The TomorrowZone® Catalyst Podcast

Deborah Reuben

Deborah Reuben, CLFP, founder of TomorrowZone®, talks with senior leaders in equipment finance and beyond about how they're navigating transformation. Because technology doesn't transform organizations. People do.

  1. 14h ago

    133: How AI Can Make Leaders More Human with Jen Croneberger

    Jen Croneberger asks a provocative question: If AI saves leaders time, will they use it to lead better or just do more?  AI can create more capacity, but its real value depends on whether leaders reinvest that time in better conversations, stronger relationships, and more thoughtful decisions.  In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben chats with Jen Croneberger, Founder of the Human Leadership Institute, about using AI to strengthen human-centered leadership.  What you'll discover:  Why AI productivity gains don't automatically translate into better leadership.  Why decision-making clarity and psychological safety matter more than another communication workshop.  How AI can help leaders prepare for difficult conversations while keeping human connection at the center.  Where leaders can reinvest their attention to strengthen trust, alignment, and transformation readiness.  As AI changes how work gets done, leaders have an opportunity to rethink how they show up for the people doing it.  Jen Croneberger is the Founder of the Human Leadership Institute and a trusted strategic advisor to C-suite leaders navigating culture transformation, executive alignment, and complex leadership challenges.  A four-time TEDx speaker, Jen brings expertise in team dynamics, performance psychology, and the human dimensions of leadership. Her work focuses on the relationships, trust, and emotional intelligence that influence how people collaborate, make decisions, and perform.  As an executive strategist and thought partner, Jen helps leaders strengthen the relational foundations of their organizations, creating greater alignment, cohesion, and the conditions for meaningful change. She brings a practical, human-centered perspective to leadership, helping executives recognize how everyday interactions shape organizational culture and execution.  Her work reflects a central belief: lasting transformation depends on the strength of the people and relationships behind it.    Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the real problem before they move. Clarity before technology.  Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work, grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed.  She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP certification candidates study to earn their professional credential.  Connect with Us:   Jen Croneberger | LinkedIn  Human Leadership Institute  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn  TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  2. Oct 27

    Is Credit Underwriting Ready for AI? with Andrew Carman

    Even the smartest AI needs leadership. Andrew Carman explores why accountability matters as much as intelligence in AI adoption. In this episode of The TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben, CLFP, chats with Andrew Carman, Founder and CEO of Percina Report, about rethinking credit underwriting, challenging industry assumptions, and building AI solutions that deliver real business value. Drawing on more than 25 years in structured credit and equipment finance, Andrew shares what he's learning as he brings AI into complex financial decision-making.   What leaders will discover: Why AI needs clear guidelines, transparency, and accountability, just like a highly capable employee. How rethinking the entire deal process can reveal opportunities beyond underwriting. Why designing the right systems around AI matters as much as the technology itself. How curiosity and fresh perspectives challenge longstanding industry practices. What it takes to move from AI experimentation toward reliable business applications. For leaders exploring AI adoption in equipment finance, this conversation offers a practical perspective on strategic clarity, human judgment, and transformation readiness.   Andrew Carman is Founder and CEO of PerCina Report. With more than 25 years of experience in structured credit and equipment finance, Andrew has led multibillion-dollar financing businesses at GE Capital and Siemens.  Driven by curiosity and a desire to challenge longstanding industry practices, Andrew expanded his knowledge of financial technology through MIT's educational platform. That experience inspired him to create Percina Report, addressing inefficiencies in structured credit and rethinking how technology can improve complex underwriting processes. Andrew also leads Lonetown Capital, an equipment finance business that uses Percina Report to help originate and underwrite mid- to large-ticket transactions. His hands-on experience developing technology and applying it in the finance industry brings a practical perspective to AI adoption, human judgment, and the future of credit decision-making.   Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the real problem before they move. Clarity before technology. Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work, grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed. She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP certification candidates study to earn their professional credential. Connect with Us:  Andrew Carman | LinkedIn PerCina Report Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  3. Oct 20

