C-Suite Perspectives

Learn how Prudential Financial continues to serve all stakeholders through clarity of purpose. Prudential Financial has served its local community of Newark, New Jersey, for 150 years, and that's one reason it is a recipient of The Conference Board 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards. How does the company choose when and where to invest, and how does it scale those efforts globally? Join Steve Odland and guest Lata Reddy, senior vice president, inclusive solutions, at Prudential Financial and chair of the Prudential Foundation, to find out about Prudential's commitment to Newark, why partnerships are essential, and why the company chose "inclusive solutions" as the best title to describe their corporate responsibility mission. The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have moved beyond public commitments to fully integrate responsible business practices into their core strategies, driving measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, and society. (01:25) Prudential's Legacy in Newark (02:36) Newark's Evolution and Prudential's Role (06:38) Global Impact and Local Prioritization (10:51) Employee Engagement and Volunteerism (16:29) Inclusive Solutions and Corporate Strategy (20:49) Looking Ahead: Future Strategies For more from The Conference Board: 2025 Corporate Responsibility Summit 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner Infusing Community Needs into Products and Services: Lessons from Prudential

Learn how companies can evolve their philanthropy in a divided political climate while staying true to their values. Most companies in 2025 are focusing their social efforts on economic opportunity and education, according to The Conference Board C-Suite Outlook 2025. How is corporate philanthropy changing, especially with the rise of AI and the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives? Join Steve Odland and guest Jeff Hoffman, Acting ESG Center Leader at The Conference Board, to find out how companies can avoid scattershot giving, whether they should give directly or through an intermediary, and how to show the ROI on corporate giving. (00:36) Understanding Corporate Philanthropy and CSR (02:30) Aligning Community Strategy with Business Strategy (04:58) Best Practices for Corporate Foundations (06:29) Trends in Corporate Philanthropy for 2025 (07:33) Impact of DEI and Political Environment on Philanthropy (09:21) Geographic Shifts and Employee Volunteerism (15:11) Leveraging AI for Smarter Giving (18:34) Direct Giving vs. Intermediaries (22:49) Adapting to the Changing Political Landscape (24:10) Measuring Impact and ROI in Corporate Philanthropy For more from The Conference Board: 2025 Outlook for Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner

EV sales in the US continue to grow. Learn what needs to happen to spur further adoption. Roughly 20% of US passenger vehicles sold in 2024 were battery electric or hybrid vehicles. What's next for the EV industry, especially in the face of a changing regulatory environment and tariffson key materials such as lithium? Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Alex Heil, senior economist in the US Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to explore the future of EV growth in the US, whether EVs are price competitive with fossil fuel vehicles, and what's happening in countries such as Norway, China, and India. (00:29) Understanding Electric Vehicles (02:15) Trends in EV Adoption (03:47) Challenges of Range and Cost (06:27) Impact on the Electrical Grid (09:10) Charging Infrastructure Developments (14:06) Commercial and Freight EVs (17:33) Global EV Market Insights For more from The Conference Board: Charging Ahead: Taking Stock of the Electric Vehicle Market in the US Global EV Insights Charging Ahead: Is India's EV Adoption Plan a Model for the Developing World?

Amid potentially massive job cuts by the federal government, how should leaders manage this disruption? The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) seeks to cut hundreds of thousands of federal jobs while shrinking or eliminating many agencies. How can leaders guide the federal workforce through such disruptions, both for those affected and those who remain? Join Steve Odland and guest Diana Scott, Center Leader of the US Human Capital Center at The Conference Board, to find out how DOGE is shrinking the federal workforce, what change management looks like, and why emotional intelligence is a crucial skill for leaders right now. (00:50) Objectives and Actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) (02:16) Impact on Federal Workforce and Schedule F Reclassification (03:38) Challenges and Risks of Workforce Reduction (05:15) Advising Leaders on Managing Change (08:27) Importance of Communication and Transparency (17:51) Emotional Intelligence and Support During Change (22:07) Opportunities for the Private Sector For more from The Conference Board: Progress Under Pressure: Preparing Federal Employees for Turbulent Times Federal Worker Separations Will Impact Talent Markets: Take Advantage Current Efforts to Redefine Control of the Administrative State

Find out the latest trends in shareholder proposals—and whether they'll succeed. Shareholder proposals are at an all-time high, but support for most of these proposals has greatly declined. What's on deck for this year's proxy season, and how should corporations prepare to engage with shareholders? Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, principal researcher at The Conference Board ESG Center, to find out why proxy filings have risen, what's trending in proposals related to DEI and ESG, and why shareholders are starting to scrutinize companies' charitable donations. (02:17) Trends in Shareholder Proposals (03:08) Impact of SEC Rule Changes (04:38) Focus on Environmental and Social Issues (10:18) Mechanics of Shareholder Proposals (12:15) Corporate Governance Trends (14:57) Environmental Proposals and Investor Sentiment (18:58) Social Proposals and DEI (23:50) Emerging Issues: AI and Corporate Governance For more from The Conference Board: 2025 Proxy Season Preview The 2025 Proxy Season: Striking a Balance Shareholder Activism: Expectations for 2025

