C-Suite Perspectives

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 

2026 is almost here. Find out what risks CEOs are prioritizing in the year ahead.     CEOs have had to spend much of this year dealing with the fallout from tariffs and a government shutdown, but those challenges are far from resolved. What are the biggest risks CEOs are thinking about as the new year approaches?     Join Steve Odland and guest David Young, president of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board, to find out why tariffs will continue regardless of the Supreme Court decision, the increasing challenge of US fiscal debt and deficits, and how organizations can lean into AI.     For more from The Conference Board:  Tariff Tracker  Global Gray Swans Tool  What Business Leaders Need to Know About Global Trade