Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience

The conflict in the Middle East has sent shock waves around the globe. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William “Dave” Beydler, former Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy at U.S. Central Command and later Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, U.S. Central Command, joined us to share insights on military strategy in Iran and the region. He weighed in on the current global geopolitical landscape, the changing na...

Golf and leadership share the same principle: Small decisions, repeated effectively, create big results. Ashaunta Epps, LPGA Top 50 Best Teacher and Class A Member and CEO/Founder of A Perfect Swing, Inc., joined us to share step-by-step insights from her book “A Perfect Swing: Lessons in Perseverance, Purpose, and Preparation from the Fairway of Life.” Epps discussed how to strengthen focus in hi...

This special edition of the Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience podcast is the first episode in a four-part series highlighting Travelers Across America – a unique initiative that reflects Travelers’ long-standing commitment to strengthening community resilience.     Host Janice Brunner, Group General Counsel and Head of Civic Engagement and Corporate Affairs at Travelers, was joined by lead...

For the first time, the U.S. is facing a future where each generation is smaller than the last, even as people live longer than ever. Luke Pardue, co-editor of the Aspen Economic Strategy Group’s landmark report series “Demographic Headwinds: The Economic Consequences of Lower Birth Rates and Longer Lives,” joined us to explore what these trends mean for labor markets, public finances and business...

Mental health is no longer a topic to be avoided at work. It’s a critical factor impacting employee well-being, productivity and overall business success. Speakers from Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living, the American Psychiatric Association and Travelers explored mental health as a continuum and its connection to workplace safety. The panel provided actionable mental health strategies for le...

With over $2.5 billion spent on legal advertising in 2024 alone, the American legal landscape is transforming, with profound business implications. Rich Ives, Senior Vice President of Business Insurance Claim at Travelers, joined us to examine the forces behind today’s liability environment: evolving litigation tactics, changing social attitudes, technology’s role in claim acceleration and economi...

In an era of unprecedented business complexity, how do leaders position themselves for C-suite success while building resilient organizations? Byron Loflin, Global Head of Board Advisory at Nasdaq and co-author of the new book “CEO Ready: What You Need to Know to Earn the Job and Keep the Job,” joined us to discuss leading effectively through uncertainty, provide best practices for building high-i...

What’s the latest in the real estate market and what does it mean for the broader economy? Today’s residential market faces ongoing inventory constraints and affordability challenges, while commercial properties must adapt to new work patterns and investment strategies. National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun joined us to discuss the state of the residential and commercial ma...

What does it take to navigate a 35-year career in insurance from entry-level actuary to executive leadership?   Travelers EVP and President of Personal Insurance Michael Klein recently joined Conner Insurance’s Risk & Resolve podcast to break down his remarkable journey in the insurance industry.  In this special Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience episode, we’re sharing the conversation...

Mental health challenges affect millions of American adults, costing over $210 billion annually in direct treatment costs, according to the National Institutes of Health. Employers shoulder many of those direct costs as well as losses from reduced productivity, absenteeism and turnover. April Koh, co-founder and CEO of Spring Health, joined Travelers’ Greg Landmark to share how employers can play...

What's driving the changes in today's complex property insurance market, and how can we turn challenges into opportunities to better serve customers? Angi Orbann, National Property Lead and Vice President of Property, Personal Insurance, and Dan DiMugno, Assistant Vice President, Risk Management, Personal Insurance, both from Travelers, joined us to examine how the company views evolving market pr...

In the complex world of insurance and risk management, how do you negotiate effectively without compromising long-term relationships? John Burrows, Ph. D., Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago and Associate Fellow at Oxford University, joined us to explore practical tools and approaches to the ‟negotiator’s dilemma” – knowing when to compete and when to collaborate. He shared real-world ex...

With 53 million Americans providing unpaid care for loved ones and many considering reducing work hours or leaving jobs, caregiving significantly impacts America's workforce. Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, co-founder and CEO of Wellthy, and Greg Landmark, Senior Vice President of Total Rewards and People Analytics at Travelers, joined Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward to discuss how employers ca...

Drawing from his extensive government and private sector experience, Jeff Greene, former Assistant Executive Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), former Chief of Cyber Response and Policy on the National Security Council, Distinguished Fellow at the Aspen Institute and Founder of Salty Coffee Consulting, explored how public-private partnerships...

At the 2025 Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) Annual Conference, GIS Board of Trustees Member and Travelers President of Personal Insurance Michael Klein sat down with GIS Executive Director Grace Grant to discuss what today’s students seek in their future careers in insurance. They explored the evolving student perspective, the importance of mentorship, and strategies for attracting and retaining talent. If...

Who are the students and emerging professionals in insurance and risk management today, and what are they looking for in future employers? What do they value most when making career decisions? Gamma Iota Sigma Board of Trustees member and Travelers Executive Vice President and Personal Insurance President Michael Klein, Denise Perlman, Chief Executive Officer of Middle Market at Aon, and Robert Ha...

With over 9,000 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals closing in 2024, how prepared is your organization for a merger or acquisition? Travelers’ 2024 CFO study found that 70% of CFOs say they have had to navigate M&A activity. Whether the deal closes or not, it’s creating stress in their jobs and for their teams. And while successful M&As require strategic risk management at every stage,...

With the surge in frequency and severity of cargo theft across the globe, we dug deep into this multibillion-dollar business. Our panel of experts discussed recent trends, including the surge in strategic theft, and their impact on the transportation industry and the many industries that need to ship their goods across land and sea. They also shared how Travelers’ Special Investigations Group stay...

Diagnosed at the height of her career, Ann Marie Colapietro of Travelers is one of the nearly 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson’s disease. Ann Marie and Dr. J. Antonelle de Marcaida joined us to offer both personal and medical perspectives on living vibrantly with Parkinson’s and other chronic diseases and illnesses. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://ins...

Pete Herron and Madhu Tadikonda of Travelers spoke about the company’s acquisition of Corvus, an industry-leading cyber insurance managing general underwriter, and what this partnership means for Travelers agents, brokers and insureds.  Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/cybersecurity-partnership --- Visit the Travel...

In this episode, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward and Travelers Chief Sustainability Officer Yafit Cohn discuss the meaning of sustainability in the corporate context. They explore Travelers’ approach to sustainability, how it may differ from that of other companies, and how our business strategy and performance are inextricably linked with the Travelers Promise to take care of our cus...

What mindset lessons can we learn from sports? With golf season in full swing, we brought in Dr. Mo Pickens, renowned sports psychologist and golf coach. Dr. Mo shared insights on mindset, framing and routine, and how these important principles can help you succeed on the course and in your career.    Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-ser...

From labor market fluctuations to shifting employee expectations, today’s workforce is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In this two-part series, the Travelers Institute broadcasted live from the Board Room of the New York Stock Exchange to explore the challenges and opportunities brought on by these changes. Listen to Part 1.   In Part 2, Dan Helfrich, Principal and former Chair and CEO of Deloi...

From labor market fluctuations to shifting employee expectations, today’s workforce is evolving at an unprecedented pace. In this two-part series, the Travelers Institute broadcasted live from the Board Room of the New York Stock Exchange to explore the challenges and opportunities brought on by these changes. In Part 1, Dr. Jerome M. Adams, the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and Executive Director, He...

Most people will spend about a third of their life asleep. So why do we sleep? Dr. Matt Walker, Professor of Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, joined us for an eye-opening look at how the power of sleep impacts health, aging, lifespan, learning and so much more.  Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/science-of-sleep ---  Vi...