Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience

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Oct 2026

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About the show

On the Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience podcast, Travelers Institute President Joan Woodward engages experts to explore issues at the intersection of business, insurance and public policy. Each episode offers unique perspectives and practical advice on managing risk and building resilience in a rapidly evolving world. The Travelers Institute is the public policy division of Travelers, a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. Learn more at www.TravelersInstitute.org. This program is offered for informational and educational purposes only. You should consult with your financial, legal, insurance or other advisors about any practices suggested by this program.

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60 recent

October 12, 202625 min

Closing the AI Governance Gap

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. Drawing on findings from the Travelers AI Risk Assessment, Lauren walks through the most common governance blind spots, the questions every organization should be asking before deploying AI tools and a practical framework for building the oversight structures that responsible AI adoption requires. This episode is part of a special cyber-focused series of the Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience podcast. This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore ® initiative, which promotes dialogue and education to help leaders prepare for and respond to cyber incidents. --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/

October 5, 202622 min

AI’s Impact on Cyber Vulnerability and Defense

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 what steps security teams can take right now to stay a step ahead. This episode is part of a special cyber-focused series of the Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience podcast. This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore ® initiative, which promotes dialogue and education to help leaders prepare for and respond to cyber incidents. --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/

September 25, 202659 min

Take the Stage: Leadership Confidence That Builds Trust and Connection

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 in the boardroom, on a Zoom call or navigating a career reinvention. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/events-podcasts-webinars/webinars/wednesday-woodward/leadership-confidence . --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ . Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/ .

September 1, 202651 min

Inside the National Hurricane Center: Advanced Forecasting, Better Preparedness

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 program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s disaster preparedness initiative, which works to raise awareness about the risks posed by natural disasters and how communities and businesses can respond and recover, as well as the Risk. Regulation. Resilience. Responsibility. initiative, addressing the affordability and accessibility of P&C insurance. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/events-podcasts-webinars/webinars/wednesday-woodward/national-hurricane-center . --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/. Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM. Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/travelers-institute-podcast-7328774828839100417/ . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/.

August 17, 202646 min

Travelers Across America: Spotlighting Resilient Build and Design in Los Angeles

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 partnering to deliver innovative landscape hardening, which protects one of America’s most iconic midcentury modern homes from wildfire threats. They explored how this groundbreaking restoration effort demonstrates how climate resilience and historic preservation go hand in hand – and how the project serves as a scalable model for cross-sector collaboration in building resilience to extreme weather. --- Visit the Citizen Travelers® website: https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/citizen-travelers . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Janice Brunner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-g-brunner-69338098/ .

August 3, 20261 hr 2 min

A Tale of Two Economies with Marisa DiNatale of Moody’s

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 employees and their well-being. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/events-podcasts-webinars/webinars/wednesday-woodward/marisa-dinatale-economy . ----- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ . Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/ .

July 21, 202657 min

Facing Today's Cyber Threat Landscape: Turning Threat Intel into Action

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 intelligence into practical insights. They also explained what these trends mean for real-world operations, where organizations are most exposed and which actions can meaningfully reduce risk. This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore ® initiative, which promotes dialogue and education to help leaders prepare for and respond to cyber incidents. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/cyber-threat-landscape . --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/. Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM. Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/.

July 6, 202656 min

Geopolitics and the Global Risk Landscape

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 aviator who served more than 37 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Beydler also discussed military recruitment and veteran employment and support. Today he represents Academy Securities’ Geopolitical Intelligence Group. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar, recorded on May 27, 2026: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/global-risk-landscape . --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ . Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/ .

June 23, 202650 min

Power of the Pivot: Leading Through Imperfect Conditions

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 through repeatable fundamentals – on and off the course. Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/leading-through-imperfect-conditions . --- Visit the Travelers Institute® website: http://travelersinstitute.org/ . Join the Travelers Institute® email list: https://travl.rs/488XJZM . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/ .

May 21, 202637 min

Travelers Across America: Building Community Resilience in New Orleans

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 discuss Travelers’ partnership to deliver critical repairs that strengthen historic homes against hurricanes and flooding. They explored how cross-sector collaboration both protects historic landmarks and strengthens neighborhoods that have weathered generations of storms. --- Visit the Citizen Travelers® website: https://www.travelers.com/about-travelers/citizen-travelers . Subscribe to the Travelers Institute® podcast newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7328774828839100417 . Connect with Janice Brunner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-g-brunner-69338098/ .