C-Suite Perspectives

Learn what our C-Suite Outlook 2026 reveals for marketing and communications executives. 

  

CEOs and CMOs agree: Boosting profitability through business model changes is a top priority this year, according to The Conference Board C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey. But how should marketing leaders drive that profitability growth? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Ivan Pollard, leader of the Marketing & Communications Center at The Conference Board, to find out what CEOs, CMOs and CCOs are prioritizing this year, why agentic commerce is the next emerging trend, and why customer experience becomes more important as you automate interactions. 

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

C-Suite Outlook 2026 


CMOs' 2026 Growth Plans: Advancing the C-Suite Agenda 


Today's CMO: AI Savvy and Skills Focused

Finding skilled talent remains difficult. Find out how CEOs and CHROs plan to develop their workforce this year. 

  

Nearly 37% of CEOs say finding qualified workers is a challenge, according to the C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey by The Conference Board. How have labor challenges evolved since the Great Resignation, and what can CEOs do to attract and keep skilled talent in 2026? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center leader at The Conference Board, to find out why AI requires HR to rethink job roles and skills sets, how CEOs and CHROs rank priorities such as productivity and organizational transformation, and which policy issues HR leaders are monitoring. 

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

Uncertainty and Opportunity: The CEO Playbook for 2026 


The CEO Outlook for 2026—Uncertainty, Risks, Growth & Strategy 


Transforming Organizations for AI: Critical Factors for AI Success

Consumer confidence has plummeted. What does it mean for the economy? 

 

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® fell sharply in January, from 94.2 in December to 84.5. Consumers' assessment of both current business and labor market conditions, and their short-term outlook of the same, fell by 9.9 and 9.5 points, respectively, to 65.1, well below the threshold of 80 that typically signals a recession ahead. 

 

Write-in responses showed a continuation in references to prices and inflation, oil and gas prices, and food and grocery prices. Mentions of tariffs and trade, politics, and the labor market also rose in January. 

 

Join Dana M. Peterson and guest Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, to find out what's behind consumers' thinking and the current state of US trade. 

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

US Consumer Confidence 


Forecast for the US Economy 


Global Economic Outlook

Find out how governance and sustainability are evolving, including what's next for ESG. 

  

Change is coming for governance leaders, whether it's the evolution of ESG, the risks around AI, or an increased focus on strategic execution. How can these executives adapt in this rapidly changing and uncertain environment? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Brian Campbell, leader of the US Governance & Sustainability Center and general counsel at The Conference Board, to find out why ESG is becoming more disciplined, why AI presents both opportunities and risks, and why revenue growth is increasingly part of the governance team's remit. 

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

C-Suite Outlook 2026 


CEO and C-Suite ESG Priorities for 2026 


2026: A Year in Preview

CEOs are increasingly at risk, both physically and digitally. Find out what's new in corporate risk preparedness. 

  

The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024 has forced companies to rethink their executive security posture, both in terms of physical and digital security. How can companies and boards assess their security readiness? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Bill Udell, CEO of Control Risks' Americas region, to learn about how executive security has evolved in recent years, the biggest gaps in risk preparedness, and why AI and deepfakes only complicate the security challenges. 

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

CEO and Executive Compensation Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2025 


Report: Women CEOs Outearn Men, and Companies Increase CEO Security Packages 


AI Risk Disclosures in the S&P 500: Reputation, Cybersecurity, and Regulation