CEO Perspectives

Globalization is being rewritten as geopolitics, trade, and industrial policy collide. Shifting alliances are reshaping markets, supply chains, and the balance of economic power. 

In this episode, Steve Odland of The Conference Board, speaks with Maria Demertzis about what these shifts mean for corporate decision-makers. Together, they share how business leaders can adapt to rising uncertainty and build resilience in a fragmented world. 

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Companies in the S&P 500 are increasingly disclosing AI-related risks. Find out what this means for C-Suite leaders and boards. 

More than 70% of the S&P 500 disclosed material AI risks in 2025, up from only 12% in 2023. What are the biggest AI-related risks for these companies, and how can they integrate AI into governance and risk frameworks? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, principal researcher at the Governance & Sustainability Center of The Conference Board, to discover why AI disclosures have soared since 2023, the challenges of divergent regulations in the EU and US, and why AI further complicates cybersecurity. 

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The modern workplace is being reshaped by a sweeping "whole-of-government" approach to policy, enforcement, and regulation. From diversity and inclusion to AI and immigration, the Administration's actions are influencing how both federal and private employers manage compliance, talent, and organizational risk. 

In this episode, Steve Odland speaks with Camille Olson, partner at Seyfarth, about what this evolving landscape means for business leaders. They explore how executive orders, agency directives, and litigation trends are redefining the boundaries between public policy and corporate governance. 

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What does the latest Consumer Confidence Index reveal about the economy's true pulse amid a prolonged government shutdown? 

In this episode, host Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist and Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, talks with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators, both of The Conference Board, about the latest Consumer Confidence Index results and the ongoing federal government shutdown. 

They discuss how Americans are feeling about the economy, inflation, and the job market; early signs for the 2025 holiday shopping season; and what the shutdown means for growth, data, and consumers. 

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"This is a self-inflicted wound on our economy," says former Congressman Ron Klein. 

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, CEO of The Conference Board, sits down with Klein to unpack the ongoing US government shutdown: what it really means, who it affects, and how it might end. Together, they explore the technical mechanics behind a shutdown, the political dynamics fueling it, and the ripple effects across the economy and private sector. 

Executives should monitor the shutdown's downstream effects on consumer confidence, supply chains, and federal partnerships. Klein underscores that resolution will come—but the longer the impasse, the broader the economic and social toll. 

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In just a few decades, corporate sustainability has grown into a core corporate function, particularly at publicly traded companies. What is the state of corporate sustainability in 2025, and how will it evolve in the coming decade? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, principal researcher at The Conference Board's Governance & Sustainability Center, to find out what "corporate sustainability" means, why most companies are embracing a hybrid model, and where sustainability leaders see the function evolving next. 

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Learn what the latest research on US shareholder activism can teach CEOs and boards. 

Activism has evolved from a niche effort to a mainstream investment strategy, with campaigns in the US quadrupling since 2018. Learn how activists are targeting not only small-cap firms but increasingly large S&P 500 companies, using sophisticated communication strategies and exempt solicitations to influence boards. 

Join Steve Odland and guest Matteo Tonello, Head of TCB Benchmarking and Analytics at The Conference Board, to find out what's behind the surge in activism campaigns, how companies are being targeted, the increasing scrutiny of CEOs (including gender bias), and how boards can prepare and respond effectively. 

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