C-Suite Perspectives

Learn how recessions are defined and the current risk of the US economy entering one.     If your GDP growth slows to a mere 1%, history tells us to watch out—negative growth is on the way. How likely is the US to face a recession this year, and how can we tell if that’s happening?     Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior US Economist at The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out the "official" definition of a recession, why inflation and growth patterns could diverge, and why uncertainty remains a key risk.     (01:21) Indicators of a Recession (02:46) Official vs. Unofficial Views on Recession (04:44) Current Economic Situation (06:02) Impact of Layoffs and Employment (15:36) Stagflation Concerns   For more from The Conference Board:  Global Forecast Update  Economic Forecast for the US Economy   The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US Fell Further in February 

The US economy will growin 2025–26, but tariffs and other factors are dampening expectations.     The US economy is expected to grow by 2.0% this year and 1.7% in 2026, according to The Conference Board—both revised down from previous projections. What’s driving this pessimism about economic growth, and could stagflation become a serious risk?    Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior US Economist at The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out what's driving this economic uncertainty, how tariffs could affect GDP and inflation, and why The Conference Board expects the Federal Reserve to make three rate cuts in 2025.      (00:21) Overview of the U.S. Economic Forecast (01:10) Factors Influencing GDP Growth (02:42) Consumer Confidence and Spending (05:42) Labor Market Projections (10:12) Inflation and Stagflation Concerns (12:05) Federal Reserve's Rate Decisions (17:25) Impact of Tariffs on the Economy (20:46) Global Economic Outlook   For more from The Conference Board:  Global Forecast Update  Tariff Tracker  What’s Behind Conflicting US CEO & Consumer Confidence Readings? 

Find out what corporate responsibility looks like as part of a company’s core strategy.     For Webster Bank —a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards—philanthropy, community investment, sustainability, and government affairs are all part of the corporate responsibility bailiwick. What does exemplary corporate responsibility look like, and how can companies do this work while furthering business goals and serving all stakeholders?     Join Steve Odland and guest Marissa Weidner, chief corporate responsibility officer at Webster Bank, to find out how Webster Bank practices corporate responsibility, why responsibility creates accountability, and what the bank’s Finance Lab is doing.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have gone beyond making public sustainability commitments to fully integrate sustainability into their business strategies, creating measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, society, and the environment.    (00:41) Marissa's Career Journey (02:10) Webster Bank's Corporate Responsibility Strategy (03:33) Community Investment Strategy (04:54) Integration of Corporate Responsibility and Business Strategy (06:31) Navigating ESG and Political Challenges (10:43) Environmental Initiatives at Webster Bank (12:49) Social Responsibility and Community Engagement (21:51) Future of Corporate Responsibility at Webster Bank   For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner  The Conference Board Honors Medtronic and Webster Bank With 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards  How Financial Services Companies are Using AI to Innovate 

What did the recent AI Summit reveal about the state of AI, including the energy problem?     The recent AI Summit in Paris raised key issues about AI regulation—and saw the US and UK refuse to sign on to the declaration.     Generative AI is becoming autonomous—not only performing assigned tasks but figuring out how best to achieve goals. How likely is a “Terminator” scenario, and how should the world address important issues such as energy use, regulation, and deepfakes?     Join Steve Odland and guest Ivan Pollard, Center Leader for Marketing & Communications at The Conference Board, to learn the difference between generative AI and autonomous AI, the potential dangers of unchecked AI, and why the US and UK refused to sign on to the recent Paris declaration.     (00:33) Defining AI and Large Language Models (01:57) Generative and Autonomous AI (04:37) AI Safety and Global Conferences (07:05) Regulation and Innovation Balance (08:37) Potential Dangers of AI (13:35) Machine Learning and Bioethics (18:26) AI in Intellectual Property (23:32) Sustainability and Energy Concerns (25:46) Future of AI and Conclusion   For more from The Conference Board:  What the Paris AI Summit Means for US Innovation  As AI Comes into Play, Business Models Will Change  Policy Alert: Rescinding AI Safety Executive Order 

Tariffs on goods imported from the US’ largest three trading partners—Canada, Mexico, and China—will result in 0.6% rise in US inflation over four quarters, The Conference Board modeling shows. Consumers will definitely feel the bite in the short term, but will the administration’s long-term strategy pay off?     Join Steve Odland and guest Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, to find out why reshoring is more complicated than it sounds, when “made in the USA” may not be, and how some negotiating tools may really just be…negotiating tools.    (00:59) Understanding Tariffs: Basics and Definitions (02:08) The Impact of Tariffs on the U.S. Economy (03:05) Tariffs as a Negotiation Tool (03:56) Global Trade and Tariff Strategies (05:07) Inflation and Consumer Impact (09:31) Reshoring and Supply Chain Challenges (15:59) China vs. North America: Different Tariff Strategies (21:43) Business Strategies Amid Tariff Uncertainty   For more from The Conference Board:  Impact of Tariffs on Three Largest US Trading Partners  US Tariff Plan Would Cut GDP Growth, Swell Inflation   The State of the Economy for February 2025  Steel and Aluminum Tariffs Will Hike Costs    

