TomorrowZone Catalyst

Deborah Reuben
  • 5.0 (1)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast exploring curiosity, connection, and possibility. Forward-thinking insights and fresh perspectives to catalyze innovation and future readiness mindsets for business professionals in finance and beyond.

  1. 3D AGO

    How to Turn AI Possibility into Real Business Value with Steve Taplin

    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.     In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, Deborah sits down with Steve Taplin, Chief Product Officer at Lendscape, to explore what it really takes to modernize in an industry shaped by legacy systems and rising expectations.    Steve brings a clear perspective from decades in the field: many transformation efforts miss the mark because leaders move too quickly to find solutions without fully understanding the problems worth solving.    They dig into the real constraints holding organizations back, from systems that limit access to data, to the growing expectation for seamless, connected experiences. Drawing on insights from their joint Beyond the Buzz workshop, they also explore why even strong teams struggle to see what is now possible.    This conversation is focused, practical, and grounded in execution. It challenges leaders to rethink how they approach innovation, where to focus their energy, and how to create momentum in complex environments.    Steve Taplin is Chief Product Officer at Lendscape, where he leads the design and evolution of technology solutions that help financial institutions modernize and compete in a rapidly changing landscape. With nearly three decades of experience across asset finance and receivables finance, Steve brings a rare combination of deep industry knowledge and hands-on product leadership.   He is known for bridging the gap between business ambition and real-world execution, guiding organizations to move beyond legacy constraints and unlock new opportunities through practical innovation. A former co-founder of Finaptix and long-time leader at Alfa Financial Software, Steve has consistently focused on helping leaders turn complex challenges into scalable, customer-centric solutions. His work centers on making emerging technologies usable, actionable, and valuable in real operational environments.    Connect with Us:   Steve Taplin | LinkedIn  Lendscape  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone    EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    27 min

  2. APR 14

    104: Stop Filling Agendas. Start Creating Momentum with Chris Cummins

    In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben sits down with Chris Cummins to explore why so many meetings still fall flat and what leaders can do differently.    As organizations balance rising costs, shifting expectations, and the ongoing tension between virtual and in-person, Chris challenges a common assumption. The issue isn't the format. It's the design. When participants remain passive, their intelligence goes unused and outcomes are left to chance.    Chris shares how leading organizations are shifting away from content-heavy agendas and toward intentionally designed experiences that spark participation, connection, and momentum. Instead of filling time with presentations, they create space for people to think, contribute, and co-create.    The conversation offers a practical reframe for leaders who want more than just another meeting. It shows how thoughtful experience design can strengthen alignment, deepen relationships, and unlock the full potential of the people already in the room.    Media, where he helps organizations transform how they communicate, connect, and drive results. With more than two decades of experience working with global brands like BMW, Microsoft, and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Chris specializes in designing high-impact experiences that move beyond passive presentations to real engagement and action.    A seven-time TEDx speaker, Chris blends storytelling, strategy, and facilitation to help leaders unlock the full potential of their teams. His work focuses on reimagining how people collaborate in both virtual and in-person environments, turning everyday interactions into opportunities for deeper connection, alignment, and momentum.    Connect with Us:   Chris Cummins | LinkedIn  Chris Cummins Website  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone    EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    48 min

  3. APR 7

    103: The Five-Year Plan is Dead: How Leaders Succeed Without a Map with Jeff Rogers

    In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben sits down with Jeff Rogers to explore what leadership looks like when change is constant and accelerating.   Adaptability is no longer a supporting skill for leaders. It's the strategy. When the future cannot be mapped, the ability to respond in real time becomes the competitive advantage.   As timelines compress and uncertainty rises, Jeff challenges the idea that better planning is the answer. Instead, he introduces a more dynamic approach grounded in improvisation, cognitive agility, and real-time collaboration.   This conversation unpacks how leaders can move beyond rigid plans and build teams that think, respond, and adapt in motion. Jeff shares how creating the right environment unlocks faster learning, stronger alignment, and more confident decision-making even when the path forward is unclear.   You will also hear how the PLAYMaker mindset shifts teams from individual execution to shared momentum, where people actively support each other and contribute to progress as it unfolds.   If you are navigating complexity and want your team to be more responsive, more aligned, and better equipped for what is next, this episode offers a practical and timely perspective.   Jeff Rogers is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and expert in helping organizations build adaptable, high-performing teams in times of rapid change. Blending design thinking, behavioral science, and improvisation, he equips leaders with practical tools to navigate uncertainty and unlock new opportunities. As the creator of the PLAYMaker mindset, Jeff focuses on developing cognitive agility, empowering teams to collaborate in real time and respond with confidence when the path forward is unclear. His work has supported global organizations in strengthening culture, accelerating innovation, and turning disruption into forward momentum. Through his engaging, experiential approach, Jeff helps leaders and teams rediscover their capacity to adapt, create, and lead in an ever-changing world.   Connect with Us: Jeff Rogers | LinkedIn Jeff Rogers Unlimited Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    40 min

