C-Suite Perspectives

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

Three years into the conflict, the Ukraine war has evolved into a brutal war of attrition—with implications far beyond the battlefield. 

 

The Conference Board CEO Steve Odland and Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, a global affairs consultant most recently with the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee for Economic Development, discuss the history underpinning the conflict, the realities on the ground, and the economic and political pressures facing both Kyiv and Moscow.  

 

From sanctions and shifting alliances to the possibility of a frozen conflict or negotiated settlement, they explore how the war is reshaping geopolitics—and what may come next. 

 

For more from The Conference Board:  

The US Critical Minerals Ministerial and Industrial Policy 


Three Years of War in Ukraine – And an Extraordinary Week 


US–Ukraine Negotiations and Possible Ceasefire 


Global Grey Swans Tool

Learn why companies need to understand AI's promise and potential drawbacks for environmental sustainability. 

  

More than 60% of companies are using AI to support or advance environmental sustainability. What are the use cases they're exploring, and how can businesses also guard against the environmental risks of AI? 

  

Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, principal researcher at the Governance & Sustainability Center of The Conference Board, to learn about the environmental impact of AI-focused data centers, how companies are capitalizing on AI for sustainability, and how sustainability leaders can demonstrate the ROI of AI applications. 

  

For more from The Conference Board: 

AI and Environmental Sustainability: Risks, Opportunities, and What Comes Next 


Exiting International Climate Pacts Will Leave The US Isolated 


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