C-Suite Perspectives

Consumer sentiment on jobs, income and overall business conditions dropped in September, the latest survey results from The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® show. Fewer hours, slower payroll increases and fewer job openings – even amid a relatively healthy labor market – are likely behind falling consumer optimism.

Join Alex Heil, Senior Economist, Energy, Infrastructure, and Environment at The Conference Board and Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, to find out what impact lower US consumer sentiment could have on the wider economy.

(00:33) Understanding the Consumer Confidence Index (01:00) Labor Market Insights (04:12) Consumer Confidence by Age and Income (05:46) Present Situation vs. Expectations (09:03) Consumer Spending Trends (17:36) Global Economic Outlook (19:24) European Economic Challenges (24:19) Interest Rates and Central Bank Policies

For more on this topic from The Conference Board:

• Consumer Confidence Survey

• Economic Forecast for the US Economy

• Economy Watch: United States

Accenture is investing billions of dollars in AI capabilities and employee training and development, with CEO Julie Sweet seeing those as pivotal challenges for every enterprise company. Why is Gen AI "the new digital," and how can other companies prepare for these changes?

Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray and guest Julie Sweet to find out how Accenture lives through its values and purpose, why Gen AI will touch every part of the enterprise, and how Accenture ensures every employee is "net better off" in terms of their skills.

(01:30) Leadership Values in Challenging Times (04:48) The Impact of Gen AI on Business (06:44) Responsible AI and Risk Management (08:45) Talent Development and Training (12:43) Public-Private Collaboration on AI (15:33) Sustainability and AI (18:19) Accenture's Commitment to Giving Back

For more from The Conference Board:

• 2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• Learning for the Future: Preparing Organizations and Workers for AI Disruption

• Future-Proofing the Workforce for the AI Era

This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features 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.

The Conference Board annual Salary Increase Budget has dropped -- and so have interest rates. To what extent are companies planning to increase employee base pay next year, and how do those plans differ across industries?

Diana Scott and guest Rita Meyerson, Principal Researcher in the Human Capital Center, spoke yesterday about what this year's survey data show, and how the Fed's first interest rate cut in four years could affect budgets for salary increases in 2025.

(00:34) Overview of Salary Budget Planning (00:45) Details of the Annual Survey (03:59) Survey Results and Trends (08:00) Industry-Specific Insights (11:03) Economic Factors and Wage Impact (18:30) Equity and Recognition in Compensation (24:53) Pay Equity and Transparency (26:30) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

For more from The Conference Board:

• Salary Increase Budgets 2024-25

• Reimagined Workplace

• Global Labor Market Outlook

Mexico became the top importer to the US in 2023, surpassing China for the first time. Can Mexican President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum deliver on her goals of building 100 industrial parks and making the country more attractive to manufacturers?

Join Steve Odland and guest Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist at The Conference Board ESF Center, to find out about Sheinbaum's pro-worker approach to economic development, the opportunities and risks for US manufacturers, and how the CHIPS Act might benefit Mexico.

(00:21) Mexico's New Infrastructure Focus (00:54) Claudia Scheinbaum's Vision (01:27) Economic Implications of Reshoring (03:36) USMCA and Trade Benefits (04:42) Reshoring Trends and Challenges (08:59) Risks and Considerations for Companies (11:59) Smart Manufacturing and Technology (24:08) Industrial Parks and Future Growth

For more from The Conference Board:

• Mexico Prioritizes Industrial Parks, Infrastructure to Attract Manufacturing

• LEI for Mexico Dropped Sharply in June

• Policy Backgrounder: Mexico's Election

Hamdi Ulukaya took Chobani to a billion dollars in sales "without raising a penny in capital." How did he develop a thriving yogurt maker while emphasizing ethical business practices, protecting the environment, and creating a positive impact in the broader community?

Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray and guest Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and founder of Tent Partnership for Refugees, to learn about Ulukaya's journey from Turkey to upstate New York, how he lives his core values, and why improving society is a growth engine for business rather than a distraction.

(02:28) Hamdi's Early Life and Business Philosophy (05:54) Founding Chobani (08:25) Chobani's Growth and Success (09:39) Leadership and Business Values (17:20) Philanthropy and Social Impact (24:56) Refugee Employment and Tent Partnership (34:39) Closing Remarks and Future Vision

For more from The Conference Board:

• 2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• Corporate Strategies to Enhance Economic Opportunity

• Corporate Citizenship: A Safe Haven from Political Uncertainty

This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features 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.

Clearly defining what successful employee well-being looks like—and then measuring, rewarding, and communicating these behaviors—is essential for business growth. How can business leaders support employee well-being at work, and why does it matter?

