CEO Perspectives

Only one in four governance leaders say succession planning is a top priority, even as activists press for change and many CEOs stay in their roles longer than ever. 

In this episode, host Steve Odland sits down with Bonnie Gwin, Vice Chair and Global Co-Managing Partner, CEO and Board Practice, Heidrick & Struggles, and a leading voice on governance and board effectiveness. 

Together, they unpack the risks of neglecting succession, explore best practices for director refreshment, and explain why agility and resilience are now must-have CEO traits. The conversation also highlights how boards are grappling with black swans, geopolitical turmoil, cybersecurity, and the uncertain governance of AI. 

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CVS Health is striving to improve health care delivery in five key areas: cost, quality, access, experience, and equity. What changes are necessary to ensure better outcomes across the US health care system? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Sree Chaguturu, executive vice president and president of healthcare delivery at CVS Health, to find out what value-based care looks like, why primary care needs subspecialties, and how CVS Health is meeting the different needs of different demographics across its portfolio. 

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The Federal Reserve has come under scrutiny, including uncertainty over whether the President can remove Fed governors — and under what circumstances. What does it mean to call the Federal Reserve “independent,” and how does that work in practice?  

Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, senior US Economist for The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out about the Federal Reserve’s origins, who selects Fed governors and regional presidents, and why the Fed’s independence matters to the economy. 

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Every month, Americans – both consumers and businesses -- turn to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to understand the health of the US economy and what to expect next. How can businesses and Congress support and improve the work of this agency?  

Join Steve Odland and guest Erica Groshen, former commissioner of BLS from 2013 to 2017, to find out how BLS conducts surveys, how monthly revisions work, and what's limiting the agency from being even more effective. 

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Consumer confidence mostly held steady in August – what's driving people’s current mood and spending habits? 

The latest update from The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® shows a slight dip in August, with the index slipping to 97.4 from July’s 98.7. Both the Present Situation Index and the Expectations Index fell, with expectations remaining below the recession-warning threshold of 80. 

Join Dana Peterson, Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, and Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators, The Conference Board, as they discuss: 

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Doing business in China increasingly requires an entirely different approach to supply chain, IT, government relations, and innovation. How can multinational companies operating in China evaluate the risks and opportunities—including gray swans and even black swans? 

Join Steve Odland and guest David Hoffman, China Center Leader and senior advisor for Asia at The Conference Board, to explore the difference between “complicated” and “complex,” how to win in down market operating conditions, and why managing geopolitical risks requires both the local operation and your global headquarters. 

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The average credit decision at Synchrony relies on 9,000 pieces of data. How does the company use all this information to expand credit access while giving consumers the right amount of credit at the right time? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Brian Wenzel, chief financial officer at Synchrony, to find out how the company is improving financial literacy, how Synchrony uses machine learning, AI, and other technologies to improve its offerings, and how it reset its culture through active listening and transparency. 

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