C-Suite Perspectives

The days of viewing ESG as a separate compliance function are gone. CEOs are recognizing that sustainability directly impacts a company's long-term success—and they’re moving toward embedding ESG into core business strategy. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director, Environmental, Social and Governance Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the evolution of the CEO’s role and why CEOs should take the “helm” of ESG strategy. 

Tune in to find out:  

· What has shifted in today’s ESG landscape, and what are the key trends? 

· Why does current business environment involve a more comprehensive approach to ESG that balances multiple stakeholders' interests, including customers, employees, suppliers, and the broader community? 

· What’s involved in taking a proactive approach to ESG, rather than a reactive one? 

· How can CEOs look beyond compliance to capture business opportunities?  

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  

Read: CEOs at the Helm of ESG: Leading the Sustainability Transformation 

Read: Building a Sustainability Culture 

Access: Sustainability Disclosure Practices 

About 52% of the world's GDP is directly or indirectly dependent on biodiversity, and so maintaining biodiversity is an important part of business strategy and addressing climate change. 

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss biodiversity and its importance for sustainability, including business sustainability.  

Tune in to find out:  

· What is biodiversity, and why does it matter? 

· How does biodiversity impact climate change, and why is it essential for slowing or even reversing the warming of the planet? 

· How does biodiversity affect various industries like agriculture and medicine, and why is it important to maintain biodiversity in these areas? 

· What is the economic impact of biodiversity, both directly and indirectly, and why should companies focus on biodiversity as a critical aspect of their sustainability efforts?  

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  

· Read: Biodiversity as a Cornerstone of Corporate Environmental Strategy 

· Visit our hub: ESG Risks and Opportunities  

Corporations used to consider themselves as having one constituent: the shareholder. That has changed. Engaging with the communities where corporations have operations, where their supply chains are located, and with society in general, is critical to be effective in today’s business climate. 

In this episode of CEO Perspectives Jeff Hoffman, the Institute Leader of Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy at the ESG Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the evolution of the function and what it takes to align initiatives with the business in complex political and social contexts. 

Tune in to find out:  

• How has corporate citizenship evolved over time?  

• What are the biggest challenges in navigating the complex landscape of social issues and political polarization? 

• How can companies ensure their corporate citizenship efforts are strategic and aligned with their overall business goals?  

• How can companies leverage their resources and influence to make a meaningful impact? 

•  What are the key trends shaping the future of corporate citizenship and philanthropy?  

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  

·  Read From Crisis to Opportunity: Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy in 2023 

· Read Corporate Citizenship in a Time of Uncertainty 

·  Visit our ESG Center 

Running a business or organization takes stamina, grit and determination. So does running for office. What does it take to do both at the same time? 

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Wendi Taylor Nations, EVP & Partner, Hawthorne Strategy Group, and former candidate for Chicago City Council, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss her choice to run for Chicago alderman. 

Tune in to find out: 

· What does it take to run for local office? 

· How can a newcomer set themselves apart in a crowded candidate pool? 

· And how much does personal experience bear on one’s ability to win an election? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead: 

· Read Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy 

As world leaders wrap up COP 28, the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius is a top priority. What is the role of the private sector in helping achieve this goal? 

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, just returned from the event, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the mix of initiatives that may affect the private sector: renewables, tech innovation, carbon markets, and more. 

Tune in to find out:   

• How does the involvement of business leaders contribute to the goals of COP 28 in addressing climate change? 
• What role did major oil-producing countries, like the UAE, play in the discussions at COP 28? 
• What were the key discussions regarding technology innovations, such as AI and quantum computing, and their impact on addressing climate change? 
• How do commitments from countries like the United States to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 contribute to carbon reduction?  
• How will effective carbon markets play a part? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:   

• Road to COP28: Business Takeaways from the UN's Latest Climate Change 
• December 6, 2023: Insights from COP28, and More 
• Biggest Companies Increased GHG Emissions by Just 3% from 2021 to 2022 
• Smaller US Companies are Increasingly Embracing Renewable Energy 

The HR function was an early adopter of AI, such as machine learning for sifting through resumes. Now companies are using it to predict skills needed in the future or the likelihood of employee turnover. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Diana Scott, Center Leader of the US Human Capital Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss whether it’s possible—or advisable—to take the “human” out of human resources. 

Tune in to find out:  

• How might sentient HR be used in HR in the future?  

• What should executives watch out for when using AI tools in HR?  

• How can AI become discriminatory? What safeguards should companies put in place? 

• HR decisions are highly sensitive, including performance management. How can AI play a role?  

• What should be considered when developing policy for AI use in an organization? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  

• Access our hub AI for HR 

• Read Artificial Intelligence for Talent Acquisition  

• Watch Addressing Employment Discrimination in the Use of AI 

Our latest survey shows that 82% of junior marketers and 62% of senior marketers are using AI tools. Most are using it for increasing productivity and getting started on projects—not for finished work. How does AI help the marketing function right now and what’s its potential for the future? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Ivan Pollard, Center Leader, Marketing and Communications, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss what’s ahead for AI in marketing.  

Tune in to find out:  

• How are senior marketers using AI? 

• What is AI’s potential for improving customer service and personalized messaging? 

• What are the challenges marketers may face when using AI? 

• What are some ethical considerations for responsible use of AI? 

• How can leaders get up to speed quickly on AI?  

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead:  

• Access our hub AI: The Next Transformation 

• Read Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Marketing and Consumer Experience 

• Read A Simplified Guide to How AI Works 

The Consumer Confidence Index bounced back in November after three straight monthly declines as consumers’ expectations – and spending – continue to improve. Still, predictions for slower economic growth and outright recession in 2024 abound. What does it all mean for the global economy?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, the Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the latest Consumer Confidence Index and what it portends for 2024. 

Tune in to find out: 

· What big change did we see in the latest Consumer Confidence Index? 

· Consumer spending is up, but much of it is on credit. What does this portend for the economy? 

· How much more can consumer spending expand? 

· How will the global economy grow in 2024? Will we see a recession next year? 

· What potential black or grey swans could we see in 2024? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead: 

· Read: The Consumer Confidence Index for November 2023 

Rural areas account for 20% of the total US population—and 97% of the country’s landmass—but only about 5% of large philanthropic grants are directed to nonurban regions. Why is this?  

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the ESG Center's latest report on corporate citizenship in rural communities. 

Tune in to find out: 

· What exactly defines a “rural area” in the United States? 

· US company headquarters are mostly in cities; how can companies justify donating in areas where they have no presence? 

· What benefits can companies expect when they invest more in rural communities? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead: 

· Read: Investing in Rural America: Corporate Citizenship and Rural Communities 

· Read: Rural Diversity: The Untapped Opportunity for Corporate America 

Medicare costs are expected to jump from 3.8% of GDP in 2023 to 6% in just 10 years. Why is this happening? And what does it mean for everyone seeking health care in the US? 

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss how Medicare started, how it has evolved and what we can do to keep it running. 

Tune in to find out: 

· How did Medicare come about, and how does it work? 

· Why does Medicare’s cost as a part of the federal budget continue to grow? 

· Could increasing market competition lower costs and improve health care benefits? 

· Why should everyone, not just those nearing or at retirement, care about this issue? 

For more Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead: 

· Read the CED report Health Care Policy After the Pandemic 

· Watch the on-demand webcast CED Policy Watch: Health Policy After the Pandemic 

“Today, Medicare program costs in fiscal year 2023 are about 12% of the total federal government spending; that's about 3.8% of GDP. In 10 years this is expected to become 6% of GDP. So that’s huge.” -- Lori Esposito Murray