C-Suite Perspectives

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Evelyne, a nine-year-old fourth grader, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, to discuss her personal experience as a member of Generation Alpha. Tune in to find out Evelyne’s impressions of these questions:

• Why were generations before Gen Z able to concentrate more easily?
• What has shaped Generation Alpha’s life so far, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What is the best music from the early 2000s?
• Why do newer generations care more about climate change though older generations caused it?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Aileen Du, Member Engagement Associate at the Human Capital Center, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss her personal experience as a member of Generation Z. Tune in to find out:

• What does it mean to Gen Zers to work “smarter” rather than “harder”?
• Why do they value quality of life over material well-being?
• Why is COVID-19 likely to be the defining event of this generation, with long-lasting impacts?
• How did remote learning during the pandemic disrupt their socialization?
• Why is Gen Z vocal about mental health issues?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Alex Keaton, Assistant Producer, Digital Media, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss her personal experience as a member of the millennial generation. Tune in to find out:

• How do millennials view their career trajectory: Are they “job hoppers” or expanding their experience?
• What value do millennials place on being open-minded when it comes to their careers and life goals?
• How cautiously do younger millennials approach their social media presence and “personal brand”?
• How did millennial experiences such as COVID-19, legalization of same-sex marriage, and Obama’s election as the first Black US president affect their outlook?
• Why do millennials value having a “seat at the table” in the workplace so highly?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Katie Plotkin, Chief of US Member Development, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss her experience as a member of Gen X and manager of different generations. Tune in to find out:

• How might Gen Xers be overshadowed, “sandwiched” between Baby Boomers and Millennials?
• How are Gen Xers the “peacekeeping generation,” navigating between two much larger generations?
• What are the reasons why Gen Xers may not be very vocal?
• How did events in the 80s and 90s—from the explosion of the Challenger to 9/11—instill a sense of caution in this generation?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Chuck Mitchell, Senior Director of Content Quality, joins Steve Odland, President and CEO, both of The Conference Board, to discuss Chuck’s personal experience as a member of the baby boomer generation. Tune in to find out:

• What were the economic pressures that perhaps made “boomers” more goal-oriented and competitive than other generations?
• What kinds of anxieties resulted from their experiences—from fallout shelters, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and fear of nuclear holocaust to fierce workplace competition?
• How did shifts in the media landscape—from the definitive news voice of Walter Cronkite to the rise of the internet and alternative sources—affect their perspective?
• What happened to this generation’s idealism as they matured?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Frank Meuers, a retired teacher, joins The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss his personal experience as a member of the Silent Generation. Tune in to find out:

• Why are they called “silent”?
• How are the silent generation similar to other generations, and how are they different?
• Why were they optimistic after WWII, and how did they stand up for civil rights?
• How do they view other generations?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Carol Orenstein, Chief Strategy Officer, and Paul Washington, Executive Director, Environmental, Social & Governance Center, join Steve Odland, President and CEO, all of The Conference Board, to discuss their reactions to this series. Tune in to find out:

• What is the role shared experience plays in shaping a generation?
• Why is the impact of historic events different on various generations, even if we're all experiencing the event?
• What differences exist within generations—between the beginning and end of a cohort?
• Why is technology such a profound shaper of generations?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Asutosh Pahdi, North America Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company, joined Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development (CED), the public policy center of The Conference Board, to discuss the current US productivity rate, why it has decreased in recent years, its impact on the US economy, and more. Tune in to find out:

• Why has the US productivity rate fallen and how has digital innovation played a role?
• How would restoring historical rates of productivity growth add $10 trillion to US GDP?
• What challenges hinder productivity growth?
• How does the US compare to other industrialized countries in terms of productivity?
• Which sectors in the US show the greatest promise for increasing productivity?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, tune in for a timely conversation about the US debt ceiling debate—both the consequences of inaction and recommendations for averting a crisis.

The conversation features Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), and Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, and is hosted by President and CEO Steve Odland. Tune in to find out:

• What economic factor has significantly raised the stakes of this debt ceiling debate?
• What agreements are being considered between the two parties? 
• If the US defaulted, what would be the economic consequences both domestically and globally? 
• How are these drawn-out negotiations impacting the US economy and the country’s reputation around the world? 
• What steps can Congress take to put the nation’s proliferating debt on a downward and sustainable trajectory?

Most people have heard the phrase “artificial intelligence” by now, but what is it and how should businesses be using it? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Rob Green, Chief Information Officer at The Conference Board joined President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss what business leaders should know about AI. Tune in to find out:

• What are the different categories of AI and what are they capable of?
• How do the new language learning models like ChatGPT and Bard work and how can they be used?
• How can businesses take advantage of the advancements in AI technology?
• What should businesses consider when using AI? What privacy and security concerns are there?