Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys – Part 9

Inspiring People, Inspiring Journeys, is a podcast series, launched in 2023 and moderated by Sanja Haas, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board for the European Human Capital Center at The Conference Board. Each episode so far featured an informal conversation with a CHRO about their individual journeys and reflections on their role. In this last episode of the season, Sanja sits down with Steve Odland, President and CEO of The Conference Board, to talk about his journey and in particular his thinking on the CEO-CHRO Partnership today and in the future.

Steve talks about his own journey and explains how the CEOs role has changed in the past couple of decades. Unlike 10-15 years ago, today a successful CEO needs to manage and take care of multiple stakeholders (vs previously only shareholders). Steve explains that the role of HR has pivoted from being transactional to that of a Human Resource function which is the “caretaker of human assets” crucial for the success of an organization. Steve shares with us that he has always relied on his CHROs as close and trusted business advisors, the one person a CEO can turn to and ask, “what do you think?”

When asked whether a CHRO can become a CEO, Steve says this is possible, however a crucial prerequisite is for the CHRO to also experience a line role before becoming CEO. Finally, he shares a very inspiring thought and suggestion to our audience: to think about our aspirations and about the concept that if they are big enough, we can never outperform them.

Return to podcast series