Why Skills, Not Headcount, Matter Most to HR in 2026
C-Suite Perspectives
Finding skilled talent remains difficult. Find out how CEOs and CHROs plan to develop their workforce this year. Nearly 37% of CEOs say finding qualified workers is a challenge, according to the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey by The Conference Board. How have labor challenges evolved since the Great Resignation, and what can CEOs do to attract and keep skilled talent in 2026? Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human...
info_outline
The State of the Economy for January 2026
C-Suite Perspectives
Consumer confidence has plummeted. What does it mean for the economy? The Conference Board fell sharply in January, from 94.2 in December to 84.5. Consumers’ assessment of both current business and labor market conditions, and their short-term outlook of the same, fell by 9.9 and 9.5 points, respectively, to 65.1, well below the threshold of 80 that typically signals a recession ahead. Write-in responses showed a continuation in references to prices and inflation, oil and gas prices, and food and grocery prices. Mentions of...
info_outline
Governance Is Changing. Find Out What's on Deck for 2026
C-Suite Perspectives
Find out how governance and sustainability are evolving, including what’s next for ESG. Change is coming for governance leaders, whether it's the evolution of ESG, the risks around AI, or an increased focus on strategic execution. How can these executives adapt in this rapidly changing and uncertain environment? Join Steve Odland and guest Brian Campbell, leader of the US Governance & Sustainability Center and general counsel at The Conference Board, to find...
info_outline
Control Risk’s Lessons on Keeping Your Executives Safe
C-Suite Perspectives
CEOs are increasingly at risk, both physically and digitally. Find out what’s new in corporate risk preparedness. The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024 has forced companies to rethink their executive security posture, both in terms of physical and digital security. How can companies and boards assess their security readiness? Join Steve Odland and guest Bill Udell, CEO of Control Risks’ Americas region, to learn about how executive security has evolved in recent...
info_outline
C-Suite Outlook 2026: Top Priorities for CEOs
C-Suite Perspectives
Our latest C-Suite Outlook reveals CEOs’ biggest concerns—and why they’re measuring the ROI of AI. US CEOs rank economic and geopolitical uncertainty as top risk factors for 2026, according to the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey from The Conference Board. How can CEOs overcome the lack of policy certainty while making investments that lead to long-term success? Join Steve Odland and guest David Young, president of the Committee for Economic Development, the...
info_outline
C-Suite Outlook 2026: Where CEOs Plan to Invest This Year
C-Suite Perspectives
Find out how CEOs are planning to win this year amid a world of uncertainty. As 2026 begins, CEOs are worried about uncertainty — in the economy, geopolitics, trade policy, supply chains, and more. What does the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey tell us about how CEOs plan to grow and invest despite the headwinds? Join Steve Odland and guest Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board and leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find...
info_outline
AI Is Transforming Organizations. How Will Yours Change?
C-Suite Perspectives
Learn how companies can develop a strategy to redesign their structures and processes for AI. AI not only transforms how companies operate, it’s also transforming how they differentiate, according to a new report by The Conference Board. How can companies reimagine themselves with AI at every level of the enterprise? Join Steve Odland and guests Erka Amursi and Matt Rosenbaum, both principal researchers at The Conference Board Human Capital...
info_outline
Tariff Troubles? Consider FTZs and Bonded Warehouses
C-Suite Perspectives
Learn how businesses can store and even process goods without incurring immediate tariff obligations. The effective US tariff rate soared to 17% in 2025. What options are available to businesses that need to import goods but want to mitigate tariff burdens? Join Alex Heil and guest Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at The Conference Board in the Economy, Strategy & Finance (ESF) Center, to find out what foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses are, how they differ from each other, and how businesses...
info_outline
The State of the Economy for December 2025
C-Suite Perspectives
In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Dana Peterson and Allen Li unpack the latest and the surprisingly strong Q3 US GDP report. US consumer confidence edged lower in December, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline and ending the year on a cautious note. While confidence improved after the federal government shutdown ended, expectations for the next six months remain weak, at levels that are often associated with rising recession risk. On the upside, Q3 GDP grew at a 4.3% annualized rate, well above expectations. Strong...
info_outline
Sustainability that Boosts Profits
C-Suite Perspectives
Only 33% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic gets recycled in the US. What are the obstacles, and how can businesses contribute to greater plastics sustainability and circularity? Join Alex Heil and guest John Galt, chairman and former CEO of Husky Technologies, to learn about designing an extended producer responsibility system, why most microplastics originate in vehicle tires and city dust, and how businesses can reduce “material tourism” to save money and increase sustainability. ...
info_outlineThe global economy is slowing — but is it a recession, stagflation, or just a soft patch? In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland speaks with Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist at The Conference Board, about the latest forecast for the US and world economies.
They break down:
-
Why US growth in 2025 will feel sluggish
-
The role of tariffs, inflation, and labor markets
-
Outlooks for Europe, China, India, and beyond
-
The Fed’s next moves on interest rates
-
How “gray swans” and AI could reshape the decade ahead
This episode was recorded on September 16, 2025.
For more from The Conference Board: