Over the past two-and-a-half years, policymakers have taken extraordinary steps to rescue the economy from financial crisis and promote a healthy recovery. Dr. David Altig will discuss the steps taken by the Federal Reserve and assess the path forward for monetary policy and the economy. Session discovery topics:

Session discovery topics:

• The Federal Reserve's "exit strategy" for unwinding monetary stimulus
• The prospects for a sustained, non-inflationary recovery
• The role of government budgetary policies in supporting economic recovery

With a variety of potential legislative and regulatory requirements pending, CFOs may be pressed to find new ways to communicate the strength and performance potential of their companies. CFOs will need to effectively align their management and financial strategies in light of emerging regulation and standards that will have a direct impact on income and balance sheet statements. In this session, Conrad Hewitt will explore how evolving financial regulations and accounting standards may impact the future profitability of U.S. companies.

Session discovery topics:

• Recent developments in financial regulations and accounting standards
• Emerging regulations - future impact on U.S. competitiveness and necessary preparations
• The future potential and need for new metrics to gauge corporate performance
• Immediate and long-term effects of the cost of regulation on the bottom line

Even as the economy begins to recover, labor cost issues remain a key concern for employers. It is unclear what health care reform will mean for employers — except for higher costs. Just how far can organizations go to transfer risk and responsibility to workers?

The key question for employers: How do you implement the “new deal” and make it meaningful for your organization? Join Jim Foreman as he provides insights from a recent Towers Watson survey of the global workforce to begin answering that critical question. The 2010 Global Workforce Study, which covered 20,000 workers in 22 countries, explored the impact of the recession on workers’ attitudes and behaviors, as well as the trends that will shape the employment deal for some time to come.

As the need for an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) strategy has become paramount, many questions still linger for CFOs. Chief among them are the proper scope and resource allocation required to effectively and efficiently mitigate risk. This discussion will compare and contrast how three industry leaders manage enterprise risk and the lessons they have learned in developing a balanced approach to risk management.

Session discovery topics:

• Organizational structures conducive to managing risk effectively
• Leveraging the resources you have in place to build an effective ERM strategy
• What is the board's role in ERM
• Linkages to value proposition in evaluating risk and return
• ERM strategies and tactical planning
• Development of internal policies and control functions

During the past 18 months, global economic volatility has put the CFO at center stage, playing a much broader role in the enterprise than ever before. With uncertainty unlikely to diminish any time soon, this shift may very well be permanent. How can CFOs effectively respond to and take advantage of the current business environment? What performance management strategies should a finance organization implement? To understand these as well as other capabilities to define future leaders, please join Mark McConville, VP of Finance, CFO, IBM Global Business Services, North America, as he shares insights on how IBM delivers performance through continuous transformation.

Companies face a myriad of investment challenges in building brand value and providing the consistent goods and services needed to gain market share and grow top-line revenue. With current economic conditions, the guidance needed to support investment decisions is clouded, while the need for well calculated investment is more critical than ever. Join Bob Gunkel, SVP Finance and CFO, the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC as he shares his insights on strategic investment to grow a world-class brand in a constantly shifting global landscape.

Session discovery topics:

• Investing to preserve brand value
• Knowing how and when to invest for growth
• Strategies for optimizing returns
• Ensuring the right talent is in place to support investment
• Cutting your losses for reinvestment

Approximately $1.4 trillion in commercial mortgages exists today — $800 billion will mature between now and 2014 and an estimated 60% of the $800 billion are under water. This pending storm is negatively affecting credit markets as financial institutions brace for impact. How should CFOs navigate the capital markets, identify and mitigate capital markets risks, and capitalize on the volatile conditions?

Session discovery topics:

• How does the real estate debt tsunami impact your business
• How are banks responding today and planning for tomorrow
• Preparing a new playbook to mitigate risks & seize opportunities
• Unlocking value — monetizing strategies in today’s market

What truly drives business success for your company? What inputs affect the drivers of your business and how can a forward-thinking CFO forecast, monitor and accurately report on the internal and external dynamics affecting the business?

Management planning, reporting and decision-support tools have been utilized by CFOs for decades. Despite best efforts, planning and reporting are typically inconsistent, held together with multiple spreadsheets, time-intensive, excessive in detail, de-coupled from strategy and yielding little business and decision-making insight. At leading companies, drivers are the common thread across all performance management processes. In this session, Gregg Sutherland of Ernst & Young will explore and share examples from the marketplace on how companies can improve decision making across their organization through driver-based insight and scenario testing.

Significant shifts in the global economic landscape have forced corporate leaders across many industries to reexamine their business models and explore new avenues for top-line growth. For most, the single greatest determinant between success and failure will be the ability to lead their companies in embracing change. With more than 30 years of leadership experience, Nick Shreiber has extensive experience in successfully leading and advising global companies through intense change in order to reach new peaks. In this session, Shreiber will share his lessons learned through that journey with a focus on maximizing your leadership potential.