Conference Presentation, Panel
Corporate Boards in the Digital Age: Governance and Growth | Global Conference 2025
Milken InstituteMark A. Weinberger, Betsy Atkins, Merit Janow, Debra Lee, Dina Powell McCormick, Brian Stafford
- Board optimism has reached an all-time low pessimism rating of 4.7 out of 10, driven by risk and uncertainty, prompting a shift in focus toward short-term strategic challenges.
- Agentic AI adoption is projected to scale rapidly, with UnitedHealth processing 100 million call center calls this year and Meta's finance group utilizing AI agents for 50% of accounts payable and receivable tasks.
- Workforce planning forecasts include UnitedHealth's call center staff shrinking from 50,000 to 100,000, Salesforce halting software engineer hiring due to 20% productivity gains, and companies aiming to meet 2026 growth targets without incremental headcount.
- New employment standards will increasingly require candidates to demonstrate prior AI usage in previous roles, while organizations will prioritize cognitive diversity and global perspectives over specific technology expertise for board composition.
- US board international representation is projected to expand beyond the current less than 10% to better reflect global markets, while boards will increasingly incorporate Gen Z and Millennial voices to understand customer experiences.
- Tariffs, geopolitical issues, and national security are expected to dominate board agendas for the next 18 months, specifically affecting the automotive sector's trade patterns with China and requiring de-risking strategies.
- Atlas Air Cargo plans to rethink fleet purchasing decisions for 747s and 737s following a 25% cancellation rate in international air cargo, highlighting the need to balance long-term capital commitments with strategic nimbliness.
- The Middle East data center expansion is creating power demand exceeding current utility grid capacity, while the future energy sector relies on hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel that currently lack economic feasibility without significant government assistance.
- Energy companies are adopting a 5 to 25-year investment horizon to reduce carbon types and develop alternative fuels, contrasting with the short-term pressures driving current market uncertainty.
- Political outlooks project President Trump focusing on expanding the Abraham Accords over the next four years, potentially leading to normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
- Internal guardrails and sound data governance are deemed necessary to manage risks associated with generative AI deployment, even as organizations face a transformational human capital moment requiring investment in the next generation.
- Mentorship remains a critical priority, characterized by a need for transformational mentoring that AI cannot replicate, with men seeking mentors with power and women seeking authentic mentors providing tough feedback.