Episodes

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...

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 stays one step ahead of these organized crime rings. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webin...

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://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/parkinsons-resilience. --- Visit the Travelers...

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 Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ Join the Travelers Institute® email list: ht...

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 customers, our communities and each other. The conversation also covers what goes into producing the an...

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-series/symposia-series/mindset-for-success. --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: https://institu...

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 Deloitte Consulting LLP, and Mojgan Lefebvre, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology & Operations ...

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, Health Equity Initiatives and the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning, Purdue Univer...

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 --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ Join the Travelers Institute® e...

Tucked in the foothills of central Virginia, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) runs a state-of-the-art facility where researchers conduct a range of vehicle crash tests and publish their widely consulted vehicle safety ratings. The Travelers Institute gave a behind-the-scenes look at how this important work, supported by Travelers and the insurance industry, is helping consumers make informed decisions about their auto purchases and encouraging automakers to produce safer vehicle...

What is influence and how do we build more of it? Those are the questions behind Laura Cox Kaplan’s weekly podcast, She Said/She Said. Laura joined us to share career and leadership lessons learned from the hundreds of leaders she’s interviewed since she started her podcast seven years ago. From embracing different viewpoints and building resilience to turning failure into growth and having greater impact, she shared insights from entrepreneurs, C-suiters and more. Watch the original Wednesday...

How do we find hope and resilience when faced with unimaginable trauma or even everyday challenges? In 2015, Geralyn Ritter was returning from a business trip when her train derailed at 106 mph. She was not expected to live. Geralyn spent the next several years undergoing dozens of surgical procedures, on total disability leave from her job, and facing the mental health challenges associated with physical trauma and pain. She joined us to share her journey back to life as mom, wife and CEO. Be i...

What are the foreign policy and national security issues facing the new administration, and how will they affect U.S. businesses? On this podcast episode, recorded Feb. 5, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward and Michael Mazarr, Senior Political Scientist at RAND, discuss key geopolitical challenges, global hot spots and takeaways for the business community. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/global-dynam...

What lies ahead for the U.S. and broader economy in 2025? On this podcast episode, recorded on Jan. 15, Dr. Mark Zandi joined Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward for an in-depth analysis of important trends impacting the economic landscape. He provided insights into economic decisions facing the White House and Congress that could affect tax rates for U.S. households and businesses. As you plan for the year ahead, listen to this podcast to learn more about the challenges and opportuni...

From the ‟Great Reshuffle” to the ‟Big Stay,” hiring managers and business leaders have had to constantly adapt to recent labor market trends. On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward shares a conversation her colleague and Travelers Institute VP of Public Policy, Jessica Kearney, had with LinkedIn®’s Head of Economics for the Americas, Kory Kantenga, Ph.D. They explored how economic and demographic changes are shaping the current labor market and how these trends c...

On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward shares a conversation she had with Peter Miller, CPCU, President and CEO of The Institutes, to hear his thoughts on the transformative potential of the Predict & Prevent® model in risk management and insurance. He explored how this proactive approach could leverage artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies to enhance safety for policyholders, minimize disruptions to their businesses and daily lives, and reduc...

Are you looking for strategies to navigate challenges and seize opportunities in today’s dynamic insurance environment? On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward revisits a conversation she had with Charles Symington, President and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), and Sean Ramalho, EVP, Enterprise Distribution Management at Travelers. Listen as they explore the evolving insurance landscape for independent agents and brokers ...

Why and how should organizations invest in emerging talent? What are the best strategies for recruiting and retaining tomorrow’s business leaders? On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward shares a conversation she had with Shawn VanDerziel, President and CEO of the National Association of Colleges and Employers, and Travelers employees Bruce Soltys, VP, Emerging Talent, and Diana Sanchez, Manager, Economic & Public Policy Insights. Listen as they discuss strategies,...

How can organizations leverage technology to drive optimal business outcomes? Travelers EVP and Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Mojgan Lefebvre, joined the InsurTalk podcast to answer this question and more. In this special Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience episode, we’re sharing the conversation Mojgan had with InsurTalk host and Guidewire Software Chief Evangelist Laura Drabik. Mojgan shared strategic pillars of successful transformation initiatives and her insights on how to leve...

From hiring and firing to promotions and workplace culture, businesses face daily decisions that affect their employees and could lead to claims of wrongful employment practices. With over 80,000 U.S. workplace discrimination charges filed in 2023, understanding employment practices liability (EPL) is crucial. On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward shares an important conversation she had with Chris Williams, AVP, Executive Liability, and EPL Product Manager at Tr...

What’s keeping Chief Financial Officers up at night? In May, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward was joined by Kory Kantenga, Ph.D., Head of Economics, Americas, at LinkedIn, and Eric Divelbiss, EVP and CFO of Orgill, at RISKWORLD® 2024 to examine insights from a new Travelers survey of CFOs. Listen as Kory and Eric discuss how CFOs are approaching risk management, talent shortages, mergers and acquisitions, upskilling and more. Read “2024 CFO Study: A Travelers Special Report”: https...

On this podcast episode, Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward sat down with Bill Zielinski, SVP of Personal Insurance Product at Travelers, and Karen Eckert, SVP of Agent Distribution, Personal Insurance at Travelers. They explored trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the personal insurance landscape and the indispensable role insurance agents and brokers play in this rapidly evolving marketplace. Bill and Karen discussed evolving personal insurance risk dynamics in the context o...

Ever wonder what it’s like to attend one of the Travelers Institute’s in-person cybersecurity symposia? Check out this conversation from our April cyber symposium in San Antonio, Texas. Listen as Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute®; Ernesto Ballesteros, Cybersecurity State Coordinator at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Rehman Khan, AVP of Cyber Risk Management at Travelers; and Jennifer Coughlin, Partner at Mullen Coughlin, share strategies to prepa...

On this podcast episode, veteran diplomat and respected international relations scholar Dr. Richard Haass joined Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward to discuss the current global landscape. He shared insights on geopolitical risks and what they might mean for society, including the business community. He also reflected on the state of American democracy and its international implications. Learn about Dr. Haass’ latest book, “The Bill of Obligations”: https://www.cfr.org/book/bill-oblig...