More C-Suite leaders view their boards as effective in 2025, but numerous challenges remain, including keeping up with AI.     More than one-third (35%) of C-Suite executives surveyed by PwC and The Conference Board say their board’s effectiveness is “excellent” or “good.” What are these boards doing well, and where do they need to improve?     Join Steve Odland and guest Arielle Berlin, director of the Governance Insights Center at PwC, to find out how boards are grappling with uncertainty, why companies want boards to focus more on AI and talent, and why nearly all senior executives are calling for board refreshment.     For more from The Conference Board:  Board Effectiveness: A Survey of the C-Suite: 2025 Edition  The Evolution of Overboarding Policies  Board Practices and Composition: 2024 Edition 

In this episode, we break down the latest data from The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, released today. The numbers show a modest but notable improvement in consumer sentiment as we move through summer 2025. We explore:  Overall Confidence Ticks Up: The Consumer Confidence Index rose by 2.0 points to 97.2, rebounding from a revised June figure of 95.2. This marks the second month of stabilization following a sharp decline in April.  Mixed Views on the Present: The Present Situation Index dipped slightly to 131.5, reflecting a small deterioration in consumers' views on current business and job market conditions.  Looking Ahead:The Expectations Index saw a more significant rise—up 4.5 points to 74.4—indicating reduced pessimism about future income, employment, and business prospects. However, it remains under the 80-point threshold that typically signals looming recession risks—for the sixth month in a row. 

Learn how Clorox invested in technological innovation so it could continue delivering superior consumer experiences.  Almost 90% of US households use Clorox products, giving the company a unique window into consumer behavior during this uncertain time. How has The Clorox Company used innovation and technology to reinvent itself and respond to shifting consumer needs?  Join David Young and guest Linda Rendle, CEO and chair of Clorox, to find out about her family background in CPG, the company's ongoing digital transformation, and the state of the consumer today.  The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.   For more from The Conference Board:  CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards  CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration  US Consumer Confidence 

2025 is half over. What issues should human capital leaders focus onduring the restof the year?     In this time of rapid change, chief HR officers (CHROs) shouldfocus on issues such as AI transformation, leadership resilience, and strategic workforce planning. Whatelse made The Conference Board’s top 10 CHRO priorities for the restof 2025?    Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, center leader of the US Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, to find out why succession and workforce planning are so important, the role of reskilling and upskilling, and how to help your workforce overcome their fear of AI.    The Conference Board is profiling the top 10 priorities for crucial job functions and business units. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, we look at the top priorities for CHROs.     (00:46) Priority Number 10: Employee Well-Being (03:47) Priority Number 9: Data-Driven Workforce Decisions (06:20) Priority Number 8: Succession Planning (08:49) Priority Number 7: Reimagining Hybrid and Flexible Work (11:23) Priority Number 6: Talent Mobility and Internal Opportunities (14:00) Priority Number 5: Reskilling and Upskilling at Scale (17:01) Priority Number 4: Driving Organizational Change and Building Culture (19:00) Priority Number 3: Strategic Workforce Planning (22:02) Priority Number 2: Leadership Resilience and Agility (23:05) Priority Number 1: Leading AI and Technology Transformation      For more from The Conference Board:  The State of US Job Satisfaction  The Reimagined Workplace 2025: Managing Uncertainty  Navigating Change Fatigue in an Age of Disruption 

Learn why culture and constant innovation are essential to developing life-changing biopharma treatments. Vertex Pharmaceuticals focuses on “serial innovation” because this year’s billion-dollar blockbuster drug could become next year’s failure. How does this biopharmaceutical company recruit and onboard employees, and how does it create a culture where the best ideas thrive? Join David Young and guest Reshma Kewalramani, president and CEO at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and a recipient of the 2025 CED Distinguished Leadership Awards. You’ll learn about Kewalramani’s career path, what the company learned from developing a hepatitis C drug, and why the company welcomes in students to experiment alongside employees. The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate. For more from The Conference Board: ·         CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards ·         CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration ·         Women in STEM: Closing the Gender Gap