Join Steve Odland and guest Rita Meyerson, a principal researcher in The Conference Board Human Capital Center, to find out how well-being affects our lives, why organizations must be deliberate in their well-being initiatives, and why the C-Suite needs to set the tone.

(00:54) Well-Being Beyond the Workplace (01:59) Impact of COVID on Well-Being (02:38) Leaders' Role in Employee Well-Being (04:19) Empathy and Leadership (08:08) Generational Differences in Well-Being (09:35) Building Trust and Relationships (15:35) Strategies for Enhancing Well-Being (31:50) Conclusion and Future Outlook

For more from The Conference Board:

• Addressing the Employee Well-Being Crisis: A Leadership Opportunity

• The Next Frontier for Employee Well-Being

• The Reimagined Workplace 2024: Leading in the Transformed World of Work

The latest survey results from The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® show consumers in the US have positive views about current and future business conditions, but their overall feelings about the economy remain mixed, and they are still worried about high prices, inflation and unemployment.

Join Erik Lundh, Senior Economist, Global at The Conference Board and Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board, to find out how US consumer sentiment could soften spending in the second half of 2024.

(00:30) U.S. Consumer Confidence Overview (01:33) Factors Influencing Consumer Confidence (02:33) Labor Market and Recession Risks (06:14) Inflation and Interest Rates (08:04) Consumer Financial Sentiments (12:20) Buying Plans and Durable Goods (16:45) Global Economic Forecast (33:00) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

For more on this topic from The Conference Board:

• Consumer Confidence Survey

• Economic Forecast for the US Economy

• Economy Watch: United States

2024 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient Raj Subramaniam explains how FedEx thinks about sustainability, data, culture and much more.

FedEx aims to have carbon-neutral operations by 2040, and that will require careful management of 5,000 facilities and 200,000 motorized vehicles. How can FedEx do this while making millions of deliveries every day, continuing to innovate, and leveraging its data to improve supply chains globally?

Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray and guest Raj Subramaniam, President & CEO of FedEx, to find out the three principles today's leaders need, how FedEx leverages physical networks and proprietary data, and its plans for meeting ambitious sustainability goals.

(01:51) Leadership and Risk Management (03:58) Navigating the Pandemic (05:55) FedEx's World-Class Culture (08:49) Innovation at FedEx (13:50) Global Economic Insights: China and India (17:57) The Importance of Trade Policy (20:47) Sustainability Goals and Future Challenges

For more from The Conference Board:

• 2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• Organizing for Success in Corporate Sustainability 2.0

• Silos to Synergy: Building a Cohesive Sustainability Strategy

This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features 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.

With temperatures rising and countries trailing on net zero goals, how can the private and public sectors adapt?

Global temperatures are well on their way to rising 2.6 degrees Celsius by 2100, and we're already seeing deleterious effects. How can humanity adapt to climate change—and what happens if we don't? Join Steve Odland and guest Alex Heil, Senior Economist at The Conference Board, to discuss the most pressing risks, where we stand on 2050 emissions goals, and how the private and public sectors should help our world adapt.

(00:10) Understanding Climate Change (01:12) Current Climate Trends and Projections (03:48) Regional Impacts of Climate Change (07:40) Adaptation and Resilience (09:54) Global Efforts and Policies (13:54) Technological Solutions and Sequestration (20:42) Risk Assessment and Personal Actions (26:09) Role of Private and Public Sectors

For more from The Conference Board:

• Hitting the Reset Button on ESG: Setting Strategy in a Time of Uncertainty

• Beyond Carbon: Why Methane Matters

• Carbon Emissions Continue to Rise Despite Massive Clean Energy Investments

The next five to 10 years could yield unprecedented, life-changing innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Can industry and governments capitalize on this moment by finding the right balance of business innovation, AI regulation, and cybersecurity best practices?

Join Dr. Lori Esposito Murray and guest Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, to find out why consistent AI regulation is important, how Arora built an innovation culture at Palo Alto, and why cybersecurity is more important than ever.

(01:24) Nikesh's Leadership Journey (01:46) Key Pillars of Leadership (04:30) Navigating Uncertainty and AI (05:45) The Evolution of AI (12:59) Balancing Innovation and Regulation (15:28) Building an Innovative Culture (18:44) Future of Cybersecurity and Technology

For more from The Conference Board:

• 2024 Distinguished Leadership Awards

• AI and Cybersecurity Rank Among Top 2024 Issues for CEOs

• Principles for AI Guardrails in the US: Safety, Security, and Innovation