CEO Perspectives

Tariffs and stock market movements remained top of mind for consumers in May. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—showed modest improvement overall. Expectations for business conditions and the labor market inched up but stayed in pessimistic territory. The key bright spot was income expectations, which moved into positive territory, supported by a stronger stock market and early signs of progress on a trade deal with China. 

Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, sits down with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators, and Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist, to discuss the outlook for the US GDP, whether consumers are worried about a recession, and how the Fed might handle the current uncertainty. 

00:38 Consumer Confidence in May  

01:34 Impact of Tariffs and Financial Markets  

04:08 Consumer Expectations and Spending  

08:21 Inflation and Financial Concerns  

13:03 Changes in US and Global Economic Forecasts  

21:10 Factors Influencing Future Economic Outlook  

22:46 Conclusion and Farewell  

Get insights on the President’s polling 100 days in and how Americans view crucial domestic issues. 

The Administration’s approval rating has declined from 51% to 45% since Inauguration Day, but that's relatively in line with historical precedent. What does the President’s polling tell us about the American public today—and how they might vote in the 2026 midterms? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Clifford Young, president of polling and societal trends at Ipsos, to explore the President’s polling versus his first term, the nuances of polling on immigration and taxes, and why domestic issues matter more to Americans than foreign affairs. 

(00:55) Themes in Recent Polls: Trepidation and the President
(02:22) The Administration’s Approval Ratings and Public Perception
(07:15) Consumer Confidence and Economic Behavior
(13:46) Geopolitical Issues and Immigration

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Can President Trump get Ukraine and Russia to agree on a peace deal? If so, what happens next? 

The US administration is pushing for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but progress has been slow, and success remains uncertain. How likely is a long-term cessation of hostilities, and how could that affect Russia’s military ambitions in Europe? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, senior fellow for national security and managing director of CEO programs at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out the major issues prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war, the potential Russian threat to Finland and the Baltics, and the details of the recent US-Ukraine deal on critical minerals. 

(01:36) Occupied Regions and Military Tactics
(03:05) International Efforts and Ceasefire Attempts
(04:48) US and European Support Dynamics
(07:06) Russia's Strategic Moves in Europe
(10:06) Challenges in Peace Negotiations
(11:22) Security Guarantees and Territorial Issues
(23:52) Economic Agreements and Broader Implications

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Consumer confidence plunges to a 13-year low — is a recession next? 

Consumer confidence declined for a fifth consecutive month in April, to levels not seen since May 2020. With Americans’ spending comprising 70% of economic growth, what could their growing concerns mean for the US this year? 

Three specific expectation components – business conditions, employment prospects and future income – all dropped sharply, reflecting deep pessimism about the future. Crucially, the number of consumers expecting fewer jobs in the next six months was nearly as high as in April 2009, the middle of the “Great Recession.” Americans' concerns about the wider economy are bleeding into worries about their own personal situations.  

Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, sits down with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators, and Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist to unpack how this could shape US and global economic growth this year. 

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Your business is constantly changing, even if you don’t use the term “change management” to describe it. What does successful change management look like, and how can business leaders do this successfully in a time of uncertainty? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, Center Leader of The Conference Board'US Human Capital Center, to learn about change management’s history, how to win employee buy-in, and how HR leaders can help organizations adapt. 

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Join Steve Odlandand guest Tarang Amin, chairman and CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, to find out how e.l.f.aligns its purpose with customer values, how the companyformulatesproducts that are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, and why e.l.f. wants to make the best of beauty accessible to every eye, lip, and face. 

The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society. 

(00:35) Elf Beauty's Mission and History
(01:58) Building Brands and High-Performance Teams
(02:50) Purpose-Driven Strategy and Values
(04:51) Sustainability and Social Impact
(12:19) Innovation and Technology in Sustainability
(13:58) Global Expansion and Market Strategy
(18:19) Supply Chain and Responsible Sourcing
(23:25) Continuous Improvement and Future Goals

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China is determined to reincorporate Taiwan—raising the stakes for countries and for businesses. 

By 2027, China could be militarily capable of taking over Taiwan, backed by the world’s largest navy and a growing air force. What’s next for China-Taiwan relations, and how does their relationship affect Western businesses? 

Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, senior fellow for national security and managing director of CEO programs at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out how Taiwan got here, why China could seek to blockade or quarantine Taiwan, and what options are available to the US to deter or counter such threats. 

(01:01) China's Military Buildup
(03:41) Historical Context of China-Taiwan Relations
(04:43) Post-WWII and Civil War Dynamics
(07:38) US-China-Taiwan Relations and Policies
(09:54) Europe's Stance on Taiwan
(12:00) China's Intentions and Taiwan's Response
(15:05) Potential Conflict Scenarios
(24:02) Business Implications and Conclusion

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