C-Suite Perspectives

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO, Steve Odland, and Klaas de Vries, Senior Economist at The Conference Board, discuss emerging markets: what are they, what are they currently seeing, and what can we expect in these markets in the year ahead? Tune in to find out:

• What is the difference between a developing economy and an emerging market?
• How does growth differ between developed nations and emerging markets?
• What slows and what drives growth in emerging economies?
• How have emerging markets held up amid recent global shocks?
• Which emerging markets are most at risk of a recession?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO, Steve Odland, and Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board, discuss the major geopolitical developments and disruptions of 2022 and their implications for 2023. Tune in to find out:

• How has the Russia-Ukraine war progressed since it began in February and how will it likely end?
• What is Russia’s relationship with China? Is the Putin-Xi relationship a true friendship or is it an alliance of convenience?
• What is the current relationship between China and North Korea? Is North Korea truly a threat?
• What is the domestic situation in Iran and what is the risk to the government?
• What developments have occurred on the India-China border?
• Is China going to make a kinetic move into Taiwan?

With the pandemic came the popularization of remote work, leaving many offices empty. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Alex Heil, Senior Economist at The Conference Board, to discuss what’s in store for our cities. Tune in to find out:

• How temporary—or permanent—is this move away from urban areas?
• Have we reached equilibrium with return to the office or will the pendulum continue to swing? What might drive more people back to the office?
• What can we expect for commercial real estate over the next few years?
• Have infrastructure demands changed in a post-Covid world?
• What are the biggest challenges for urban areas, and will they thrive or decline in response?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Dr. Joel Myers, founder and CEO of AccuWeather, to discuss one of the major challenges of our time: climate change. Tune in to find out:

• How is the climate changing now versus how it has changed historically?
• What role has mankind played in climate change?
• How do you maximize credibility and trust amid uncertainty?
• How can businesses plan for changes in the climate?

The Conference Board announced today that the Consumer Confidence Index® declined in November, suggesting the economy has lost momentum as the year winds down. Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators and Surveys, and Erik Lundh, Senior Economist for the US, to discuss what to expect for the US economy. Tune in to find out:

• How are consumers feeling now, and what do they expect in six months? What does this mean?
• How are consumers feeling about big-ticket purchases?
• What are we hearing about holiday spending?
• What’s signaling an upcoming recession?
• What is the expected impact of a recession on unemployment? Inflation? Housing?
• Are efforts by the Fed having any impact on inflation?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President & CEO Steve Odland talks with Paul Washington, Executive Director of The Conference Board ESG Center. They discuss how CEOs can integrate environmental, social, and governance goals into the heart of a company’s business strategy. Tune in to explore:

• How should CEOs decide which ESG issues truly matter to the company?
• Why should they focus on developing business strategies that are sustainable versus sustainability strategies?
• How can they address the conflicting expectations of stakeholders?
• What are the key components to sharing the company’s ESG story?
• How can they work effectively with the C-suite and board?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland, and Sam Charlton, Managing Director of Asia at The Conference Board, discuss China’s contentious relationship with the West and what impact these geopolitical tensions will have on multinational companies. Tune in to find out:

• What has caused the downward trend of US-China relations?
• What is the state of China’s relationship with the West?
• Is it inevitable that China will become the dominant economy and culture in the world?
• Can we expect conflict between China and Taiwan in the short-term? What should multinational companies do to prepare?
• Given the geopolitical tensions with the West, how actively should companies be moving their manufacturing out of China?
• How should businesses adapt in order to cope with the current geopolitical tensions?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO, Steve Odland, and Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), discuss the results of the midterm elections and how it will impact policy moving forward. Tune in to find out:

• How do the results of the midterm elections compare to what polls predicted?
• How will a split government impact policy?
• With Republicans now in control of the House, McCarthy will likely be the next Speaker. What challenges does he face and what are his priorities going to be? 
• Where is the common ground on legislation between a split Congress and the Administration?
• How will Congress respond to rising geopolitical tensions, existing conflicts, and potential ones? 
• What impact do the midterm results portend for the 2024 elections?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland, and Rebecca Ray, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at The Conference Board, discuss how businesses can—and should—tell the story of their human capital strategy. Tune in to find out:

• Why is it increasingly important to measure and share your human capital strategy with a range of stakeholders?
• What should businesses consider disclosing about their human capital?
• How should businesses determine which metrics to look at and which to share?
• What are the key components of a human capital strategy?
• How can you create a narrative around your strategy and communicate it to a variety of stakeholders?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Denise Dahlhoff, senior researcher at The Conference Board Marketing & Communications Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss an endless frustration for many US consumers—and a surprising fascination for experts: customer service in the US. Tune in to find out:

• Why does the quality of customer service in the US feel like it’s declining year after year? Does the data match the anecdotal frustrations?
• When did this decline start—and what was its underlying cause?
• Can technology and corporate innovation turn this situation around—or are they part of the problem?
• What was the role of the pandemic in exacerbating customer service woes? Is a turnaround in the cards?
• How do generational changes and labor shortages impact the problem?
• What are reasons for hope in a better customer experience? Do certain industries or regions of the country stand out as models to emulate?