We've just passed the midway point of 2025 -- what are the top 10 priorities for chief marketing officers (CMOs) for the rest of the year?     CMOs have been tasked with driving growth even while they grapple with external uncertainty, widespread burnout, and the rise of AI. What else made The Conference Board’s top 10 CMO priorities for the rest of 2025?     Join Steve Odland and guest Ivan Pollard, the Marketing & Communications Center Leader at The Conference Board, to find out what we can learn from CMO surveys, why the CMO-CEO relationship matters, and why 2025 is the year AI needs to contribute to revenue growth.     The Conference Board is profiling the top 10 priorities for crucial job functions and business units. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, we look at the top priorities for CMOs.      For more from The Conference Board:  Recognition Rises for CMOs Even as Workload Saps Their Energy  Amid Turmoil, Marketers Are Worried About Their Budgets  CMO-CEO Collaboration: CEOs Want CMOs to Focus on Business Growth—Period 

Learn how General Mills takes strategy from concept into reality—all while standing for good.     General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening had the company pick 10 areas where it would “stand for good” and deliver meaningful impact, including regenerative agriculture and packaging reductions. What can other businesses learn about executing a strategy that delivers sustainable results for shareholders, customers, and the planet?     Join David Young and guest Jeff Harmening, CEO of General Mills, to find out why General Mills builds purpose into its strategy, how the company maintains its culture, and why Harmening didn’t always dream of being a CEO.    The Leadership in Challenging Times discussions feature timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.       00:32 Meet Jeff Harmening: CEO of General Mills 01:18 Jeff's Career Journey and Leadership Values 03:48 The Accelerate Strategy: Driving Sustainable Growth 06:07 Standing for Good: General Mills' Purpose and Values 08:50 A Legacy of Philanthropy and Community Impact 10:10 Focusing on Key Initiatives: From 70 to 10 10:48 Regenerative Agriculture and Environmental Goals 12:39 Building a Culture of Belonging at General Mills 15:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   For more from The Conference Board:  CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards  CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration  Purpose Shapes Corporate Reputation More Than Innovation Does 

After a brief rebound in May, consumer confidence slipped again. What changed in June—and what might it mean for the economy this summer?  The Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 93.0 from 98.4, wiping out half the gains seen last month. Consumers are feeling less optimistic across the board: both their assessment of current business and labor market conditions and their short-term expectations for income, jobs, and the economy have weakened. Pessimism about job availability and business conditions is also more pronounced than it was in May.  In this episode, Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist for Global Indicators, joins Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate, to unpack the latest data. They explore what’s driving this decline in sentiment, how it could shape consumer behavior through the summer, and the broader implications for US economic growth.    For more from The Conference Board:  US Consumer Confidence Retreats in June  Global Leading Indicators: Recession and Growth Trackers  Fed Keeps 2 Cuts in 2025, but Dumps 1 Cut in 2026 on Inflation 

Employer branding reflects your organization’s public perception—and you can measure its effectiveness.     In a world where any job candidate can see your reputation at a glance online, employer branding is essential. How is employer branding different from other branding, and how can companies measure the ROI?     Join Steve Odland and guest Erka Amursi, principal researcher in the Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, to find out the history of employer branding, the challenges in measuring ROI, and why change management can help employer branding efforts succeed.    (00:38) The Evolving Role of the CHRO (01:43) Strategic Partnership and Talent Management (03:14) CHROs in the Boardroom (07:03) Global Perspectives on Corporate Governance (08:49) Research Methodology and Insights (10:17) CHROs' Collaboration with C-Suite Members (13:04) Future Skills for CHROs (18:17) Board and CEO Support for CHROs    For more from The Conference Board:  The ROI of Employer Branding: The Case for Measurement   The ROI of Employer Branding: Approaches for Demonstrating Impact  What is the ROI of Your Employer Branding Efforts? 

Science and technology will bring more change to health care over the next decade than we saw in the past century, says Joaquin Duato, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson, and a 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award honoree. What drives his confidence, and how is the company creating this future?     Join David K. Young and Duato to discover what he has learned in 36 years at J&J, how the company innovates in science and technology, and how the company supports employees and communities.  This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED’s Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.      (04:08) Leadership Philosophy and Company Culture (06:48) Secrets to Johnson & Johnson's Longevity (09:11) Transforming Health Care with Science and Technology (12:09) Investment Strategies in Health Care Innovation (15:53) Advancing Technology and AI at Johnson & Johnson (18:38) Addressing the Global Health Care Workforce Shortfall (19:41) Ensuring Access to Health Care for Underserved Communities   For more from The Conference Board:  CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards  CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration