Small Business – Big Opportunity®: Small Business Advocacy
Given the importance of small businesses to the national economy, especially as a driver for creating and sustaining jobs, the Travelers Institute believes public policies should encourage entrepreneurship. The Travelers Institute’s Small Business – Big Opportunity initiative helps promote small business success by convening business owners across the country with industry experts to explore solutions to everyday business challenges, such as business continuity planning, access to capital and cybersecurity. The Travelers Institute has collaborated with recognized small business advocates such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, regional Federal Reserve Banks, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and the National Association of Women Business Owners, as well as community banks and angel investors.
In 2024, the Travelers Institute was joined by representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency at nine in-person cybersecurity symposia around the country to educate small business owners and those who advise them about evolving cybersecurity risks. Throughout 2024, the Travelers Institute offered continuing education (CE) credits to agents and brokers who attended cybersecurity education symposia. In total, 166 agents and brokers across eight states and the District of Columbia received CE credit, a valuable step in renewing their insurance license. The Travelers Institute also held a webinar focused on cybersecurity, which provided an overview of the current threat landscape and essential practices that can improve cyber readiness for business owners and their customers.
Through its Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar series, the Travelers Institute also addressed important workplace-related issues relevant to small businesses, among others. Topics covered included economic forecasts from renowned U.S. government and industry economists; discussions of employment practices liability; and how to engage with emerging talent. In 2024, the webinar series also featured a discussion with Charles Symington, President and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (The Big “I”), who discussed new findings from the Agency Universe Study, a comprehensive look at the independent agency system.
Related resources
- Travelers Institute® Webinar: Employment Practices Liability Explained: What You Need to Know
- Travelers Institute® Webinar: Future-Focused Strategies for Engaging Emerging Talent
- Travelers Institute® Webinar: Mastering Market Shifts: What Independent Insurance Professionals Need to Know
- Travelers Institute® Webinar: Get Cyber Ready: Best Practices for Navigating Today’s Biggest Threats
Illustrative initiatives
Travelers Institute®
Travelers Institute University Outreach
The Travelers Institute supports the next generation of risk and insurance professionals by partnering with colleges and universities to offer a range of educational opportunities.
Making Mental Health a Priority
Shattering the Stigma
Travelers provides a robust collection of benefits for employees that support all aspects of their lives, including their mental well-being.
Wednesdays with Woodward® Webinar Series
Thought Leadership Programming
The Travelers Institute’s Wednesdays with Woodward® webinar series explores pressing issues at the intersection of public policy, insurance, business and leadership.
