Generative AI and other technologies are transforming clinical research and trials. Find out how it's done.

The clinical trials sector is risk-averse, heavily regulated, and not often thought of as a technology first-mover. How is Merck changing that perception by using AI to improve insights, innovation, and operations?

Join Steve Odland and guest Jennifer Sheller, senior vice president and head of global clinical trial operations at Merck, to find out how the company is using AI for clinical research and clinical trials, why "human in the loop" remains essential, and how Merck thinks about the ethical, safety, and privacy considerations of digital health.

For more from The Conference Board:

• How AI Can Help Remedy the US Health Care Workforce Crisis

• Health Care Workforce Policy Summit: Insight Summary

• Navigating the Health Care Landscape in 2026

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Barbara Mendes-Jorge, sustainability communications expert and guest host, speaks with Fabienne Crisovan, group head of governance, ESG legal, and corporate law at Zurich Insurance Group, about how companies can measure the return on investment of sustainability initiatives through the lens of risk, resilience, and long-term value creation.

They discuss why sustainability should be embedded into core business strategy rather than treated as a compliance exercise; how insurers assess climate and ESG risks; and the growing role of governance in building trust with investors, regulators, employees, and customers. The conversation also explores greenwashing, sustainability-related litigation, and why sustainability and profitability are increasingly interconnected.

More from The Conference Board:

· EU Regulatory Outlook: The Way Ahead for 2026

· AI and the New Cyber Risk Landscape: Disclosure Gaps in the S&P Europe 350

· The Sustainability Reset

· Corporate Governance in an Era of Sustained Disruption

IBM's chief legal officer explains how governance drives AI success through trust, transparency, and employee adoption.

Enterprises are learning that employees won't use AI if they don't trust it. How can the right governance policies help companies improve AI adoption while also increasing innovation?

Join Steve Odland and guest Anne Robinson, senior vice president and chief legal officer at IBM, to find out how AI trust ties directly to AI adoption, why companies need to be clear about the problems they're trying to solve, and how the public sector is grappling with AI.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Marion Devine, principal researcher at The Conference Board's European Human Capital Center, speaks with James Williams, head of global total rewards at Ericsson, about the realities of preparing for the EU Pay Transparency Directive and what it means for organizations across Europe.

They discuss the opportunities and challenges of greater pay transparency, how organizations are balancing compliance with culture change, and why manager readiness will be critical to success. The conversation also explores fairness, employee trust, pay equity, and the practical complexities of implementing transparency across multiple countries and evolving local regulations.

More from The Conference Board:

· The Reimagined Workplace 2026

· Reimagine 2025: Human Capital Leadership in an Era of Disruption

· Where to Hire: Europe 2026

· Europe's Pay Transparency Law: Companies Scramble to the Finish Line

AI is a powerful accelerant for performance systems, but only when employees trust the system. Here's how Microsoft does it.

Artificial intelligence is helping enterprises improve their performance systems and incentives. How can companies capitalize on this opportunity while also instilling trust, governance, and clarity that motivates employees and improves their decision-making?

Join Diana Scott, Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, and guest Nandini Ramaswamy, corporate vice president of seller incentives at Microsoft, to find out how Microsoft uses AI to improve performance-based decision-making, why trust is the crucial differentiator, and how to measure whether your AI strategy is working.

For more from The Conference Board:

• Important Human Skills in the Age of AI

• How Leaders Can Close the AI Readiness Gap

• The Reimagined Workplace 2026

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Martin Wiese, leader of the European Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board, speaks with Dr. Márcia Balisciano, chief sustainability officer and global head of corporate responsibility at RELX, about how companies can move from sustainability ambition to measurable impact.

They discuss the shift from reporting to execution, how sustainability drives financial performance, and what it takes to embed sustainability into commercial strategy and innovation.

More from The Conference Board:

· What's Next for ESG Legislation in Europe?

· Europe 2026: Competitiveness, Clean Industrial Policy, and Industrial Reform

· EU Regulatory Outlook: The Way Ahead for 2026

· Corporate Governance in an Era of Sustained Disruption

How are companies translating their AI principles into practice?

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Andrew Jones, PhD, Principal Researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, about how companies are putting AI governance into practice.

They discuss how AI is rapidly moving into core business operations and what that means for risk management, accountability, and leadership. The conversation explores how organizations are shifting from high-level AI principles to formal governance structures; the rise of cross-functional oversight; and the growing role of boards in AI strategy. The discussion also covers emerging challenges, including regulatory complexity, cybersecurity threats, and workforce disruption.

More from The Conference Board:

• From Principles to Practice: Governing AI in the Corporation

• Top 5 Corporate Governance Priorities for 2026

• Governing Through Uncertainty: US Boardroom Priorities for 2026

• AI and Environmental Sustainability: Risks, Opportunities, and What Comes Next

• AI Risk Disclosures in the S&P 500: Reputation, Cybersecurity, and Regulation

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Barbara Mendes-Jorge, Sustainability Communications Expert and guest host, speaks with Manali Paranjpe, Program Director of the Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board Europe, about how sustainability is being integrated into European businesses' corporate strategy.

They explore a range of insights from C-suite leaders, including on recent ESG regulatory changes, resilience as a growth strategy, how the role of CSIO has evolved, and what these developments mean for the future of sustainable business in Europe.

More from The Conference Board:

• Europe 2026: Competitiveness, Clean Industrial Policy, and Institutional Reform
• EU Regulatory Outlook: The Way Ahead for 2026
• Corporate Governance in an Era of Sustained Disruption
• EU ESG Regulatory Outlook Q3–Q4 2025: Navigating Simplification

Consumer confidence has ticked up slightly from March but remains low, and the global economic outlook has been downgraded for a second time.

The growing impact of tariffs, inflation and ongoing war is extending to consumers' expectations for their incomes, job prospects and overall confidence in the economy. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up by 0.6 points to 92.8 (1985=100) in April, from 92.2 in March's upwardly revised reading.

The Present Situation Index — based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions — retreated, while the Expectations Index — based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions — rose.

Join Dana M Peterson and Erik Lundh, to find out what to make of the latest consumer confidence results and what's next for the global economy.

For more from The Conference Board:

• US Consumer Confidence

• Forecast for the US Economy

• Global Economic Outlook

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 of Canada*, about what business leaders need to know when operating in and with Canada.

They discuss how CEOs are navigating heightened volatility, evolving US-Canada trade tensions, and a shifting economic landscape. The conversation explores Canada's resilience; the need for trade diversification; and the country's opportunities in energy, AI, and global finance. They also examine talent challenges, productivity gaps, and how leaders can build organizational resilience in an increasingly uncertain environment.

More from The Conference Board:

• The Conference Board of Canada

• Global Economic Outlook

*The Conference Board of Canada and Signal49 Research are separate, unaffiliated entities.