C-Suite Perspectives

How are companies translating their AI principles into practice?

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Andrew Jones, PhD, Principal Researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, about how companies are putting AI governance into practice.

They discuss how AI is rapidly moving into core business operations and what that means for risk management, accountability, and leadership. The conversation explores how organizations are shifting from high-level AI principles to formal governance structures; the rise of cross-functional oversight; and the growing role of boards in AI strategy. The discussion also covers emerging challenges, including regulatory complexity, cybersecurity threats, and workforce disruption.

More from The Conference Board:

• From Principles to Practice: Governing AI in the Corporation

• Top 5 Corporate Governance Priorities for 2026

• Governing Through Uncertainty: US Boardroom Priorities for 2026

• AI and Environmental Sustainability: Risks, Opportunities, and What Comes Next

• AI Risk Disclosures in the S&P 500: Reputation, Cybersecurity, and Regulation

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Barbara Mendes-Jorge, Sustainability Communications Expert and guest host, speaks with Manali Paranjpe, Program Director of the Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board Europe, about how sustainability is being integrated into European businesses' corporate strategy.

They explore a range of insights from C-suite leaders, including on recent ESG regulatory changes, resilience as a growth strategy, how the role of CSIO has evolved, and what these developments mean for the future of sustainable business in Europe.

More from The Conference Board:

• Europe 2026: Competitiveness, Clean Industrial Policy, and Institutional Reform
• EU Regulatory Outlook: The Way Ahead for 2026
• Corporate Governance in an Era of Sustained Disruption
• EU ESG Regulatory Outlook Q3–Q4 2025: Navigating Simplification

Consumer confidence has ticked up slightly from March but remains low, and the global economic outlook has been downgraded for a second time.

The growing impact of tariffs, inflation and ongoing war is extending to consumers' expectations for their incomes, job prospects and overall confidence in the economy. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up by 0.6 points to 92.8 (1985=100) in April, from 92.2 in March's upwardly revised reading.

The Present Situation Index — based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions — retreated, while the Expectations Index — based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions — rose.

Join Dana M Peterson and Erik Lundh, to find out what to make of the latest consumer confidence results and what's next for the global economy.

For more from The Conference Board:

• US Consumer Confidence

• Forecast for the US Economy

• Global Economic Outlook

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Gillian Riley, President of The Conference Board of Canada*, about what business leaders need to know when operating in and with Canada.

They discuss how CEOs are navigating heightened volatility, evolving US-Canada trade tensions, and a shifting economic landscape. The conversation explores Canada's resilience; the need for trade diversification; and the country's opportunities in energy, AI, and global finance. They also examine talent challenges, productivity gaps, and how leaders can build organizational resilience in an increasingly uncertain environment.

More from The Conference Board:

• The Conference Board of Canada

• Global Economic Outlook

*The Conference Board of Canada and Signal49 Research are separate, unaffiliated entities.

What does the ongoing conflict in the Middle East mean for European markets? Join Sara Murray and Alejandro Fiorito as they unpack the latest developments and economic implications.

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Diana Scott, leader of the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Robin Erickson, head of human capital research, and Matt Maloof, human capital researcher, to discuss insights from The Reimagined Workplace 2026: Adopting AI Today, Poised for Tomorrow.

They explore how organizations are assessing and accelerating AI maturity, why most remain in early stages of adoption, and what it takes to build AI fluency across the workforce. The conversation also examines the evolving balance between hybrid and onsite work; the growing importance of flexibility in total rewards; and how leaders can address talent, retention, and well-being challenges while reimagining the workplace.

More from The Conference Board:

• The Reimagined Workplace 2026: Adopting AI Today, Poised for Tomorrow

• CHROs Navigating Uncertainty to Drive Growth

• Enhancing Employee Engagement: 5 Often-Forgotten Fundamentals

• Off-Site, Out of Mind? Overcoming the Downsides of Hybrid Work

Join Bárbara Mendes-Jorge and guest Radhika Ralhan, an ESG and sustainability global impact leader and a guest lecturer at the Maastricht School of Management, to find out how the EU compares with India and the US, why she's excited about the Circular Economy Act, and why younger generations are unafraid to question a company's commitment to sustainability.

For more from The Conference Board:

• Guardrails to Prevent Greenwashing

• Top 5 Corporate Governance Priorities for 2026

• The Sustainability Reset

What if water -- not energy or labor -- becomes your biggest business constraint?

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, president and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Alex Heil, senior economist at The Conference Board, to examine the rising business risks tied to water scarcity.

They discuss how limited freshwater supply, aging infrastructure, and inefficient use are creating new pressures on industries, and why leaders need to factor water risk into strategy and operations.

More from The Conference Board:

• A Global Water Crisis—Mitigation and Adaption in a World of Water Shortages

• Till the Well Runs Dry: How Companies Can Shore Up Against Global Water Scarcity

• Running Dry: The US Southwest Water Crisis

• At the Climate Crossroads: US Corporate Commitments 10 Years After Paris Accord

• Rising Stakes: Climate Impacts Worsen as World Set to Miss Paris Agreement Goals

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Sara Murray, managing director, international at The Conference Board, speaks with Robin Maillard, researcher in the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, Europe, about where multinationals should hire in today's shifting European labor market.

They explore how the Where to Hire Index helps leaders balance skills, cost, productivity, and long-term competitiveness when making strategic workforce decisions.

More from The Conference Board:

· Where to Hire: Europe 2026

· Reimagine 2025: Human Capital Leadership in an Era of Disruption

· Five EU Directives CHROs Must Prepare for in 2025

· Navigating Europe's Tight Labor Market

· Steady Hands in Stormy Seas: Human Capital as the Anchor of Business Resilience

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, president and CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Jennifer Eggers, founder and president of LeaderShift Insights, to explore what it truly takes to succeed at the highest levels of leadership.

They discuss why transitioning to the C-Suite is more challenging than many expect, the mindset shifts required to lead at an enterprise level, and the most common mistakes new executives make. Jennifer shares practical insights on stakeholder management, building influence, and preparing for the complexities of senior leadership.

More from The Conference Board:

• What Drives CEO Succession—And Are Boards Ready?

• CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2025 Edition

• The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence

• From Talent Democratization to Differentiation: The CHRO's Next Balancing Act