C-Suite Perspectives

Consumer confidence 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 index 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 80.

Join Dana Peterson, Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, and Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators, The Conference Board, as they discuss:

• Why tariffs and inflation remain top-of-mind for consumers;

• How resumption of interest on student loans is impacting consumer credit and spending habits; and

• The resiliency of cash payments and who's using buy-now-pay-later options.

More from The Conference Board:

• Consumer Confidence Index

• Will E-Wallets and Deferred Payments Overtake Cash and Credit Cards?

• Pre-Aug 1 Tariff Buying Likely Boosted July Retail Sales

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, senior economist in The Conference Board Economy, Strategy and Finance (ESF) Center, to find out what tariff deals have been struck, how consumer spending and inflation might fare in the coming months, and which non-tariff aspects of trade could be negotiated down the line.

For more from The Conference Board:

· The Conference Board's Tariff Tracker

· Buried Leverage: Will Critical Minerals Remain Available and Affordable?

· Have Tariffs and Price Concerns Reduced the Appeal of Product Country of Origin?

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—including 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 explore the difference between "complicated" and "complex," how to win in down market operating conditions, and why managing geopolitical risks requires both the local operation and your global headquarters.

For more from The Conference Board:

• China's Investment Paradox

• China Economy Watch July 2025

• China CEO Council

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 credit 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, AI, and other technologies to improve its offerings, and how it reset its culture through active listening and transparency.

For more from The Conference Board:

• Employee Well-Being Event

• The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI)

• Regulators Reportedly Considering Easing Some Capital Standards for Large Banks

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 to the corner office, three ways Ferris and FIS are exploring generative AI, and how the company supports communities across 64 countries.

The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED's Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.

For more from The Conference Board:

· CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards

· CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

· What Should Corporate Philanthropy Look Like in 2025?

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." What are these boards doing well, and where do they need to improve?

Join Steve Odland and guest Arielle Berlin, director of the Governance Insights Center at PwC, to find out how boards are grappling with uncertainty, why companies want boards to focus more on AI and talent, and why nearly all senior executives are calling for board refreshment.

For more from The Conference Board:

• Board Effectiveness: A Survey of the C-Suite: 2025 Edition

• The Evolution of Overboarding Policies

• Board Practices and Composition: 2024 Edition

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 of stabilization following a sharp decline in April.

• Mixed Views on the Present: The Present Situation Index dipped slightly to 131.5, reflecting a small deterioration in consumers' views on current business and job market conditions.

• Looking Ahead:The Expectations Index saw a more significant rise—up 4.5 points to 74.4—indicating reduced pessimism about future income, employment, and business prospects. However, it remains under the 80-point threshold that typically signals looming recession risks—for the sixth month in a row.

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 has The Clorox Company used innovation and technology to reinvent itself and respond to shifting consumer needs?

Join David Young and guest Linda Rendle, CEO and chair of Clorox, to find out about her family background in CPG, the company's ongoing digital transformation, and the state of the consumer today.

The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED's Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.

For more from The Conference Board:

• CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

• US Consumer Confidence

2025 is half over. What issues should human capital leaders focus onduring the restof the year?

In this time of rapid change, chief HR officers (CHROs) shouldfocus on issues such as AI transformation, leadership resilience, and strategic workforce planning. Whatelse made The Conference Board's top 10 CHRO priorities for the restof 2025?

Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, center leader of the US Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, to find out why succession and workforce planning are so important, the role of reskilling and upskilling, and how to help your workforce overcome their fear of AI.

The Conference Board is profiling the top 10 priorities for crucial job functions and business units. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, we look at the top priorities for CHROs.

(00:46) Priority Number 10: Employee Well-Being (03:47) Priority Number 9: Data-Driven Workforce Decisions (06:20) Priority Number 8: Succession Planning (08:49) Priority Number 7: Reimagining Hybrid and Flexible Work (11:23) Priority Number 6: Talent Mobility and Internal Opportunities (14:00) Priority Number 5: Reskilling and Upskilling at Scale (17:01) Priority Number 4: Driving Organizational Change and Building Culture (19:00) Priority Number 3: Strategic Workforce Planning (22:02) Priority Number 2: Leadership Resilience and Agility (23:05) Priority Number 1: Leading AI and Technology Transformation

For more from The Conference Board:

• The State of US Job Satisfaction

• The Reimagined Workplace 2025: Managing Uncertainty

• Navigating Change Fatigue in an Age of Disruption

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 guest Reshma Kewalramani, president and CEO at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and a recipient of the 2025 CED Distinguished Leadership Awards. You'll learn about Kewalramani's career path, what the company learned from developing a hepatitis C drug, and why the company welcomes in students to experiment alongside employees.

The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED's Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.

For more from The Conference Board:

· CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• · CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration

· Women in STEM: Closing the Gender Gap