Travelers Institute Risk & Resilience

With cyber threats named the top business concern in the annual Travelers Risk Index for the fifth time in eight years, staying ahead of nation-state actors, AI-powered attacks and vulnerabilities in internet-facing network equipment has never been more critical. Jeff Greene, Founder and Partner at Civira Partners and former Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Nicole Tisdale, Founder of Advocacy Blueprints and former Director at the National Security Council, joined Travelers Institute Vice President Jessica Kearney to share an insider’s look at today’s threat landscape. Drawing from their experience at the highest levels of government, Jeff and Nicole broke down what nation-state actors are doing, why AI is an accelerator of existing threats and how to explain cyber risk in plain language, and they offered practical steps businesses can take right now to strengthen their defenses.

This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore® initiative, which promotes cybersecurity education among small and midsized businesses and organizations. It is also presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Small Business – Big Opportunity® initiative.

Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/events-podcasts-webinars/webinars/wednesday-woodward/defending-against-cyber-threats#replay.

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

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Connect with Travelers Institute® President Joan Woodward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-kois-woodward/.

What actions should businesses be taking to strengthen their cyber defenses – and why does each one matter? Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute, sat down with John Menefee, Vice President and Enterprise Cyber Lead at Travelers, and Fayon Atkinson, Senior Manager of Cyber Risk Services at Travelers, to explore recommended actions and guidance for businesses and why they matter, considering the growing role of AI in cyber tactics used by threat actors.

John and Fayon connect each recommended practice to the real-world risks it addresses, offering practical, actionable guidance to help organizations make smarter decisions about their cyber defenses.

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.

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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

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The cybercriminals who gain initial access to corporate networks are rarely the same ones who deploy ransomware. There’s a marketplace in between, and a window of time during which attacks can still be stopped. Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute, was joined by Josh Doguet, Senior Manager of Threat Intelligence at Travelers, to explore how the underground marketplace for stolen credentials works and what Travelers does to get in front of it.

Josh explains what the dark web actually is, how stolen credentials wind up for sale there and how organizations can intervene before those credentials are leveraged in ransomware attacks. His conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at proactive threat intelligence and the practical steps every organization can take to get ahead of the threat.

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.

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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

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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.

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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/

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.

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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/

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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.

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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/.

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 the Travelers Institute’s Forces at WorkSM initiative, an educational platform to help 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/webinar-series/symposia-series/demographic-trends.

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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/.

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 better understand emerging trends in workers compensation programs.

This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Forces at WorkSM initiative, an educational platform to help 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/webinar-series/symposia-series/mental-health-at-work.

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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/.

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 reform status and provided practical protection strategies to navigate these complex challenges.

This program is presented as part of the Travelers Institute’s Risk. Regulation. Resilience. Responsibility.SM initiative, addressing the availability and affordability of P&C insurance.

Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/liability-environment.

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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/.

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 size. This session is for anyone looking to advance their career or strengthen their leadership effectiveness in today’s dynamic business environment.

Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/leadership-growth.

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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/.

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 the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/real-estate-market-outlook.

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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/.

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 career setbacks that ultimately positioned him for greater success, the importance of professional advocates and the vast opportunities within the insurance industry. He discussed Travelers’ focus on digitization and modernization, the critical need for attracting young talent to the industry and his mission to leave the insurance world better than he found it.

Watch the video recording: https://connerins.com/risk-and-resolve/?wchannelid=6jgsnm0r44&wmediaid=puxrzk434z.

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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/.

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 business case for employer mental health support, examined real-world success stories and provided actionable strategies your organization can implement to move beyond generic wellness programs to truly personalized care that meets employees where they are.

Watch the original Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar: https://institute.travelers.com/webinar-series/symposia-series/employee-mental-health-investment.

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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/.