Episodes

AI adoption is outpacing governance at most organizations. In the 2026 Travelers Risk Index, 89% of business leaders surveyed report some portion of their workforce uses AI tools on a day-to-day basis – but only 59% report their organizations have established business practices for employees’ use of AI. Lauren Winchester, Head of Cyber Risk Services at Travelers, joined Travelers Institute AVP Jesse Sugarman to explain what this gap means for businesses and how leaders can get ahead of the risk....

Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of cybersecurity – and not just for defenders. Lauren Winchester, Head of Cyber Risk Services at Travelers, joined Travelers Institute® AVP Jesse Sugarman to examine how AI is accelerating both the discovery and exploitation of software vulnerabilities. From AI-assisted patch prioritization to the same tools being weaponized by threat actors, Lauren breaks down what the shifting vulnerability landscape means for organizations of every size – and wha...

What does it take to show up with confidence, trust and powerful presence at work? Pam Sherman – actor, writer, leadership consultant and author of “Play You, the Role of a Lifetime” – joined Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward for a practical session on closing the believability gap, quieting impostor syndrome and using storytelling to lead with more humanity. Pam shared acting-based techniques to help build credibility, connect deeply and communicate with confidence – whether you’re i...

For insurance professionals, hurricane season is never just a weather event – it’s a test of preparation, knowledge and client trust. Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), joined us for a deep dive into the 2026 season outlook and what’s new from the NHC for 2026. He provided an in-depth look at the latest forecasting technology and AI tools, insight into how the NHC assesses wind and storm surge hazards, and practical strategies to help your clients mitigate risk....

This special edition of the Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience podcast is the second 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, Head of Civic Engagement and Corporate Affairs at Travelers, was joined by leaders from the Charles & Ray Eames Foundation, the Getty Conservation Institute and Case Study: Adapt to discuss how Travelers is part...

The Travelers Institute hosted Marisa DiNatale, Senior Director and Head of Global Forecasting at Moody’s Analytics, for a deep dive on the economy. She shared her macroeconomic outlook and her perspective on what businesses and individuals should be watching for in the months ahead. This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Forces at Work initiative, an educational platform that helps today’s leaders navigate the shifting dynamics of the modern workplace and prioritize emp...

Cyber risk experts and claim professionals joined the Travelers Institute for a deep dive into the latest quarterly Travelers Cyber Threat Report and the most important trends we’re seeing across the threat landscape, including ransomware activity. Lauren Winchester, Head of Cyber Risk Services at Travelers, Christine Mapes, Managing Director & Counsel, Bond & Specialty Insurance Claim at Travelers, and David Kruse, Director of Insurance Alliances at Arctic Wolf, helped translate threat intellig...

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 nature of global conflicts today, U.S. alliances and national security challenges. A career naval avia...

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 high-pressure moments, make strategic decisions with clarity, manage stress and build confidence throu...

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 leaders from the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and the Louisiana Department of Insurance to discu...

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 businesses – and the strategies that could ease the pressure ahead. This program is presented as part of th...

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 leaders and managers to help them support worker well-being, strengthen organizational resilience and ...

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 economic pressures inflating awards. Drawing from Travelers’ frontline experience, Rich discussed tort refo...

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-impact leadership teams and explore succession planning strategies that work for organizations of any...

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 markets and what that means for buyers, sellers, renters, investors and the insurance industry. Watch...

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 Michael had with Risk & Resolve hosts Ben Conner and Todd Hufford. Michael offered candid insights about car...

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 a proactive role in improving mental well-being in America. This webinar explored the compelling bus...

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 pressures. Learn how Travelers is using innovative solutions and analytics to better assess customer n...

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 examples of successful trust-based bargaining, revealed how network structures impact business resilien...

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 can address this challenge. They explored the business case for caregiver support, effective strategie...

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 strengthen critical infrastructure protection, highlighted emerging threat actors, discussed the la...

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 you’re a hiring manager in the insurance industry, this episode is for you. Listen now for insights...

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 Hartwig, Ph.D., CPCU, Associate Clinical Professor of Finance and Director of the Risk and Uncertainty...

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, 38% of respondents admit to only having reactive risk management programs. Listen to learn about key findings fr...