State of the Economy for September 2026: Consumer Confidence Takes a Tumble

Uncertainty dominates today's business environment and can leave leaders hesitant to make decisions. But beneath this ambiguity are five certainties that offer a basis for action: China's rise, the fracturing global economy, protectionism and tariffs, technological transformation, and the end of Pax Americana. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, global affairs consultant and former President of the Committee for Economic Development—now the CEO Center—about her article The New World Order: Five Certainties Amid Uncertainty, featured in the Foreign Policy Association's book Navigating an Age of Uncertainty. Together, they examine how China is challenging Western economic and geopolitical leadership, why sanctions and competing payment systems are accelerating global fragmentation, and why tariffs are likely to remain a prominent policy tool beyond the next election. They also discuss the shift toward regional military powers as Pax Americana ends, the risks of declining transparency and international cooperation, and why business and government leaders must work together to shape global rules and standards for emerging technologies. More from The Conference Board: ·       How the National Debt Affects All Generations of Americans ·       AI Policy and Regulation in the US: What Companies Need to Know ·       Charting Pathways for US-China Economic Cooperation Amid Strategic Competition ·       Tariff Tracker

AI is advancing so quickly that companies may need to rethink their strategies every nine to 12 months. But keeping pace is not simply a matter of adopting more technology: lasting gains will require companies to redesign business processes, establish clear metrics, build secure common architectures, and treat AI as a CEO-led transformation. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with John Chambers, former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, about what business leaders can learn from the internet revolution as they navigate the faster and potentially more consequential AI era. Together, they discuss why CEOs must own AI strategy, how companies can move from experimentation to measurable pilots, and why productivity gains should fund growth and new revenue opportunities—not simply reduce headcount. They also explore the cybersecurity risks posed by agentic AI; the need to combine speed with repeatable processes and governance; and the culture, workflows, and leadership practices that will separate the next decade's winners from the companies left behind. More from The Conference Board: ·         A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign ·         From Principles for Practice: Governing AI in the Corporation ·         AI and the C-Suite: Implications for CEO Strategy in 2026 ·         Transforming Organizations for AI: Critical Factors for AI Success

After two decades of relatively flat US electricity consumption, power demand is growing again as AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing expand. Solar and battery storage can add capacity relatively quickly and economically—but lengthy development and grid-interconnection processes could prevent new power from coming online fast enough. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, speaks with David Zwillinger, CEO of DESRI, about what it will take to meet America's rising demand for reliable, affordable power. Together, they discuss why solar accounted for 54% of new US generating capacity last year and how falling battery costs are making renewable energy more attainable and attractive. They also explore the role of natural gas and other energy sources in maintaining reliability, how developers can build community support, why the business case for renewables has shifted from ESG goals to cost and speed, and what CEOs and CFOs should understand about power agreements and transferable renewable energy tax credits. More from The Conference Board: ·       Wired for AI: What US Tech Giants' Growing Energy Appetite Means for Business ·       Data Center Buildout Puts Pressure on Power Infrastructure, Input Costs ·       Can the US Grid Keep Up with the Demand for AI? ·       US Power Surge: How Businesses Can Prepare for Electricity Demand Spikes from AI

An established company can be profitable and still lose its place in the future. Avoiding that fate requires treating disruption as an opportunity, preserving what remains valuable, and renewing the organization for the next era. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, speaks with George Kurian, CEO of NetApp and a recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award, about leading an established technology company through the rise of cloud computing into AI. Together, they discuss how customer empathy informs strategy, why CEOs must be willing to say no, and how authenticity can help employees understand difficult decisions. They also explore NetApp's response to cloud computing and AI, the importance of cyber resilience and responsible risk-taking, and why business leaders should view themselves as stewards responsible for building institutions that will endure beyond their own tenure. This episode is part of the Leadership in Challenging Times series from The CEO Center at The Conference Board. The series features discussions with the business leaders who are recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Awards. 

