C-Suite Perspectives

What is the likelihood of a US recession and possibly a global recession? And what would be the instigator in both cases? What about emerging markets and the impact of China’s economic issues? And, what are the key indicators you should look at to track economies? These are just a few of the questions discussed in this bonus episode of CEO Perspectives as Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board sits down with Chief Economist Dana Peterson. Listen to this podcast and watch this webcast to discover:

• What are the general causes for recessions and slowdowns ahead?
• What are CEOs saying they are doing to ensure growth going forward?
• What about ongoing issues with labor, which are apparent in the US, Europe, and Asia?
• Where can our companies find indispensable answers to key questions and business solutions?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Ivan Pollard, Center Leader, Marketing & Communications, The Conference Board, and former Chief Marketing Officer at General Mills. Odland and Pollard discuss the business function that has arguably changed more than any other in the 21st century: marketing. Tune in to find out:

• How marketing has evolved over the last 30 years vs. marketing’s tactical world today
• How the best companies leverage their marketing talent —internally and externally
• What CMOs need from CEOs today—and vice versa

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Harry Kraemer, professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, one of the largest private equity firms in the US. Odland and Kraemer take a deep dive into all things “board”: how to get on one, how to get up to speed once you’ve landed a coveted spot, and what makes for a great board member. Tune in to find out:

• The qualifications of a board member
• The best ways to go about getting on a board
• The boundaries between operations and the business judgement of the board
• Governance principles in public and private companies

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board. They explore the successes and failures of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which replaced NAFTA in 2020. Tune in to find out:

• What opportunities exist to leverage USMCA to meet supply chain challenges?
• Could the three countries become energy independent?
• Has the agreement been successful, politics aside?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Paul Washington, Executive Director of The Conference Board ESG Center, to discuss how recent crises have impacted sustainability efforts and the roles of business and government in reaching sustainability goals. Tune in to find out:

• How corporate sustainability has evolved over the last decade and how recent crises have impacted the focus on sustainability
• What it will take to reach our Net Zero goals, especially given current disruptions in the energy industry
• How businesses can work with energy suppliers to meet sustainability goals
• The importance of not overstating your sustainability efforts

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Jim Huggins, Partner at McChrystal Group and former Chief Operating Officer of the United States Army, to discuss the monumental task of rebuilding Ukraine, even as the destruction continues in parts of the country. Tune in to find out:

• What assumptions should be made about geography that may be occupied long-term by Russia and what may remain as part of an independent Ukraine?
• What kind of effort will be required to rebuild the country?
• What should be the role of the private sector?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, to discuss the results of our new C-Suite Outlook Midyear survey and how global business leaders are adjusting to the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Tune in to find out:

• What are the economic impacts of the war in Ukraine and how has the global economic outlook changed?
• What actions are CEOs taking to address inflation and prepare for recession?
• What does the upended geopolitical landscape mean for the relationship between the US and China? What impact will rising tensions have on business?

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Dr. Jennifer Burnett, Principal of Human Capital at The Conference Board and former Senior Vice President of Global Staffing & Learning at Bank of America, to discuss career development in a hybrid world. Tune in to find out:

• How managers can better assess employees who work remotely
• What’s missing from the remote work experience and how this may impact career development
• What steps employees need to take to be noticed and demonstrate their capabilities in a hybrid world

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Bob Moritz, the Global Chairman of PwC International and a trustee of The Conference Board, to discuss what Moritz has called “the most formidable challenge we’ve faced since World War II”—sustainability. As companies adopt new sustainability frameworks and practices, executives are left to figure out the impact on shareholders, stakeholders, and their bottom line. In the current geopolitical and business context, is sustainability even sustainable? Tune in to find out:

 

• What countries and businesses should be doing in the short run to deal with energy needs—and still maintain long-term, net-zero goals
• How to think about diminishing carbon-based energy—balanced with urgent needs for fuel and food this winter
• Why the consolidation of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board and the Value Reporting Foundation helps investors and consumers compare “apples to apples”

In this episode of CEO Perspectives, The Conference Board President and CEO Steve Odland sits down with Jim Huggins, Partner at McChrystal Group and former Chief Operating Officer of the United States Army. They discuss the next phase of the war in Ukraine: What might Russia be planning? And how should the US and NATO prepare for what may come next? Tune in to find out:

• What was Russia trying to accomplish by invading Ukraine?
• How might Russia escalate the war further?
• How should the US and NATO view the deepening relationship between Russia, China, and India?