    How to Overcome Change Fatigue and Make Transformation Stick with Michelle Smeby

    Michelle Smeby reveals why change fatigue often starts with leadership decisions, and what it takes to make transformation stick.  In this episode of The TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben, CLFP, chats with Michelle Smeby, founder of wHolistic Change and author of The Tenacious Leader, about overcoming change fatigue and leading sustainable business transformation. As organizations accelerate AI adoption and launch new initiatives, leaders face a critical challenge: creating the capacity for meaningful change. Even committed teams can struggle when competing priorities, unclear direction, and constant demands stretch their ability to adapt.   What you'll discover: Why change fatigue can signal a leadership capacity problem rather than resistance. How competing priorities undermine transformation momentum. Why adaptability is a leadership capability worth developing. How to build trust and bring people along through uncertainty. What leaders can do to strengthen transformation readiness and create lasting results.   A thought-provoking conversation about leading change with greater clarity, intention, and lasting impact. Michelle Smeby is CEO and Transformation Leader of wHolistic Change, Inc., bringing more than 25 years of experience guiding business and technology transformations for Fortune 500 companies across more than 70 countries on six continents. An international author, speaker, trainer, and consultant, Michelle helps organizations overcome change fatigue, address resistance, and create meaningful results that last. Her experience spans highly regulated industries, including banking, health insurance, and finance, as well as global retail and manufacturing organizations. As the author of wHolistic Change: Delivering Corporate Change That Lasts and The Tenacious Leader: Your Map to Overcome Change Fatigue, Michelle brings an engineering mindset and a deep understanding of the human side of transformation. Her work challenges leaders to rethink how they prioritize change, build adaptability, and bring people along to create sustainable business value.   Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the real problem before they move. Clarity before technology. Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work, grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed. She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP certification candidates study to earn their professional credential.   Connect with Us:  Michelle Smeby | LinkedIn wHolistic Change Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  4. Oct 13

    130: Beyond Project Management: What Success Management Looks Like with Shane Dixon

    Shane Dixon, PMP, Managing Partner at Corbeau Tech, believes project leaders should manage success, not schedules. That shift changes how critical initiatives move forward.  In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben chats with Shane Dixon about what project leadership requires when complexity increases, decisions stall, methodologies get misapplied, and AI adds new possibilities.  Deborah Reuben and Shane explore:  Why Shane reframes project management as "success management"   How project leaders can help decision-makers move faster by bringing context, options, consequences, and dependencies   Why connecting silos and keeping people aligned to the "why" helps maintain momentum   What happens when organizations choose a methodology because it is popular rather than because it fits the work   Why AI makes critical thinking more valuable, not less   How human judgment and accountability remain essential as AI takes on more project work   What the next evolution of project leadership could mean for leaders and their teams   A recurring idea throughout the conversation is that better tools do not remove the need for better thinking. As AI expands what teams can do, leaders still need clarity about the outcome, the context, and what success requires before deciding which tools or approaches belong in the mix.  That makes project leadership increasingly important to transformation readiness. Leaders who create clarity, strengthen decision-making, and keep people connected to the purpose behind the work are better equipped to move complex initiatives forward and prepare their organizations for what comes next.  Shane M. Dixon, PMP, is Managing Partner and Director of Client Engagement at Corbeau Tech and COO of Essix Consulting Group, the federal consultancy he founded in 2021. Across two decades, Shane has led programs valued at up to $200 million and annual portfolios of up to $62 million. He has built enterprise project management offices from the ground up, including standing up an enterprise PMO for a 14-hospital health system and recruiting the team that ultimately took ownership. Earlier in his career, he led a $200 million Defense Logistics Agency ERP implementation after the systems integrator failed it.   Shane brings a distinctive philosophy to complex initiatives: project leaders should go beyond tracking schedules to help teams make decisions, maintain momentum, and drive success. His approach starts with partnership: "I'm here to do something with you, not to you."    Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the real problem before they move. Clarity before technology.  Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work, grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed.  She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP certification candidates study to earn their professional credential.   Connect with Us:   Shane Dixon | LinkedIn  Corbeau  Essix Consulting Group  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  5. Oct 6

    How to Create the Conditions for Your Team to Think Differently with Gayle Lantz

    Gayle Lantz reveals why better future thinking starts with changing the conditions, not demanding better ideas.  In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben chats with Gayle Lantz about what it takes to help teams break out of familiar patterns, think differently, and imagine what's next.  When leaders want fresh thinking, it's tempting to focus on the agenda, the activities, or the answers they need. Gayle shifts the focus upstream: create the conditions where curiosity, imagination, and new possibilities can emerge.   In this conversation, explore:  Why starting with "What should we do?" can send an important strategy session in the wrong direction   How getting clear on what you want people to think, feel, and do changes the conversation   Why better questions can open possibilities that packed agendas crowd out   How examining what's already working can reveal unexpected paths forward   Why future thinking becomes more powerful when leaders practice it throughout the year   How small experiments can help teams stretch their thinking without needing everything figured out first   For leaders building transformation readiness and strategic clarity, this conversation offers a practical invitation: create more space for curiosity, challenge familiar patterns, and give your team better conditions to shape what comes next.  Gayle Lantz is Founder of WorkMatters, Inc., where she helps CEOs, senior leaders, and their teams navigate change, work through complex challenges, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and alignment. A leadership expert, consultant, executive coach, and facilitator, Gayle creates space for the conversations that challenge old ways of thinking and open new possibilities for personal and organizational growth. She has led CEO and executive peer groups for many years and is also a Certified Reinvention Practitioner. Gayle hosts the CEO-On-The-Go Podcast, ranked among the top 5% of podcasts globally, and is the author of the award-winning book Take the Bull by the Horns and creator of The Leadership Journal. Before founding WorkMatters more than 20 years ago, she held an officer-level position with TIAA.    Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the real problem before they move. Clarity before technology.  Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work, grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed.  She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP certification candidates study to earn their professional credential. Connect with Us:   Gayle Lantz | Linked In  WorkMatters, Inc.  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone    EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  6. Sep 29

