The average CEO’s tenure is declining, especially at smaller companies. How can boards reassess their approach to CEO succession planning given the increasing complexities of the job and the rise in activist stakeholders?     Join Steve Odland and guest Blair Jones, Managing Director at Semler Brossy, to discover the latest insights on CEO succession, the progress being made on gender equity, and why boards should have an emergency succession plan before a crisis strikes.    (01:20) CEO Tenure Trends (05:11) Internal vs External Succession (07:55) Gender Diversity in CEO Roles (13:43) Emergency Succession Planning (19:45) Interim CEO and Board Roles (25:03) Activist Attacks on Female CEOs (28:40) Trends in CEO Compensation   For more from The Conference Board:  CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2024 Edition  Reworking Succession Management Strategies for Today's Leaders  US Public Company CEOs Are Getting Younger 

DEI isn't dead, but senior executives are recognizing the need to reevaluate these programs.     Despite the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), 80% of senior executives say they’ll adjust their DEI strategies rather than scale them back. How can businesses create effective DEI programs that align with core values and follow the law?     Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, to find out how companies can rethink DEI, measure the success of these initiatives, and achieve better outcomes for all employees.    (00:52) Defining DEI and Its Objectives  (02:00) Supreme Court Ruling and Its Impact  (04:44) Adjusting DEI Tactics  (11:23) Strategic Changes in DEI Programs (18:52) Data-Driven DEI Decisions  (25:25) Future of DEI in a Diverse Society   For more from The Conference Board:  For Corporate DEI, Elections Sometimes Have Consequences  DEI Under Pressure  Beyond Backlash: The Continued Benefits of DEI at Work 

CEO pay isn’t just salary: There’s also bonuses, stock awards, stock options, and perks. What does the latest report on executive compensation from The Conference Board tell us about pay trends — and the boards that set compensation levels?     Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Etra, managing director and head of the Boston office at FW Cook, to dispel public misconceptions about CEO pay, discuss the latest trends and regulations, and explain why corporate jets are suddenly so popular.     (01:14) Understanding CEO Compensation (04:08) Market Dynamics and Executive Pay (06:22) Components of Executive Compensation (07:32) Evolution of Compensation Practices (14:12) The Role of Independent Directors (17:48) Trends in Non-Financial Metrics (19:04) Perks and Pay Ratios   For more from The Conference Board:  CEO and Executive Compensation Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500  Compensation Committee Chairs Feel the Pain from Low Say-on-Pay Votes  Executive Compensation: 2025 Event 

Chief marketing officers (CMOs) are the growth engine for businesses, yet 50% of CEOs and CMOs don’t agree on success metrics. How can CMOs align with CEOs on expectations, speak the same language as CFOs, and drive revenue growth?     Join Steve Odland and guest Denise Dahlhoff, PhD, Director of Marketing & Communications Research at The Conference Board, to discover where CEOs and CMOs differ on expectations, what metrics matter most, and how CMOs can communicate marketing's value to key stakeholders.    (00:57) Understanding the Roles of CEO and CMO (03:55) The Critical CEO-CMO Relationship (05:15) Challenges in CEO and CMO Tenure (08:02) Expectations and Gaps Between CEOs and CMOs (12:23) Aligning Marketing with Financial Goals (16:40) Risk Management in Marketing Strategies (18:36) The Multi-constituency Approach in Corporations (21:12) Fostering Collaboration Across the C Suite   For more from The Conference Board:  CEOs Expectations of the CMO  Reflecting on Cannes Lions 2024: Takeaways for CMOs  Corporate Communications: Driving the Business Forward (Event) 

Consumer confidence saw the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, according to the latest The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®. The index registered 108.7 in October, up from 99.2 in September, after consumers’ assessment of current business conditions and job availability, plus future business conditions, income and job availability all climbed this month.    Join Erik Lundh and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, to find out where consumers stand on the labor market, spending and inflation ahead of next week’s US elections.    (00:32) October Consumer Confidence Insights (01:35) Demographic Breakdown of Confidence (02:19) Expectations for Employment and Recession (03:36) Inflation and Interest Rates (06:31) Impact of Elections and Hurricanes (08:34) Holiday Buying Plans (11:42) Consumer Confidence and Economic Outlook (16:34) Global Economic Overview (25:42) Emerging Markets and Interest Rates   For more from The Conference Board:  US Consumer Confidence Bounced Back in October  Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report 

