10 Priorities for Sustainability Leaders to Close Out 2025

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 

If you work in sustainability or ESG, you’re already grappling with a rapidly evolving regulatory and policy landscape, all while proving the ROI of your sustainability strategy. What other crucial issues should sustainability executives prioritize for the remainder of 2025?     Join Steve Odland and guest Andrew Jones, PhD, principal researcher at The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center, to find out how AI is affecting sustainability work, the importance of supply chain sustainability and water stewardship, and why policy changes shouldn't affect your underlying goals.     At the midway point of 2025, 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 sustainability executives.      (00:49) Priority Number 10: AI in Sustainability (02:27) Priority Number 9: Communicating and Storytelling (05:09) Priority Number 8: Integrating Sustainability into Business Operations (07:52) Priority Number 7: Biodiversity and Natural Capital (10:47) Priority Number 6: Water Stewardship and Scarcity (13:58) Priority Number Five: Supply Chain Transparency and Sustainability (16:47) Priority Number 4: Climate Strategy (18:44) Priority Number 3: Demonstrating ROI in Sustainability (20:25) Priority Number 2: Sustainability Reporting Regulations (22:28) 20:39 Priority Number 1: Navigating ESG Policy Changes   For more from The Conference Board:  Top 10 Sustainability Priorities for 2025 New Approaches to Telling Your Sustainability Story  Corporate Climate Disclosures and Practices: Risk, Emissions, and Targets  The EPA’s Deregulatory Agenda: Implications for Corporate Sustainability 

Cybersecurity has become top of mind for Fortune 500 companies, and yet attacks, breaches, and other incidents keep happening. Can companies really prevent cyber risks, and what approach should they be taking?  Join David Young and guest Jay Chaudhry, CEO, chairman, and founder of Zscaler, to find out the three lessons his parents taught him, why Zscaler has a customer obsession, and why zero trust architecture is critical for today's cyber approach.  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.     For more from The Conference Board:  CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards  CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration  CED Report on Securing Cyberspace 

Tariffs and stock market movements remained top of mind for consumers in May. The Expectations Index—based on consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions—showed modest improvement overall. Expectations for business conditions and the labor market inched up but stayed in pessimistic territory. The key bright spot was income expectations, which moved into positive territory, supported by a stronger stock market and early signs of progress on a trade deal with China.    Dana Peterson, Chief Economist and Leader of the Economy, Strategy & Finance Center at The Conference Board, sits down with Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators, and Erik Lundh, Senior Global Economist, to discuss the outlook for the US GDP, whether consumers are worried about a recession, and how the Fed might handle the current uncertainty.    00:38 Consumer Confidence in May   01:34 Impact of Tariffs and Financial Markets   04:08 Consumer Expectations and Spending   08:21 Inflation and Financial Concerns   13:03 Changes in US and Global Economic Forecasts   21:10 Factors Influencing Future Economic Outlook   22:46 Conclusion and Farewell  

Get insights on the president’s polling 100 days in and how Americans view crucial domestic issues.     President Donald Trump’s approval rating has declined from 51% to 45% since Inauguration Day, but that's relatively in line with historical precedent. What does Trump’s polling tell us about the American public today—and how they might vote in the 2026 midterms?     Join Steve Odland and guest Clifford Young, president of polling and societal trends at Ipsos, to explore Trump's polling versus his first term, the nuances of polling on immigration and taxes, and why domestic issues matter more to Americans than foreign affairs.    (00:55) Themes in Recent Polls: Trepidation and Trump (02:22) Trump's Approval Ratings and Public Perception (07:15) Consumer Confidence and Economic Behavior (13:46) Geopolitical Issues and Immigration   For more from The Conference Board:  The Next One Hundred Days—and Beyond: What Lies Ahead  Navigating Washington: Insights for Business  Unpacking 2024’s Election Polling with Ipsos’ Clifford Young 

Can President Trump get Ukraine and Russia to agree on a peace deal? If so, what happens next?     The US administration is pushing for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, but progress has been slow, and success remains uncertain. How likely is a long-term cessation of hostilities, and how could that affect Russia’s military ambitions in Europe?     Join Steve Odland and guest Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, senior fellow for national security and managing director of CEO programs at the Council on Foreign Relations, to find out the major issues prolonging the Russia-Ukraine war, the potential Russian threat to Finland and the Baltics, and the details of the recent US-Ukraine deal on critical minerals.    (01:36) Occupied Regions and Military Tactics (03:05) International Efforts and Ceasefire Attempts (04:48) US and European Support Dynamics (07:06) Russia's Strategic Moves in Europe (10:06) Challenges in Peace Negotiations (11:22) Security Guarantees and Territorial Issues (23:52) Economic Agreements and Broader Implications   For more from The Conference Board:  Analyzing the US-Ukraine Minerals Deal  Three Years of War in Ukraine – and an Extraordinary Week  The Next One Hundred Days – and Beyond: What Lies Ahead 

  As the Trump presidency enters its second 100 days, what should we expect next?     The Trump administration has had arguably the busiest first 100 days since President Franklin Roosevelt’s first term. How will the White House handle the challenges of the next hundred days, including tax legislation, the next phase of DOGE, and pivotal court cases regarding the executive branch’s autonomy?     Join Steve Odland and guest David K. Young, president of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), on what the coming months hold for the Trump presidency.     Key topics include:  Priorities for upcoming tax reform  The next phase of economic policies and initiatives (including DOGE)  Critical court cases shaping presidential authority and executive branch autonomy     (01:31) Key Policy Areas: Tax and Debt Ceiling (02:38) Understanding Reconciliation and Debt Ceiling Implications (05:05) Tariffs and International Trade Relations (06:38) Geopolitical Tensions and Trade Negotiations (16:42) The Role of the Federal Reserve and Executive Tensions (20:08) Geopolitical Concerns: South China Sea, Taiwan, and More (25:04) Congressional Actions and Budget Considerations   For more from The Conference Board:  The Next One Hundred Days—and Beyond: What Lies Ahead  Navigating Washington: Insights for Business  Reforming the Broken Federal Budget Process