organizations for AI: Critical Factors for AI Success

· Shedding Light on Culture: A Framework for Board Insights

US salary increase budgets are projected to remain at 3.5% in 2027, unchanged from 2026. But stability in the headline number does not mean the workforce—or the way companies allocate compensation—is standing still.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, about findings from the 41st annual US Salary Increase Budgets 2026–2027 study and what they mean for business and human capital leaders.

Together, they discuss why the average merit budget of 3.1% should reward performance rather than compensate for inflation; how companies can target limited pay dollars toward promotions, critical skills, retention, and equity; and why AI capabilities should be rewarded only when they create measurable business value. They also explore how automation is changing the mix of work even when overall headcount remains stable, the expanding role of CHROs in workforce transformation, and why transparency and a broader total rewards story are essential to maintaining employee trust.

More from The Conference Board:

· US Salary Increase Budgets 2026–2027

· The Evolving Role of the CHRO in the Boardroom

· A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign

· Skilling for AI: Critical Factors for Navigating AI Disruption