Join The Bridge for a Virtual Educational Session, Woodward on Washington: An Economic, Policy and Political Outlook, open to all Bridge Members nationally. The session will feature Joan Woodward from Travelers. All are welcome to join in on the virtual event, just register below!
EVENT DETAILS
Friday, October 3, 2025
2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
Virtual TEAMS Event
SESSION DETAILS
Woodward on Washington: An Economic, Policy and Political Outlook
How are current interest rates, shifting workforce trends, and economic challenges shaping the landscape for insurance professionals and their clients today? Drawing on her extensive experience as an economist on Capitol Hill and an analyst on Wall Street, Joan Woodward will share her economic, public policy and political outlook in this data-driven, analytical and nonpartisan presentation. Woodward, who currently serves as Executive Vice President for Public Policy at Travelers, will explore how the current administration and Congress are addressing key policy issues including tariffs and trade, while also exploring the political landscape in the leadup to the 2026 midterm elections. Also, as President of the Travelers Institute, she will preview their latest programs and educational initiatives.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Joan Woodward
President, Travelers Institute
Executive Vice President, Public Policy, Travelers
Joan Woodward is Executive Vice President of Public Policy for Travelers and President of the Travelers Institute. She is a member of the company’s Management Committee, Operating Committee and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee, and she also serves on the Diversity Council and the Travelers Foundation Board. She is the current Chairperson of the Travelers Community Connections Campaign.
Woodward joined Travelers in 2008 from Goldman, Sachs & Co. to establish the Travelers Institute as the company’s thought leadership and public policy platform.
Prior to her current role, Woodward worked at Goldman Sachs for 10 years, where she was the Founding Executive Director of the company’s Global Markets Institute, the firm’s international public policy and institutional investor educational platform. She also served as Founding Director of Washington Equity and Bond Research for Goldman Sachs’ Global Investment Research, where Institutional Investor magazine recognized her as a top Washington analyst for investors.
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Woodward worked on Capitol Hill for 12 years: She was Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee working for Chairman Bill Roth, where she was instrumental in creating the Roth IRA, and she was also the Chief Economist for the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Budget Committee under Chairman John Kasich.
She is currently the Chairman of the Board of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice; on the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation; and a member of the President’s National Small and Medium Enterprise Export Council. She is also a member of the American Corporate Partners Board. Reactions Magazine named her one of the Top 50 Women in Insurance, and in 2016, she was named to the Hot 100 in Insurance list by Insurance Business America magazine. In 2017, she received the 2017 Power Women’s Leadership Award by New York Moves magazine.
Woodward holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science and a master’s degree from American University. She also studied at the University of London.