No poll is perfect, but this year’s pollsters did better than average in predicting the presidential race, especially in swing states. What lessons can we learn, and why do pollsters need to tell the right story, not just get the right numbers? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Clifford Young, President of Ipsos Public Affairs in the United States, to find out lessons learned from the 2024 cycle, the differences between public and private polling, and how pollsters find people to interview. 

  

(00:40) Accuracy of Election Polls (02:06) Expectations vs. Reality in Polling (03:29) Methodological Bias in Polling (07:28) Senate and House Race Polling (10:18) Impact of Third-Party Candidates (14:02) Private vs. Public Polling (22:15) Polling Methodologies and Voter Rolls (26:13) International Polling Perspectives

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Election, Transition, and Early Actions of the New Administration 

• Election Has No Effect on Fed Policy Now, But Possibly Later 

• Impact of Delayed Vote Counts on Election Day 

Can COP29 be a turning point in the fight to reduce emissions and cap warming? 

  

The US has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 17% since 2004, and yet the US and world are falling short on limiting global temperature rise and establishing a net-zero economy. What kind of progress can we expect to emerge from this year’s UN climate conference, COP29?   

 

Join Steve Odland and guest Alex Heil, Senior Economist at The Conference Board's ESF Center, to find out why COP29 was hosted by Azerbaijan, whether developed economics will fund the necessary climate actions, and the role of the power sector in decarbonizing. 

  

(00:49) Understanding COP and Its History (04:11) Focus on Finance at COP 29 (07:35) Geopolitical Context of COP 29 (09:42) Absence of Key Leaders (11:21) Paris Accord and National Contributions (16:00) Carbon Credits and Financial Support

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• The Future of Greening and Industrial Policies Post Election 

• Hitting the Reset Button on ESG: Setting Strategy in a Time of Uncertainty 

• Window On: The Future of Methane 

The average CEO’s tenure is declining, especially at smaller companies. How can boards reassess their approach to CEO succession planning given the increasing complexities of the job and the rise in activist stakeholders? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Blair Jones, Managing Director at Semler Brossy, to discover the latest insights on CEO succession, the progress being made on gender equity, and why boards should have an emergency succession plan before a crisis strikes. 

 

(01:20) CEO Tenure Trends (05:11) Internal vs External Succession (07:55) Gender Diversity in CEO Roles (13:43) Emergency Succession Planning (19:45) Interim CEO and Board Roles (25:03) Activist Attacks on Female CEOs (28:40) Trends in CEO Compensation

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2024 Edition 

• Reworking Succession Management Strategies for Today's Leaders 

• US Public Company CEOs Are Getting Younger 

DEI isn't dead, but senior executives are recognizing the need to reevaluate these programs. 

  

Despite the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), 80% of senior executives say they’ll adjust their DEI strategies rather than scale them back. How can businesses create effective DEI programs that align with core values and follow the law? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, to find out how companies can rethink DEI, measure the success of these initiatives, and achieve better outcomes for all employees. 

 

(00:52) Defining DEI and Its Objectives  (02:00) Supreme Court Ruling and Its Impact  (04:44) Adjusting DEI Tactics  (11:23) Strategic Changes in DEI Programs (18:52) Data-Driven DEI Decisions  (25:25) Future of DEI in a Diverse Society

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• For Corporate DEI, Elections Sometimes Have Consequences 

• DEI Under Pressure 

• Beyond Backlash: The Continued Benefits of DEI at Work 

CEO pay isn’t just salary: There’s also bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and perks. What does the latest report on executive compensation from The Conference Board tell us about pay trends — and the boards that set compensation levels? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Etra, managing director and head of the Boston office at FW Cook, to dispel public misconceptions about CEO pay, discuss the latest trends and regulations, and explain why corporate jets are suddenly so popular. 

  

(01:14) Understanding CEO Compensation (04:08) Market Dynamics and Executive Pay (06:22) Components of Executive Compensation (07:32) Evolution of Compensation Practices (14:12) The Role of Independent Directors (17:48) Trends in Non-Financial Metrics (19:04) Perks and Pay Ratios

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO and Executive Compensation Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500 

• Compensation Committee Chairs Feel the Pain from Low Say-on-Pay Votes 

• Executive Compensation: 2025 Event 

Chief marketing officers (CMOs) are the growth engine for businesses, yet 50% of CEOs and CMOs don’t agree on success metrics. How can CMOs align with CEOs on expectations, speak the same language as CFOs, and drive revenue growth? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Denise Dahlhoff, PhD, Director of Marketing & Communications Research at The Conference Board, to discover where CEOs and CMOs differ on expectations, what metrics matter most, and how CMOs can communicate marketing's value to key stakeholders. 