In February, consumer confidence saw its third month-on-month decline, sliding 7 points to 98.3, the steepest decline since August 2021. Additionally, consumers’ short-term outlook for the economy fell below 80, which usually signals a recession ahead, for the first time since June 2024.     Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist, and Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators, both at The Conference Board, unpack what’s behind declining consumer sentiment, including survey respondents' write-in responses, and how it could shape economic growth this year.  (00:30) February U.S. Consumer Confidence Survey Insights (01:08) CEO Confidence vs. Consumer Confidence (02:15) Detailed Breakdown of Consumer Confidence Components (04:49) Consumer Inflation Expectations (06:43) Consumer Spending and Market Expectations (14:40) Global Economic Outlook (15:20) U.S. Economic Forecast for 2025 (18:20) Impact of Tariffs on the Economy   For more from The Conference Board:  US Consumer Confidence Retreated in January  Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report  Are You Optimistic About the Economy? Most CEOs Are 

Learn why CEOs are much more optimistic about the economy in the new year.     CEO confidence is up 9 points from Q4 2024, signaling a shift to confident optimism among CEOs.    The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence™ reached 60 in Q1 2025—marking the highest reading in three years. What’s driving these gains, and what does that mean for investment and capital spending?     Join Steve Odland and guest Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at The Conference Board, to learn about the biggest perceived risks, what's next for hiring, and why we’re in an unusual period of high uncertainty and high CEO confidence.     (01:57) CEO Confidence and Economic Outlook (05:18) Labor Market Insights (08:41) Impact of Policy and Uncertainty (11:51) Capital Spending and Investment Plans (14:33) Risks and Challenges Ahead   For more from The Conference Board:  CEO Confidence Increased Sharply in Q1 2025  C-Suite Outlook 2025: Seizing the Future  The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US Declined in January 

AT&T Chief Sustainability Officer Charlene Lake shares how the company adds value to society, communities, and the company all at once.     AT&T—a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards—wants to reduce its business customers’ emissions by 1 gigaton by 2035—the equivalent of 1.6 billion cross-country flights. How is AT&T making sure its corporate responsibility effortsbenefitthe company and societyin the short and long term?      Join Steve Odland and guest Charlene Lake, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate Responsibility at AT&T, to find out how the company designs corporate responsibility programs, why replacing copper wiring reduces energy use, and how to measure the success of these efforts.    The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have gone beyond making public sustainability commitments to fully integrate sustainability into their business strategies, creating measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, society, and the environment.    (00:51) Meet Charlene Lake: AT&T's Chief Sustainability Officer (02:07) Evolution of Corporate Responsibility (02:49) AT&T's Approach to Corporate Responsibility (03:15) Balancing Multiple Stakeholders (05:11) AT&T's Digital Divide and Environmental Goals (06:10) Integrating Corporate Responsibility into Business Strategy (17:25) Climate Resilience and Community Engagement (25:11) Leveraging AI and Technology for Sustainability

The ceasefire in Gaza hangs in the balance as President Donald Trump’s proposal forces all sides to rethink the region’s future.     The conflict in Gaza has displaced 90% of the population, with President Donald Trump proposing to take over the region and resettle nearly 2 million Gazans elsewhere. What does Trump’s proposal mean for negotiations, and how can all sides broker a lasting peace between the Palestinians and Israelis?     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 and a CED trustee, to find out the current state of the pause in fighting, how the world reacted to Trump’s proposal, and what obstacles remain to a permanent ceasefire.    (00:41) Overview of Gaza's History (02:32) Hamas' Rise to Power (03:16) Current Governance and Control (06:20) The October 7th Attack (07:47) The Aftermath and Ceasefire (11:15) US Proposal for Gaza (13:55) Reactions to the Proposal (19:12) Challenges and Alternatives (28:47) Conclusion and Final Thoughts   For more from The Conference Board:  2025 Outlook for Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy  Corporate Citizenship Responses to the Israel–Hamas Conflict: One Year Later  The (Unfortunate) Need for a Corporate Playbook to Respond to War 

Our C-Suite Outlook 2025 survey reveals the year’s priorities for each letter of ESG.     CEOs around the world rank sustainability and climate events as their top two ESG priorities for 2025, and more than 80% of S&P 500 companies say climate change is a risk factor. How can companies manage ESG-related risks while meeting the evolving expectations of stakeholders?     Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, a senior researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center, to find out why climate events are a key risk factor, the challenges of meeting disparate reporting regulations, and why US CEOs are especially worried about water.     For more from The Conference Board:  C-Suite Outlook 2025: Seizing the Future  CEOs Recognize Economic Opportunity and Education as Essential Social Priorities  Climate Resilience Gaining Momentum as an Environmental Priority