We're in a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, with over 60% of senior executives calling the environment “very” or “extremely” challenging right now. How can businesses critically evaluate their DEI programs without necessarily abandoning these efforts?     Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, senior researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center, to explore The Conference Board's new report, the rise in DEI-related shareholder proposals, and how companies can recalibrate DEI in their workplace policies and marketing.     (00:49) Understanding DEI: Basics and Definitions (03:24) The Evolution of DEI in Corporate America (05:15) DEI Under Pressure: Challenges and Backlash (06:56) The Supreme Court Decision and Its Impact (09:16) Navigating the Pendulum Swing in DEI (10:31) Balancing Stakeholder Interests in DEI (16:16) Adapting DEI Strategies in a Changing World (23:40) Philanthropy and DEI: Legal Challenges (29:09) Terminology and Future of DEI   For more from The Conference Board:  A New Era of Scrutiny for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion  2024 Proxy Season Review: Corporate Resilience in a Polarized Landscape 

Top CEOs remain wary about the economy despite a strong Q3. What's holding them back?     CEO confidence dipped in Q4, as measured by The Conference Board, with most CEOs saying conditions have worsened in the past six months. Why hasn’t recent economic data buoyed CEOs’ spirits, and what concerns them most as we head into 2025?      Join Steve Odland and guest Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, to find out what we can learn from the latest Measure of CEO Confidence™, how CEOs plan to address headcount and wages next year, and why cybersecurity and geopolitics remain the top two risks.    01:02 Current CEO Confidence Levels 02:44 Economic Forecasts and CEO Sentiments 04:04 Consumer Behavior and Housing Market Insights 06:46 Business Investment and Election Uncertainty 09:09 Labor Market Conditions and Skill Shortages 11:17 Labor Shortages and Wage Increases 12:24 Economic Adjustments Post-Pandemic 13:16 Consumer Spending and CEO Confidence 15:43 Remote Work Trends 18:45 Key Risks for CEOs      For more from The Conference Board:  CEO Confidence Survey  The Conference Board Economic Forecast for the US Economy  US Consumer Confidence 

Russia and Ukraine. China and Taiwan. The Middle East. As the US approaches Election Day, international relations – and how each Presidential candidate would approach them – are more important than ever.    Join Steve Odland and Lori Esposito Murray, former president of the Committee for Economic Development and current senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out where the presidential candidates stand on US engagement around the world, alliances and immigration.    For more from The Conference Board:  The Presidential Candidates on Trade  Where Candidates Stand on Debt, Deficits and Labor  Trade, Taxes and Tariffs – An Overview of Presidential Positions 

Consumption represents nearly 70% of US GDP, making trade policy integral to economic growth. But each US presidential candidate has expressed different trade policies that would affect American consumers in myriad ways.    (00:39) Understanding Trade Policy (02:03) Evolution of Trade Agreements (04:58) Comparing Presidential Candidates on Trade (07:35) Tariffs and Their Implications (15:58) The Weaponization of Trade (16:23) China's Competitive Edge and Global Impact (20:21) Political and Security Concerns (24:31) Future Trade Policies and Implications   Join Steve Odland and guest Susan Schwab, former US trade representative and a strategic advisor on public policy and trade at Mayer Brown, for the third installment in our series reviewing the US presidential candidates’ positions on topics that relate directly to business.    For more from The Conference Board:  Election 2024: Trade, Taxes and Tariffs  Election 2024: Debt, Deficits and Labor 

The Presidential candidates have spoken about their policies, but what is the possible impact of those policies on the US’s fiscal health?     What is each candidate’s position on tax cuts, and how are they thinking about revenue-generating policies? How can the next President enact these policies with and without Congress? Should we be worried that neither candidate has mentioned the debt ceiling? And how could their immigration policies impact the labor market?    Join Steve Odland and guest Dana Peterson, Chief Economist at The Conference Board, as they discuss these questions and more in the signature nonpartisan approach of The Conference Board.    (00:35) Understanding Fiscal Policy (01:53) Personal Taxation and Candidate Positions (06:21) Corporate Tax Policies (09:05) Global Minimum Corporate Tax (10:57) Revenue Generating Policies and Deficit Concerns (17:14) Tariffs and Trade Policies (22:54) Immigration and Labor Market Impact (25:38) Industrial Policies and Economic Growth (33:03) Conclusion and Fiscal Responsibility   For more from The Conference Board:  Economic Forecast for the US Economy  Labor Markets Research  Economy, Strategy and Finance Center