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

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.

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.