 

(00:57) Understanding the Roles of CEO and CMO (03:55) The Critical CEO-CMO Relationship (05:15) Challenges in CEO and CMO Tenure (08:02) Expectations and Gaps Between CEOs and CMOs (12:23) Aligning Marketing with Financial Goals (16:40) Risk Management in Marketing Strategies (18:36) The Multi-constituency Approach in Corporations (21:12) Fostering Collaboration Across the C Suite

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEOs Expectations of the CMO 

• Reflecting on Cannes Lions 2024: Takeaways for CMOs 

• Corporate Communications: Driving the Business Forward (Event) 

Consumer confidence saw the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, according to the latest The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®. The index registered 108.7 in October, up from 99.2 in September, after consumers’ assessment of current business conditions and job availability, plus future business conditions, income and job availability all climbed this month. 

 

Join Erik Lundh and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, to find out where consumers stand on the labor market, spending and inflation ahead of next week’s US elections. 

 

(00:32) October Consumer Confidence Insights (01:35) Demographic Breakdown of Confidence (02:19) Expectations for Employment and Recession (03:36) Inflation and Interest Rates (06:31) Impact of Elections and Hurricanes (08:34) Holiday Buying Plans (11:42) Consumer Confidence and Economic Outlook (16:34) Global Economic Overview (25:42) Emerging Markets and Interest Rates

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• US Consumer Confidence Bounced Back in October 

• Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report 

We're in a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, with over 60% of senior executives calling the environment “very” or “extremely” challenging right now. How can businesses critically evaluate their DEI programs without necessarily abandoning these efforts?  

 

Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, senior researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center, to explore The Conference Board's new report, the rise in DEI-related shareholder proposals, and how companies can recalibrate DEI in their workplace policies and marketing. 

  

(00:49) Understanding DEI: Basics and Definitions (03:24) The Evolution of DEI in Corporate America (05:15) DEI Under Pressure: Challenges and Backlash (06:56) The Supreme Court Decision and Its Impact (09:16) Navigating the Pendulum Swing in DEI (10:31) Balancing Stakeholder Interests in DEI (16:16) Adapting DEI Strategies in a Changing World (23:40) Philanthropy and DEI: Legal Challenges (29:09) Terminology and Future of DEI

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• A New Era of Scrutiny for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

• 2024 Proxy Season Review: Corporate Resilience in a Polarized Landscape 

Top CEOs remain wary about the economy despite a strong Q3. What's holding them back? 

  

CEO confidence dipped in Q4, as measured by The Conference Board, with most CEOs saying conditions have worsened in the past six months. Why hasn’t recent economic data buoyed CEOs’ spirits, and what concerns them most as we head into 2025?   

 

Join Steve Odland and guest Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, to find out what we can learn from the latest Measure of CEO Confidence™, how CEOs plan to address headcount and wages next year, and why cybersecurity and geopolitics remain the top two risks. 

 

01:02 Current CEO Confidence Levels 02:44 Economic Forecasts and CEO Sentiments 04:04 Consumer Behavior and Housing Market Insights 06:46 Business Investment and Election Uncertainty 09:09 Labor Market Conditions and Skill Shortages 11:17 Labor Shortages and Wage Increases 12:24 Economic Adjustments Post-Pandemic 13:16 Consumer Spending and CEO Confidence 15:43 Remote Work Trends 18:45 Key Risks for CEOs  

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

• CEO Confidence Survey 

• The Conference Board Economic Forecast for the US Economy 

• US Consumer Confidence 

Russia and Ukraine. China and Taiwan. The Middle East. As the US approaches Election Day, international relations – and how each Presidential candidate would approach them – are more important than ever. 

 

Join Steve Odland and Lori Esposito Murray, former president of the Committee for Economic Development and current senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out where the presidential candidates stand on US engagement around the world, alliances and immigration. 

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

• The Presidential Candidates on Trade 

• Where Candidates Stand on Debt, Deficits and Labor 

• Trade, Taxes and Tariffs – An Overview of Presidential Positions