C-Suite Perspectives

Consumer confidence has ticked up slightly but remains low in the face of tariffs, spiking prices and war. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® edged up in March to 91.8 (1985=100), from 91.0 in February. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—increased by 4.6 points to 123.3. The Expectations Index—based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—declined by 1.7 points to 70.9. While not obvious in the headline or its component indexes, the weight of rising costs due to tariff passthrough and spiking oil prices was evident among other measures in the survey like inflation expectations. Join Yelena Shulyatyeva and guest Allen Li, Associate Economist, The Conference Board, to find out what's behind consumers' current and future expectations. For more from The Conference Board: US Consumer Confidence Forecast for the US Economy Global Economic Outlook

In this episode, Dana Peterson, leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance (ESF) Center at The Conference Board, speaks with Malala Lin, economic research associate at the ESF Center, about new research on shifting consumer habits. They explore the widespread move toward value seeking, how strategies differ across income groups, and what these changes signal for businesses planning in an uncertain environment. More from The Conference Board: Cutting Back and Making Trade-offs: How Consumers Are Managing Food Costs How Are Consumers Paying for Health Care? Will E-Wallets and Deferred Payments Overtake Cash and Credit Cards? Fur Babies: How Are US Consumers Financing Veterinary Care?

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

Greg Stonehouse, Chief Strategy Officer at HDR and infrastructure resilience expert, discusses how rising climate risk is reshaping design. He covers shifting design assumptions, resilience across roads, water, and energy, the economics of nature-based solutions, translating climate data into decisions, and innovations like AI and real-time controls.

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

Malala Lin, Economic Research Associate at The Conference Board, shares crisp analysis of the US Consumer Confidence Index. She explains why expectations rose even as present conditions softened. Short takes cover business, labor and income outlooks, demographic splits in sentiment, buying plans for goods and homes, and consumer worries like inflation, stocks, and interest rates.

Dr. Lori Esposito-Murray, a global affairs consultant and former CFR senior fellow, outlines Ukraine’s deep historical roots and why competing origin stories matter. She walks through the war’s evolution into attrition, Russia’s infrastructure attacks, sanctions and shifting alliances. She also maps possible futures: frozen conflict, escalation, or a negotiated settlement.

Andrew Jones, Principal Researcher at The Conference Board's Governance & Sustainability Center, studies AI governance and its environmental impacts. He explores AI’s dual lenses: managing AI’s own footprint and using AI to advance sustainability. The conversation covers data center energy and local impacts, hardware turnover and e-waste, and how AI can deliver measurable sustainability ROI.

Dana Etra, Managing Director and head of FW Cook’s Boston office, offers expert perspective on CEO and executive pay. She discusses rising CEO pay driven by stock awards. She explains reported versus realized pay, why equity dominates governance strategy, the reframing of perquisites as risk mitigation, evolving say-on-pay practices, and upcoming SEC disclosure changes.