C-Suite Perspectives

Improvements in productivity, corporate reputation, and the bottom line are just a few of the direct benefits of an inclusive workforce. But organizations often overlook the importance of mental wellness in their current workforce as well as the largely untapped pool of neurodivergent talent. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Rebecca Ray, Executive Vice president, Human Capital, at The Conference Board, sits down with Holly May, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, to discuss the value of wellness and neurodiversity programs and how to implement them. Tune in to discover how to:

• Meet the new expectations from today’s workforce—including those of Gen Z
• Expand the pool of candidates and enhance the diversity of your workforce with programs for neurodiversity
• Put “teeth” into targets with specific representation goals
• Celebrate the authentic person that each employee brings to work and provide tools for success
• Lead with authenticity and vulnerability

To learn more about neurodiversity, access the webcast Debunking the Myths of Neurodiversity here.

Challenges—and opportunities-- abound in the current business climate—and more innovation is on the horizon with the revolutions in AI and quantum computing. How can companies maintain their core values, seize these opportunities and thrive? In this CEO Perspectives episode, Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, sits down with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing companies—and how the technological advances in AI and quantum computing will have an impact. Tune in to find out:

• As AI’s presence accelerates, how should companies embody trust and transparency?
• How does Krishna see AI transforming the future workforce?
• How is IBM helping companies leverage technology to advance sustainability goals?
• Over the next decade, what will be the extraordinary impacts from quantum computing?
• What leadership principle does Krishna advocate for managing through disruption and uncertainty?

This episode of CEO Perspectives is part of the Leadership in Challenging Times series from CED. The series features discussions with the outstanding business leaders who are recipients of CED’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. In this series, business leaders 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 AI Hub from The Conference Board lays out the business implications, opportunities and challenges of evolving AI. Read the latest insights.

Nearly half of CEOs around the globe see the transition to renewable energy as good for business. But how can companies start building environmental and social considerations into their strategic business planning? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO, Steve Odland, and Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center, address this issue. Tune in to find out: 

§  What are the main causes of climate change? How much is driven by natural events and how much by human activity?  

§  How can companies help cut emissions while maintaining a developed, global economy? 

§  Why should firms focus on near-term emissions targets as well as those farther out? How can lower emissions translate into lower costs? 

§  Why should companies no longer address climate change and sustainability as different silos? 

Access ESG essentials, including key terminology and how boards are addressing this topic, here

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland speaks with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED). The conversation centered around CED’s insights and recommendations for the US to attain its goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Tune in to find out:

• What are the necessary investments for achieving a decarbonized economy by 2050?
• What are the potential economic opportunities of achieving carbon neutrality? Alternatively, what are the consequences of not reaching this target?
• What steps can the public and private sectors take—both separately and in collaboration—to achieve net-zero emissions?
• What should be the top priority of the US when it comes to the energy transition?
• What role should nuclear power play in the energy transition?

The Conference Board announced that the Consumer Confidence Index® increased this month to the highest level in two years. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland and Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, sit down to discuss what this means for the US economy. Tune in to find out: 

• How were consumers feeling in July? Are they still signaling a recession?
• What do we need to achieve a soft landing?
• What is likely to affect consumer spending in the months ahead?
• What can we expect for US GDP later this year and into next year?
• How many more rate hikes can we expect from the Fed?
• How are the rest of the world’s economies?

The economic outlook for emerging markets has shifted: What are the prospects over the short and long term? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO, and Klaas de Vries, Senior Economist, both of The Conference Board, sit down to discuss what’s ahead for this critical engine of global growth. Tune in to find out:

·       What explains the better-than-expected performance so far?

·       What’s the outlook for emerging markets for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024?

·       How exposed are emerging markets to the prospect of a US recession?

·       Which emerging markets are at risk of recession—and which are poised for growth?

Read the latest data on The Conference Board Economy Watch: Emerging Markets View for July 2023.

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dominique Shelton Leipzig, Partner at Mayer Brown, joined Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED). The conversation focused on the European Union AI Act, including its implications for companies, the precedent it will set for AI legislation around the world, and steps companies can start taking now so they stay ahead of the curve. Tune in to find out:

• What are the main components of the EU AI Act? What aspects of AI usage will it regulate?
• The EU AI Act will set a global standard. What can businesses do now to future-proof their organizations?
• What role will companies’ boards play in managing AI?
• What are the similarities and differences between the EU AI Act and other legislation across the world?
• How can legislation regulate AI without stifling innovation?
• What lessons can the US learn from its response to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law?

Do you have the financial know-how to make strategic and informed decisions for your organization? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Maria Doughty, President and CEO of The Chicago Network, joined The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss the importance of financial acumen in the C-suite. Tune in to find out:

• Why is financial acumen a key part of development for leadership positions?
• What does it mean to have financial acumen?
• What are the risks of not having financial literacy as a business leader?
• How can you develop more financial expertise?

The Conference Board announced that the Consumer Confidence Index® increased substantially in June. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist at The Conference Board, and Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, sit down to discuss what this means for the US economy. Tune in to find out: 

• How were consumers feeling in June?
• Are they still signaling recession? When is it expected to begin?
• Why did the Fed pause raising interest rates and what can we expect in the future?
• How might the end of the pause on student loans affect consumer spending?
• What challenges are facing the European and Chinese economies?
• How have rising interest rates affected bank lending and business spending?