Although methane accounts for a much smaller share of total greenhouse gas emissions than carbon dioxide does, it’s about 80 times more potent as an atmospheric warming agent. How can companies benefit from taking steps to eliminate it?    Join Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, and guest Alexander Heil, Senior Economist at The Conference Board, to find out which three industries can profit most from reducing methane, why it’s sometimes strangely better to create...

For the third straight month, the Consumer Confidence Index® has fallen, but while consumers mention the ongoing headache of elevated food and energy prices, they’re not expecting a recession. Can the US meet its projected GDP growth for the year in an uncertain economic and geopolitical environment?   Join Senior Economist Erin McLaughlin and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out how reduced spending on big-ticket items,...

Hybrid and remote work have changed our workplaces, our homes and our lives. How is the future of office space and culture being shaped post-COVID? And how is the metaverse involved?    Join Steve Odland and guests Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist in the Economy, Strategy and Finance Center at The Conference Board, and Robin Erickson, Vice President, Human Capital at The Conference Board, for a multi-faceted conversation on new trends in the hybrid work environment.

People expect employers to invest in their well-being at work, but despite CHROs’ efforts to meet this demand, employee-reported levels of well-being have stagnated. How can CHROs move the needle on keeping their workers happy?   Join Diana Scott and guest Rita Meyerson, principal researcher in the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, to learn how organizations are handling the employee well-being crisis. 

From recruiting to knowledge management, AI can transform HR processes across the employee lifecycle. So how are CHROs already using AI and making sure their initiatives are aligned with business strategies?    Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Leader, in the second instalment of our AI in HR series as they discuss real-world examples of how AI is revolutionizing the way HR recognizes and nurtures talent across organizations.   

Twenty-three percent of global CEOs report they’re already using AI to transform every facet of the employee experience from onboarding to succession planning. But HR can also apply its people expertise to optimize the partnership of AI and human beings throughout the organization.   Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader, to find out how HR can bolster company-wide AI transformation by addressing employee fears of displacement, preventing bias in AI models...

Without Social Security, the largest single source of income among Americans aged 65 and older, millions of people would fall below the poverty line. But the program now pays out much more than it takes in—and seniors face a mandatory benefit cut in the next decade if nothing is done. What solutions will reform Social Security both for short-term stability and long-term solvency?   Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, Former President, Committee for Economic Development, to...

The Consumer Confidence Index® reached 104.7 in March, an indication that confidence is holding steady, but although perceptions of current economic conditions are brighter, anxiety about the future is rising.   Join Stephanie Guichard and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out what’s affecting US consumer attitudes and spending—and how this fits into the bigger picture of slower economic growth around the world. 

China's economic growth for 2024 is projected to reach 4.6%—still high compared to developed nations but a decline from previous high-growth rates. How will this slowdown impact the global economic landscape and multinational companies (MNCs) operating there?   Join Steve Odland and Alfredo Montufar-Helu, Head of the China Center at The Conference Board, to explore what steps China may take to stimulate growth in its state-led economy and the strategies MNCs should consider in this...

Average support for environmental proposals has declined from 35% in 2022 to 12% thus far in 2024—even as more proposals are going to a vote. Are investors bored with green issues—or is something else causing the decline? Join Steve Odland and guest Merel Spierings, Senior Researcher, ESG Center to find out what environmental and social issues shareholders are focusing on this proxy season, how the Supreme Court's decision on race-based admissions is affecting companies’ diversity-related...

Consumers are spending more, buoyed by a tight labor market, pent-up demand in the wake of the pandemic, and access to easy credit. Can CEOs depend on these trends to continue under the pressures of inflation?  Join Steve Odland and guest Denise Dahlhoff, Director of Marketing & Communications Research, to find out how consumer behavior is changing as well as the strategies companies can use to communicate price increases and market sustainable products.       For more on this topic...

Four billion people in over 70 countries are expected to vote in major democracies, including the US, the UK, India, Russia and Taiwan, in 2024. How could the outcomes reshape our world?      Join Steve Odland and guest Lori Esposito Murray, Former President of the Committee for Economic Development, to find out where pivotal elections are taking place and what’s at stake.     For more on this topic from The Conference Board:  ·       Read: The 2024 Election Year: Fasten Your...

