Consumer expectations for six months in the future continued to worsen in November, and confidence fell to its second-lowest level this year. Will holiday spending turn the tide on this rising pessimism? Join Dana M Peterson, Chief Economist and Center Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, and Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, both of The Conference Board, to find out how consumers are approaching holiday shopping this year, whether and how tariffs are factoring into their spending, and why health care costs are increasingly top of mind. For more from The Conference Board: US Consumer Confidence Forecast for the US Economy Global Economic Outlook
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26:05
How AI Coaching Is Redefining Leadership Development
AI is redefining what effective leadership development looks like. Coaching, once limited to the few, can now reach the many, empowering managers and employees alike. Diana Scott welcomes Allan Schweyer, both of The Conference Board, to discuss how embedding AI coaches into daily workflows is redefining employee development, scaling mentorship, and enabling organizations to cultivate a more agile and emotionally intelligent workforce. For more from The Conference Board: A Coach for Every Worker: Scaling Access and Performance with AI Does AI Coaching Work? Activating the AI Coach: Effective Implementation Strategies for CHROs
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27:43
What Business Leaders Need to Know About the Global Trade Shake-Up
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. For more from The Conference Board: Dutch Government Intervenes on Nexperia, Rewriting Europe's Geoeconomic Playbook Europe's Financial Independence Needs Derisking, Not Decoupling How Decision-Makers Can Prepare for Fundamental Uncertainty in Today's World
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27:04
Are Companies Paying Enough Attention to AI Risks?
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. For more from The Conference Board: AI Risk Disclosures in the S&P 500: Reputation, Cybersecurity, and Regulation How Should Companies Approach Reputation Building in the AI Era? A Coach for Every Worker: Scaling Access and Performance with AI
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28:39
How the Administration Aims to Change the Workplace
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. For more on this topic: To H-1B or Not to H-1B: That Is the Policy Question Is ICE Coming for Your Workers? No, DEI Is Not Banned: A C-Suite Guide to Navigating the Legal Landscape in 2025 Workplace Governance Under the Trump Administration (Seyfarth)
Welcome to C-Suite Perspectives, a podcast series by The Conference Board. Hosted by our President & CEO, Steve Odland, this weekly conversation will take an objective, data-driven look at a range of business topics aimed at executives. Listeners will come away with what The Conference Board does best: insights for what's ahead™.