No CEO can personally master every technological, geopolitical, and economic challenge confronting a modern organization. The leadership advantage now comes from building a system that draws on the knowledge of the entire team—and enables the business to keep transforming without depending on one person for every answer. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates and author of The Catalyst CEO, about why the traditional command-and-control model is no longer enough. Together, they explore why effective CEOs lead from the center of the organization rather than the top; how empowerment differs from abdication; and why humility, adaptability, resilience, and self-awareness are becoming essential leadership capabilities. They also discuss the board's role in transformation, how AI is changing jobs and workflows, and why CEOs must build cultures and leadership systems capable of continuous change. More from The Conference Board: ·         What Does It Really Take to Succeed in the C-Suite? ·         A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign ·         Transforming Organizations for AI: Critical Factors for AI Success ·         Shedding Light on Culture: A Framework for Board Insights

US salary increase budgets are projected to remain at 3.5% in 2027, unchanged from 2026. But stability in the headline number does not mean the workforce—or the way companies allocate compensation—is standing still. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, speaks with Diana Scott, US Human Capital Center Leader at The Conference Board, about findings from the 41st annual US Salary Increase Budgets 2026–2027 study and what they mean for business and human capital leaders. Together, they discuss why the average merit budget of 3.1% should reward performance rather than compensate for inflation; how companies can target limited pay dollars toward promotions, critical skills, retention, and equity; and why AI capabilities should be rewarded only when they create measurable business value. They also explore how automation is changing the mix of work even when overall headcount remains stable, the expanding role of CHROs in workforce transformation, and why transparency and a broader total rewards story are essential to maintaining employee trust. More from The Conference Board: ·       US Salary Increase Budgets 2026–2027 ·       The Evolving Role of the CHRO in the Boardroom ·       A Framework for Agentic AI and Work Redesign ·       Skilling for AI: Critical Factors for Navigating AI Disruption

Strategic errors rarely begin as obviously bad decisions but emerge when a strategy outlives the assumptions on which it was built—and leaders fail to recognize that disruptions or transformations have changed the game.  In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, Sara Murray, Managing Director, International at The Conference Board, speaks with Vincent Giolito, Professor of Strategy and Organization at emlyon business school and Senior Fellow at The Conference Board, about how boards can identify strategic errors before they threaten the future of the company.  They discuss why boards must continually test strategic assumptions, recognize weak signals, and understand transformation as an ongoing process rather than a single event. They also explore the competencies boards need beyond financial expertise, why directors require "progressive lenses" that let them examine both operational details and the wider business landscape, and how ruthless empathy can help boards support CEOs while still challenging them when necessary.  More from The Conference Board:   Board Readiness in 2026  Corporate Governance in an Era of Sustained Disruption  Modernizing Board Governance for Today's Risk Environment  AI Policy and Regulation in the EU: What Companies Need to Know 

US Consumer Confidence fell to 81.9 in September, marking a third consecutive monthly decline. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, The Conference Board's Eric Lundh and Allen Li examine what is driving greater consumer caution — from financial well-being and inflation concerns to signs of softer discretionary spending.  They also discuss The Conference Board's latest global economic forecast: how energy disruptions and trade uncertainty are weighing on growth; how AI investment and semiconductor demand are supporting parts of the global economy; and what to expect in the US, Asia, the Gulf region, and Europe through 2027. 

What changes when employees are not only part of a company but its owners? At Graybar, employee ownership has fostered a long-term approach to leadership—one that places trust, resilience, shared accountability, and responsibility to future generations alongside financial performance. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, speaks with Kathy Mazzarella, Chairman, President, and CEO of Graybar. Mazzarella reflects on joining the company at 19, rising through roles to become CEO, and the defining experiences that prepared her to lead one of North America's largest employee-owned companies. Together, they explore why leadership is an act of stewardship, how Graybar's ownership culture strengthens engagement and customer loyalty, and why resilience can matter more than an uninterrupted path to the top. They also discuss how leaders can use AI to improve productivity without sacrificing human judgment and trust, why the right decision for employees can also produce stronger business results, and what it means to leave both a company and its people better positioned for the future. This episode is part of the Leadership in Challenging Times series from The CEO Center at The Conference Board. The series features discussions with the business leaders who are recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Awards.

Leading a global organization does not mean making every decision yourself. It means creating enough strategic clarity for people to act, understanding the context behind difficult choices, and knowing when to step in—or step back. In this episode of C-Suite Perspectives, David Young, President of The CEO Center at The Conference Board, is joined by Antoinette Gawin, President and CEO of Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies and a recipient of a 2026 Distinguished Leadership Award, to explore the experiences that shaped her leadership and how she empowers people to act across a complex global organization. Together, they discuss why leaders have an obligation to speak when invited to the table, how strategic alignment can give teams greater operational autonomy, and why empathy is an underrated leadership attribute. They also examine the potential of blood and cell therapies, the role of AI and data in accelerating medical discovery, the need to expand access to innovation, the fragility of the global blood supply, and how regulation can protect patients without unnecessarily slowing progress. This episode is part of the Leadership in Challenging Times series from The CEO Center at The Conference Board. The series features discussions with the business leaders who are recipients of the Distinguished Leadership Awards.