In March, consumer confidence saw its fourth month-on-month decline, with people's assessment of current business and labor market conditions, plus their short-term outlook for income, business and labor market conditions, all dropping. Crucially, consumers' optimism about future income, which had held up strongly in recent months, largely vanished, which suggests that worries about the wider economy and labor market have started to spread to people's assessments of their personal situations. Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior Economist,and Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist of Global Indicators, both of The Conference Board, unpack what's behind declining consumer sentiment, including survey respondents' write-in responses, and how it could shape consumer spending and US economic growth this year. (01:49) Detailed Breakdown of Consumer Expectations (03:24) Impact of Market Volatility (05:44) Inflation Expectations and Consumer Sentiment (06:56) Tariffs and Their Influence on Consumer Views (08:25) Positive Highlights from the Survey (14:27) Federal Reserve's Potential Actions (17:53) Key Indicators to Watch Moving Forward For more from The Conference Board: US Consumer Confidence Tumbled Again in March Download the full Consumer Confidence Survey Report How Badly Will Uncertainty Affect US GDP Growth in 2025?

Are we on the verge of a trade war? And if so, how would we get out of it? The aggressive US stance on tariffs is already affecting trade relationships with China, Canada, and Mexico, and that's before the April 2 announcements of additional tariffs. How do economists define a trade war, and how might one affect not only the US but also the global economy? Join Steve Odland and guests David Young, president of the Committee for Economic Development, the Public Policy Center of The Conference Board, and Erin McLaughlin, senior economist at The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center. They discuss the numerous ways countries wield trade wars, why trade wars create uncertainty for businesses, and why the administration's April 2 announcement on reciprocal tariffs will be pivotal. (00:43) Defining Trade Wars (03:43) Mechanisms and Effects of Trade Wars (04:37)Role of WTO and Historical Context (05:49)US Tariff Policies and Global Reactions (07:49) Economic Impacts of Tariffs (09:18) USMCA and North American Trade Relations (15:20) China's Strategy and Global Trade Dynamics (17:55) Tariffs as a Tax and Economic Implications (25:32) Conclusion and Final Thoughts For more from The Conference Board: Tariff Tracker The EU's Retaliatory Tariffs Will Hit Beef, Bourbon and More Survey: As 2025 Begins, CEOs Are Most Worried About a Trade War and Recession

Learn how recessions are defined and the current risk of the US economy entering one. If your GDP growth slows to a mere 1%, history tells us to watch out—negative growth is on the way. How likely is the US to face a recession this year, and how can we tell if that's happening? Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior US Economist at The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out the "official" definition of a recession, why inflation and growth patterns could diverge, and why uncertainty remains a key risk. (01:21) Indicators of a Recession (02:46) Official vs. Unofficial Views on Recession (04:44) Current Economic Situation (06:02) Impact of Layoffs and Employment (15:36) Stagflation Concerns For more from The Conference Board: Global Forecast Update Economic Forecast for the US Economy The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the US Fell Further in February

The US economy will growin 2025–26, but tariffs and other factors are dampening expectations. The US economy is expected to grow by 2.0% this year and 1.7% in 2026, according to The Conference Board—both revised down from previous projections. What's driving this pessimism about economic growth, and could stagflation become a serious risk? Join Steve Odland and guest Yelena Shulyatyeva, Senior US Economist at The Conference Board Economy, Strategy & Finance Center, to find out what's driving this economic uncertainty, how tariffs could affect GDP and inflation, and why The Conference Board expects the Federal Reserve to make three rate cuts in 2025. (00:21) Overview of the U.S. Economic Forecast (01:10) Factors Influencing GDP Growth (02:42) Consumer Confidence and Spending (05:42) Labor Market Projections (10:12) Inflation and Stagflation Concerns (12:05) Federal Reserve's Rate Decisions (17:25) Impact of Tariffs on the Economy (20:46) Global Economic Outlook For more from The Conference Board: Global Forecast Update Tariff Tracker What's Behind Conflicting US CEO & Consumer Confidence Readings?

Find out what corporate responsibility looks like as part of a company's core strategy. For Webster Bank —a 2025 recipient of the Corporate Responsibility Awards—philanthropy, community investment, sustainability, and government affairs are all part of the corporate responsibility bailiwick. What does exemplary corporate responsibility look like, and how can companies do this work while furthering business goals and serving all stakeholders? Join Steve Odland and guest Marissa Weidner, chief corporate responsibility officer at Webster Bank, to find out how Webster Bank practices corporate responsibility, why responsibility creates accountability, and what the bank's Finance Lab is doing. The 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards, taking place on April 23, celebrates organizations that have gone beyond making public sustainability commitments to fully integrate sustainability into their business strategies, creating measurable, positive impacts on their organizations, stakeholders, society, and the environment. (00:41) Marissa's Career Journey (02:10) Webster Bank's Corporate Responsibility Strategy (03:33) Community Investment Strategy (04:54) Integration of Corporate Responsibility and Business Strategy (06:31) Navigating ESG and Political Challenges (10:43) Environmental Initiatives at Webster Bank (12:49) Social Responsibility and Community Engagement (21:51) Future of Corporate Responsibility at Webster Bank For more from The Conference Board: 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards Dinner The Conference Board Honors Medtronic and Webster Bank With 2025 Corporate Responsibility Awards How Financial Services Companies are Using AI to Innovate