    AI Strategy Starts with Business Clarity with Patricio Pazmiño

    Patricio Pazmiño and Deborah Reuben, discuss why getting AI right starts with business clarity, not technology. Moving faster with AI can require spending more time upfront. When leaders understand the business need, align around what success looks like, and connect the opportunity to a meaningful KPI, they create stronger conditions for adoption and long-term value.    In this conversation, Deborah Reuben, CLFP, CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone® and Patricio Pazmiño, Chief Product Officer and partner at Kin Analytics, explore: How do you choose the right problems for AI to solve?  Why should every AI initiative connect to a business KPI?  How can user feedback improve adoption and outcomes?  Why does AI require continuous learning after launch?  A practical conversation for equipment finance leaders thinking about AI strategy, transformation readiness, and how clarity before technology can turn AI possibilities into meaningful business value. Patricio Pazmiño is Chief Product Officer and partner at Kin Analytics, a data analytics and AI firm serving the U.S. equipment finance industry. He has led and implemented more than 100 analytics and AI solutions for equipment leasing firms and commercial lenders, spanning credit scoring, risk management, and process automation. His work takes clients from problem definition through solution development, deployment, and monitoring.    Patricio specializes in translating analytics and AI into better credit decisions by connecting technical work with the business logic behind it. That perspective shapes his problem-first approach: understand the business need, its value, and the people involved before moving toward a solution. He brings that practical mindset to conversations about AI strategy, business clarity, and creating meaningful value with technology. Patricio was named a Monitor Daily 40 Under 40 NextGen Leader.      Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in  equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders about to  commit significant resources to transformation, helping them get clear on the  real problem before they move. Clarity before technology.    Deborah surfaces the patterns leaders can't see from inside the work,  grounding innovation in systems thinking and foresight before the technology  decision, building transformation readiness before it's needed.    She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough  Innovation and Shape Your Future, which examines why capable leaders get  stuck in constant reaction and how stepping back creates the clarity to design  what comes next. She also authored the Certified Leasing and Finance  Professionals' Handbook, editions 6 through 10, the standard text that CLFP  certification candidates study to earn their professional credential.   Connect with Us:  Patricio Pazmiño | LinkedIn Kin Analytics Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    AI Strategy Starts with Business Clarity with Patricio Pazmiño

