C-Suite Perspectives

Learn how businesses can store and even process goods without incurring immediate tariff obligations.     The effective US tariff rate soared to 17% in 2025. What options are available to businesses that need to import goods but want to mitigate tariff burdens?     Join Alex Heil and guest Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at The Conference Board in the Economy, Strategy & Finance (ESF) Center, to find out what foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses are, how they differ from each other, and how businesses can use them wisely in this uncertain tariff environment.     For more from The Conference Board:  Supply Chain Strategies for Tariffs: Foreign Trade Zones, Bonded Warehouses  Tariff Tracker  For Manufacturers, This Old Solution May Ease Today's Tariff Troubles 

In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Dana Peterson and Allen Li unpack the latest Consumer Confidence Index® and the surprisingly strong Q3 US GDP report.  US consumer confidence edged lower in December, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline and ending the year on a cautious note. While confidence improved after the federal government shutdown ended, expectations for the next six months remain weak, at levels that are often associated with rising recession risk.   On the upside, Q3 GDP grew at a 4.3% annualized rate, well above expectations. Strong consumer spending, particularly on services and healthcare, drove much of this. Dana and Allen also discuss how data disruptions from the government shutdown may affect future revisions and what the report could mean for Q4 growth and Federal Reserve policy.  For more from The Conference Board:  Consumer Confidence Index  Robust Q3: Finding a Signal in the Noise 

Only 33% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic gets recycled in the US. What are the obstacles, and how can businesses contribute to greater plastics sustainability and circularity?  Join Alex Heil and guest John Galt, chairman and former CEO of Husky Technologies, to learn about designing an extended producer responsibility system, why most microplastics originate in vehicle tires and city dust, and how businesses can reduce "material tourism" to save money and increase sustainability.  For more from The Conference Board:  Circular Economy and Corporate Sustainability: Emerging Practices  Sustainability Under Scrutiny: Corporate ESG in an Uncertain Policy Environment  Effective Sustainability Messaging Should Tap Emotions 

What is neuro-symbolic AI, and how can it help businesses generate value in new ways?     If generative AI is a productivity engine, then neuro-symbolic AI promises to be the growth engine that turns data into business value. But what is this technology, and why should C-Suite leaders move quickly to explore its potential?     Join Ivan Pollard and guest Jeff Schumacher, Growth Platforms leader at EY-Parthenon, to find out how neuro-symbolic AI differs from other AI, how it avoids problems of inaccuracy and bias, and what we can learn from "Moneyball."      For more from The Conference Board:  Is AI Delivering? The ROI on AI  AI Search and Its Impact on Marketing  Learning for the Future: Preparing Organizations and Workers for AI Disruption 

AI is driving the next wave of corporate reinvention, moving beyond efficiency toward creativity and strategic insight. For business leaders, the question is no longer whether to use AI but how to lead with it.    In conversation with John Metselaar, The Conference Board CEO Steve Odland explores the new frontier of human-machine collaboration. The episode highlights how forward-looking leaders are using AI to improve decisions, fuel creativity, and drive growth.    For more from The Conference Board:     AI: The Next Transformation  AI Leadership Summit Event Insights  How Business Model Coherence Unlocks Value Amid the Digital Transformation