C-Suite Perspectives

CEO pay isn't just salary: There's also bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and perks. What does the latest report on executive compensation from The Conference Board tell us about pay trends — and the boards that set compensation levels?

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Etra, managing director and head of the Boston office at FW Cook, to dispel public misconceptions about CEO pay, discuss the latest trends and regulations, and explain why corporate jets are suddenly so popular.

(01:14) Understanding CEO Compensation (04:08) Market Dynamics and Executive Pay (06:22) Components of Executive Compensation (07:32) Evolution of Compensation Practices (14:12) The Role of Independent Directors (17:48) Trends in Non-Financial Metrics (19:04) Perks and Pay Ratios

For more from The Conference Board:

• CEO and Executive Compensation Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500

• Compensation Committee Chairs Feel the Pain from Low Say-on-Pay Votes

• Executive Compensation: 2025 Event

Chief marketing officers (CMOs) are the growth engine for businesses, yet 50% of CEOs and CMOs don't agree on success metrics. How can CMOs align with CEOs on expectations, speak the same language as CFOs, and drive revenue growth?

Join Steve Odland and guest Denise Dahlhoff, PhD, Director of Marketing & Communications Research at The Conference Board, to discover where CEOs and CMOs differ on expectations, what metrics matter most, and how CMOs can communicate marketing's value to key stakeholders.

(00:57) Understanding the Roles of CEO and CMO (03:55) The Critical CEO-CMO Relationship (05:15) Challenges in CEO and CMO Tenure (08:02) Expectations and Gaps Between CEOs and CMOs (12:23) Aligning Marketing with Financial Goals (16:40) Risk Management in Marketing Strategies (18:36) The Multi-constituency Approach in Corporations (21:12) Fostering Collaboration Across the C Suite

For more from The Conference Board:

• CEOs Expectations of the CMO

• Reflecting on Cannes Lions 2024: Takeaways for CMOs

• Corporate Communications: Driving the Business Forward (Event)

Consumer confidence saw the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, according to the latest The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®. The index registered 108.7 in October, up from 99.2 in September, after consumers' assessment of current business conditions and job availability, plus future business conditions, income and job availability all climbed this month.

Join Erik Lundh and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, to find out where consumers stand on the labor market, spending and inflation ahead of next week's US elections.

(00:32) October Consumer Confidence Insights (01:35) Demographic Breakdown of Confidence (02:19) Expectations for Employment and Recession (03:36) Inflation and Interest Rates (06:31) Impact of Elections and Hurricanes (08:34) Holiday Buying Plans (11:42) Consumer Confidence and Economic Outlook (16:34) Global Economic Overview (25:42) Emerging Markets and Interest Rates

For more from The Conference Board:

• US Consumer Confidence Bounced Back in October

• Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report

We're in a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, with over 60% of senior executives calling the environment "very" or "extremely" challenging right now. How can businesses critically evaluate their DEI programs without necessarily abandoning these efforts?

Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, senior researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center, to explore The Conference Board's new report, the rise in DEI-related shareholder proposals, and how companies can recalibrate DEI in their workplace policies and marketing.

(00:49) Understanding DEI: Basics and Definitions (03:24) The Evolution of DEI in Corporate America (05:15) DEI Under Pressure: Challenges and Backlash (06:56) The Supreme Court Decision and Its Impact (09:16) Navigating the Pendulum Swing in DEI (10:31) Balancing Stakeholder Interests in DEI (16:16) Adapting DEI Strategies in a Changing World (23:40) Philanthropy and DEI: Legal Challenges (29:09) Terminology and Future of DEI

For more from The Conference Board:

• A New Era of Scrutiny for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• 2024 Proxy Season Review: Corporate Resilience in a Polarized Landscape

Top CEOs remain wary about the economy despite a strong Q3. What's holding them back?

CEO confidence dipped in Q4, as measured by The Conference Board, with most CEOs saying conditions have worsened in the past six months. Why hasn't recent economic data buoyed CEOs' spirits, and what concerns them most as we head into 2025?

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, to find out what we can learn from the latest Measure of CEO Confidence™, how CEOs plan to address headcount and wages next year, and why cybersecurity and geopolitics remain the top two risks.