  7. Sep 22

    Is Your Organization Ready for AI? A New Lens on AI Readiness

    Deborah Reuben, Ross Smith, and Keith Onchuck reveal why AI readiness depends on clarity, data, governance, and people. What does it really take to prepare an organization for AI? This conversation explores the leadership and business foundations that help organizations move from AI urgency toward meaningful business value.   In this episode, you'll hear perspectives on: What AI readiness really requires beyond the technology  Why strategic clarity, data, and business context shape AI outcomes  How governance can create guardrails for confident experimentation  Why transformation readiness must keep evolving as AI and business conditions change Meet the guests: In this special edition of The TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, Deborah Reuben, CLFP, CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, joins Ross Smith, CEO of Initium SoftWorks, and Keith Onchuck, CIO of Ozinga Bros., Inc. This episode is drawn from a live conversation hosted in partnership with Initium SoftWorks. Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a clarity-first transformation advisory serving C-suite and senior operational leaders in equipment finance, leasing, and beyond. She works with leaders at critical inflection points, helping them clarify the real problem before technology decisions are made, significant resources are committed, or the wrong direction gains momentum. Grounded in systems thinking and foresight, Deborah helps leaders strengthen transformation readiness and create clarity about what comes next. She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future and has authored editions 6 through 10 of the Certified Leasing and Finance Professionals' Handbook. Deborah is also the host of The TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, where she brings forward conversations that challenge leaders to think differently about transformation, innovation, and the future.   Ross Smith is CEO of Initium SoftWorks LLC, where he leads the company's strategic vision and delivery of enterprise content management solutions. Drawing on experience in professional services, consulting, and manufacturing process improvement, Ross focuses on helping organizations streamline digital transformation journeys and connect complex processes with effective content management strategies. His work emphasizes operational excellence, customer experience, collaboration, and practical solutions aligned with business objectives. In this episode, Ross brings that perspective to AI readiness, exploring what organizations often underestimate as they move from AI experimentation toward broader adoption and why leaders need to consider the organizational and operational foundation surrounding the technology.    Keith Onchuck is Chief Information Officer at Ozinga Bros., Inc., bringing more than two decades of experience driving digital transformation, operational efficiency, and strategic innovation across the construction and logistics industries. At Ozinga, he has led technology initiatives through a period of significant growth, including AI-powered data lakes, mobile customer portals, and integrated ERP and CRM systems. His leadership has delivered multimillion-dollar cost savings, streamlined operations, and stronger customer engagement. Keith also serves on multiple industry advisory boards, contributes to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's Digital Transformation Task Force, and is a three-time CIO of the Year nominee by the Chicago Chapter of the Society for Information Management. In this episode, he brings a practitioner's perspective to building a strong foundation for AI readiness.    For leaders navigating AI strategy and organizational transformation, this conversation offers practical perspective on readiness before significant resources are committed.   AI readiness isn't a one-time checkpoint. Continuous Readiness, a core principle of TomorrowZone®, means continually reassessing what the organization needs as technology, business priorities, and conditions change.   Clarity before technology. Learn more at tomorrowzone.io. #AIReadiness #AIStrategy #TransformationReadiness  Connect with Us:  Ross Smith | LinkedIn Initium SoftWorks Keith Onchuck| LinkedIn Ozinga Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn  TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

  8. Sep 15

    People First: Rethinking Innovation in Equipment Finance with Brendan Cronin

    In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben chats with Brendan Cronin, Divisional Vice President of Innovation at Great American Insurance Group, about modernizing equipment finance insurance, building trust through co-creation, and helping organizations prepare for what comes next.  What if moving faster isn't always the fastest path to meaningful innovation?  When Brendan began helping modernize a long-standing insurance offering for the equipment finance industry, the work started with listening. Conversations with customers, service providers, and internal stakeholders came before decisions about technology. That time created space to understand the real problem, build trust, and co-create what came next.  It's a useful challenge for leaders facing pressure to accelerate transformation: moving slower at the beginning can help innovation move faster later. Clarity before technology can prevent teams from racing toward solutions before they understand what needs to change.  For leaders accountable for transformation, that distinction matters. Moving toward a solution before there is shared understanding can create more work downstream. Brendan's experience with equipment finance innovation points to the value of listening closely, strengthening leadership alignment, bringing people into the process, and creating room to learn as the work evolves.  Their conversation explores what happens when leaders:  • Shift from a traditional project mindset toward a more adaptive product mindset  • Invite customers and internal teams into the innovation process through co-creation  • Give people room to experiment with AI inside clear privacy and governance boundaries  • Recognize the growing value of unstructured data and institutional knowledge  • Communicate the vision repeatedly as teams, technology, and expectations evolve  • Make room for reflection as part of long-term relevance  Brendan also shares a lesson that became clearer through experience: technology alone doesn't create meaningful transformation. The people behind it matter.  For leaders wrestling with AI adoption, modernization, or a transformation that has stalled, this conversation offers a practical look at what transformation readiness requires in practice. Listen, learn, experiment, adapt, and give people the clarity and room they need to move meaningful change forward.  Future Shaping Leaders series brings you inside the thinking of leaders across generations who are shaping the future of their organizations, industries, and communities. In each episode, host Deborah Reuben explores how they navigate complexity, make critical decisions, and sustain momentum when the path forward is still unfolding.  Brendan Cronin is Divisional Vice President of Innovation at Great American Insurance Group, where he is helping reshape how insurance, technology, and equipment finance come together across the leasing lifecycle. Named to Monitor magazine's 2025 Most Influential People list for Creating Change & Innovation, Brendan has led efforts to integrate digital solutions, including APIs, that give equipment finance companies more opportunities to offer insurance throughout originations, booking, funding, and servicing.  His work challenges long-standing industry practices while keeping customer experience and business value in focus. In this conversation, Brendan brings a people-first perspective to innovation, sharing lessons about co-creation, continuous adaptation, product thinking, and the leadership shifts required to keep pace with changing technology and customer expectations. Connect with Us:   Brendan Cronin | LinkedIn  Great American Insurance Group Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

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Deborah Reuben, CLFP, founder of TomorrowZone®, talks with senior leaders in equipment finance and beyond about how they're navigating transformation. Because technology doesn't transform organizations. People do.

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