C-Suite Perspectives

China remains one of the most essential -- and complex -- markets for global companies. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, host Steve Odland sits down with David Hoffman, Senior Advisor and China Center Leader at The Conference Board, to unpack what's really happening on the ground. 

Fresh from a three-week visit to Beijing and Shanghai, David shares a nuanced view of a market in transition: slower growth, ongoing real estate challenges, and a policy environment that is becoming less market driven. Yet, despite these headwinds, China continues to offer unmatched scale, a deeply capable supply chain, and increasingly rapid innovation cycles that make it indispensable for companies competing globally. 

The conversation also explores the rising strength of Chinese competitors, whose gains in design, quality, and cost are reshaping industries worldwide. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tension and trade frictions, companies are adapting through "China for China" strategies: localizing operations to build resilience while navigating a more fragmented global landscape. 

For more from The Conference Board: 

All China Center Research 


China Economy Watch 


China Consumption Quarterly Roundup

In this episode, Brian Campbell, leader of the Governance & Sustainability Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Blair Jones and Greg Arnold, managing directors at Semler Brossy, to examine the evolving role of the board in CEO selection and transition. Drawing on recent research, they discuss internal versus external hires, the signaling challenges boards face, and how disciplined succession planning can protect long-term value and organizational resilience. 

More from The Conference Board:  

CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2025 Edition 


CEO Insight Minute: How Are CEO Succession Trends Shifting in 2025? 


CEO Succession and Representation of Women in European Companies 


CEO Succession Practices in the Russell 3000 and S&P 500: 2024 Edition

As climate extremes intensify, resilient infrastructure is no longer a future consideration; it is a present-day imperative. 

Alex Heil, senior economist at The Conference Board, speaks with Greg Stonehouse, chief strategy officer at HDR, about how infrastructure design is evolving in response to rising climate risk. From transportation and water systems to health care and energy facilities, they explore how resilience is becoming a core design parameter rather than an add-on. 

The conversation examines the economics of resilient investment, the growing role of nature-based solutions, advances in data and real-time system controls, and how cross-sector collaboration is reshaping the future of infrastructure. 

For more from The Conference Board: 

At the Climate Crossroads: US Corporate Commitments 10 Years After Paris Accord 


Extreme Impacts: Severe Weather Events Create Growing Risks for US Businesses 


Rising Stakes: Climate Impacts Worsen as World Set to Miss Paris Agreement Goals 


Window On: The Business Impact of Intensifying Natural Disasters 


Flooding Is Getting Worse. What Should Businesses Do?

New global data reveals strong employee support for diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)—but also a widening gap between how leaders view progress and how workers experience it. 

 

Allan Schweyer, principal researcher in the Human Capital Center, speaks with Marion Devine, principal researcher, Human Capital Europe, and Matthew Maloof, researcher, Human Capital Center, about findings from a survey of more than 1,300 employees across the US, Europe, and Asia. 

 

They explore why managers are the make-or-break factor in DEI success, how regional attitudes differ, and what senior leaders can do to strengthen credibility in a climate of political and cultural pushback. 

 

For more from The Conference Board:  

Bridging International Perspectives: Exploring DEI 


Evidence Over Optics: Proving the Impact of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 


Advancing Opportunity and Access: Linking DEI to Business Outcomes 


A Tale of Two Continents: The Impact of US DEI Policy on European Businesses

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® increased by 2.2 points in February to 91.2 (1985=100), from an upwardly revised 89.0 in January. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—decreased by 1.8 points to 120.0 in February. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—rose by 4.8 points to 72.0. 

 

Join Dana M. Peterson and guest Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, to find out what's behind consumers' expectations for the future, and where CEOs are focusing their growth efforts this year. 

 

For more from The Conference Board: 

US Consumer Confidence 


C-Suite Outlook 2026 


Forecast for the US Economy 


Global Economic Outlook