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® fell in February to 106.7, down from 110.9 in January. Consumers are more pessimistic—putting a halt to the rising optimism of the past few months. Yet business leaders are cautiously optimistic and poised for growth. How do interest rates, inflation, labor markets, supply chains, and the US political environment affect these different viewpoints? In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, joins Erin McLaughlin, Senior...

The US government is $34 trillion in debt and counting; in 10 years, interest payments alone are projected to be $1.6 trillion per year. These astronomical sums are leading to a crisis that could see the end of the US dollar as the “world’s currency.”  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Joseph E. Kasputys, PhD, former US Navy Commander, CEO of Economic Ventures, and CED Trustee, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss solutions to the US debt crisis and what the business landscape...

As the US labor shortage continues, organizations struggle to attract and retain talent. Those that leverage baby boomers—who still make up 20% of the workforce—tap into a valuable pool of experience. Organizations that write them off may lose competitive advantage. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Robin Erickson, Vice President, Human Capital, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss how to make the most of boomer talent in an age-diverse workforce.    Tune in to find out:  ...

The Conference Board measure of CEO Confidence is at its highest level since 2019, marking a significant shift in business sentiment. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the latest results of the Measure of CEO Confidence™ and the C-Suite Outlook. They discuss why CEOs are positive and whether their concerns, including inflation, cost of debt, and interest rates, track with the...

What’s top of mind for world leaders, and do their priorities sync with what CEOs are thinking?  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, The Conference Board, to report on the insights from Davos forum and how those dovetail with CEO views from our latest research.      Tune in to find out:   ·       How are world leaders thinking about the rise of generative AI and what are...

Despite turbulence in geopolitics and the economy, in January the US Consumer Confidence Index® soared to its highest level since 2021, marking a significant uplift in consumer sentiment. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist, joins Markus Schomer, Senior Global Economist, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the latest consumer views on inflation and recession—and what they reveal about market dynamics and potential shifts.  Tune in to find out:  · How...

The world economy has not yet reached peak GHG emissions. Achieving net zero by 2050 will require dramatic reductions in emissions, but carbon removal technology is in its infancy and still too costly. What advancements could help get us to net zero, and what’s at stake for business?    In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Alex Heil, Senior Economist, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss carbon removal technology and implications for the...

Our latest C-Suite Outlook 2024 survey results show that an economic downturn is still a top concern for both CEOs and CMOs. Yet, CMOs are optimistic, saying they can still drive growth in this environment. What strategies and investments are CMOs planning to use to achieve this—and do they differ from the CEO view?  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Ivan Pollard, Center Leader, Marketing & Communications, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss...

What’s keeping CEOs and CHROs up at night these days? More than 1,200 C-Suite executives told us in the annual C-Suite Outlook survey by The Conference Board.     In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Diana Scott, Center Leader of the US Human Capital Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the results—and the implications for human capital. For 25 years, the C-Suite Outlook survey has served as a pulse-check on the challenges and opportunities...

What’s keeping CEOs up at night these days? More than 1,200 C-Suite executives told us in the annual C-Suite Outlook survey by The Conference Board.  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the C-Suite Outlook 2024. For 25 years, the C-Suite Outlook survey has served as a pulse-check to understand what challenges and...

The days of viewing ESG as a separate compliance function are gone. CEOs are recognizing that sustainability directly impacts a company's long-term success—and they’re moving toward embedding ESG into core business strategy. In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director, Environmental, Social and Governance Center, joins President and CEO Steve Odland, both of The Conference Board, to discuss the evolution of the CEO’s role and why CEOs should take the “helm” of ESG...

About 52% of the world's GDP is directly or indirectly dependent on biodiversity, and so maintaining biodiversity is an important part of business strategy and addressing climate change.  In this episode of CEO Perspectives, Paul Washington, Executive Director of the ESG Center at The Conference Board, joins President and CEO Steve Odland to discuss biodiversity and its importance for sustainability, including business sustainability.     Tune in to find out:   · What is biodiversity, and...