01:02 Current CEO Confidence Levels 02:44 Economic Forecasts and CEO Sentiments 04:04 Consumer Behavior and Housing Market Insights 06:46 Business Investment and Election Uncertainty 09:09 Labor Market Conditions and Skill Shortages 11:17 Labor Shortages and Wage Increases 12:24 Economic Adjustments Post-Pandemic 13:16 Consumer Spending and CEO Confidence 15:43 Remote Work Trends 18:45 Key Risks for CEOs

For more from The Conference Board:

• CEO Confidence Survey

• The Conference Board Economic Forecast for the US Economy

• US Consumer Confidence

Russia and Ukraine. China and Taiwan. The Middle East. As the US approaches Election Day, international relations – and how each Presidential candidate would approach them – are more important than ever.

Join Steve Odland and Lori Esposito Murray, former president of the Committee for Economic Development and current senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out where the presidential candidates stand on US engagement around the world, alliances and immigration.

For more from The Conference Board:

• The Presidential Candidates on Trade

• Where Candidates Stand on Debt, Deficits and Labor

• Trade, Taxes and Tariffs – An Overview of Presidential Positions

Consumption represents nearly 70% of US GDP, making trade policy integral to economic growth. But each US presidential candidate has expressed different trade policies that would affect American consumers in myriad ways.

(00:39) Understanding Trade Policy

(02:03) Evolution of Trade Agreements

(04:58) Comparing Presidential Candidates on Trade

(07:35) Tariffs and Their Implications

(15:58) The Weaponization of Trade

(16:23) China's Competitive Edge and Global Impact

(20:21) Political and Security Concerns

(24:31) Future Trade Policies and Implications

Join Steve Odland and guest Susan Schwab, former US trade representative and a strategic advisor on public policy and trade at Mayer Brown, for the third installment in our series reviewing the US presidential candidates' positions on topics that relate directly to business.

For more from The Conference Board:

• Election 2024: Trade, Taxes and Tariffs

• Election 2024: Debt, Deficits and Labor

The Presidential candidates have spoken about their policies, but what is the possible impact of those policies on the US's fiscal health?

What is each candidate's position on tax cuts, and how are they thinking about revenue-generating policies? How can the next President enact these policies with and without Congress? Should we be worried that neither candidate has mentioned the debt ceiling? And how could their immigration policies impact the labor market?

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, as they discuss these questions and more in the signature nonpartisan approach of The Conference Board.

(00:35) Understanding Fiscal Policy (01:53) Personal Taxation and Candidate Positions (06:21) Corporate Tax Policies (09:05) Global Minimum Corporate Tax (10:57) Revenue Generating Policies and Deficit Concerns (17:14) Tariffs and Trade Policies (22:54) Immigration and Labor Market Impact (25:38) Industrial Policies and Economic Growth (33:03) Conclusion and Fiscal Responsibility

For more from The Conference Board:

• Economic Forecast for the US Economy

• Labor Markets Research

• Economy, Strategy and Finance Center

There are 28 days until the US presidential election, as of today. Do you know where the candidates stand on economic and geopolitical issues?

Join Steve Odland and guest David Young, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), as they hold a nonpartisan discussion on the presidential candidates' positions on trade, taxes and tariffs.

(01:00) Tax Policies of the Presidential Candidates (04:33) Regulation and Deregulation: A Stark Contrast (06:48) Tariffs and Trade: A Complex Landscape (11:48) USMCA and International Agreements (13:14) NATO and Defense Spending (19:14) Immigration and the Southern Border (22:40) Geopolitical Hotspots: Russia, Ukraine, and China (29:45) Middle East Tensions and Closing Thoughts

For more from The Conference Board:

• The US Presidential Candidates' Positions on Trade

• Letter to Presidential Candidates Regarding US Fiscal Health

• The Presidential Candidates' Fiscal Policies

How has inflation changed consumer attitudes and behaviors—and how should marketers respond in this crucial moment?

The price of eggs increased 19.1% in July on an annual basis, which is precisely the type of inflation that shocks and worries consumers. What are the opportunities for marketers who can successfully address not only consumers' behaviors but also their attitudes?

Join Steve Odland and guest Ivan Pollard, Center Leader, Marketing & Communications, at The Conference Board, to learn about the latest Consumer Confidence Index®, how marketers can entice unhappy consumers to switch, and why brands that market effectively during tough times will create loyal customers for years to come.

(00:45) Historical Context of Inflation (01:38) Current Inflation Trends and Consumer Impact (03:31) Consumer Behavior and Income Disparities (05:31) Debunking Price Gouging Myths (06:47) Marketing Strategies During Inflation (09:08) Creating and Communicating Value (18:05) Service Industry Challenges and Opportunities

For more from The Conference Board:

• Consumer Confidence Index®

• Quantifying Consumer Reactions to Inflation Is Critical to Success

• Threading the Needle: Fed Offers Something for Everyone