  4. MAR 31

    Why AI Literacy Will Define the Next Generation of Leaders with Adya Tewari

    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.    In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, Deborah Reuben speaks with Adya Tewari, founder of the AI Literacy Project, about why understanding AI is becoming a foundational capability for the next generation of leaders.    Adya brings the perspective of someone working directly with students and emerging professionals who are growing up alongside AI. Their experiences offer important signals for leaders who are deciding how to prepare their organizations for a world where AI tools are increasingly embedded in everyday work.    Adya and Deborah discuss why curiosity and critical thinking matter in an AI shaped world and what today's leaders can learn from the next generation about navigating rapidly evolving technology.    Adya Tewari brings a next generation perspective to one of today's most important leadership conversations: how people understand and engage with artificial intelligence. As the founder of the AI Literacy Project, she focuses on helping students, educators, and emerging professionals build the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate an AI shaped world.    She works at the intersection of education, technology, and youth engagement, helping translate complex AI concepts into practical understanding for the next generation. Her work highlights how young people are already encountering AI and why building early awareness and critical thinking around these tools matters.    Adya's perspective offers leaders a valuable window into how the next generation is learning about, questioning, and preparing to work alongside AI.   Connect with Us:   Adya Tewari | LinkedIn  The AI Literacy Project  Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn     TomorrowZone    EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    23 min

  5. MAR 24

    Customer Experience as a Leadership Discipline with Jeannie Walters

    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.   In this episode, Deborah is joined by customer experience expert Jeannie Walters, Founder of Experience Investigators and author of Experience Is Everything: Making Every Moment Count in the Age of Customer Expectations. Together they explore why customer experience is a leadership discipline, not just a department. Jeannie shares her Mindset – Strategy – Discipline framework, explains how organizations uncover hidden experience breakdowns, and describes how leaders can become true customer experience change agents by connecting customer insights to real business outcomes.   Jeannie Walters is a globally recognized customer experience expert, keynote speaker, and Founder of Experience Investigators. She helps organizations transform customer experience from a siloed function into a leadership-driven business strategy.   Jeannie is the author of Experience Is Everything: Making Every Moment Count in the Age of Customer Expectations and the creator of the Experience Investigators methodology, which helps leaders uncover hidden friction across the customer journey and turn it into opportunities for growth.   A trusted advisor to organizations around the world, Jeannie works with leaders who want to build customer-centered cultures where every interaction strengthens trust, loyalty, and long-term business success.   Connect with Us: Jeannie Walters | LinkedIn Experience Investigators Experience is Everything Book Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone Enter the TomorrowZone Book

    45 min

  6. MAR 17

    100 Conversations Later: Reflections on What Drives Real Innovation with Deborah Reuben

    In this special 100th episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben reflects on what a hundred conversations with innovators and leaders have revealed about how innovation really happens.   Joined by Jennica Burgh, TomorrowZone's Director of Operations, Deborah connects the patterns that surfaced again and again across the show. One insight stands out: innovation is not limited by intelligence. It is shaped by the conditions leaders create for it to thrive.   Together they explore the human dynamics behind transformation, including fear, alignment, co-creation, and why stepping away from day-to-day pressures helps leaders imagine new possibilities.   Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the founder and CEO of TomorrowZone®, a strategic consultancy that helps leaders navigate complexity and lead meaningful change with clarity and intention. With more than 20 years of experience across equipment finance and technology, Deb is known for making complex challenges practical and helping teams align, focus, and move forward with confidence.    She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone, a book that invites leaders to rethink transformation by starting with people, purpose, and shared understanding before rushing to solutions. The book introduces the TomorrowZone System™, a human-centered approach that helps teams align around what matters, imagine what is possible, and create progress that lasts.   Named one of Monitor Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in Equipment Finance, Deb is a sought-after speaker, advisor, and facilitator who helps future-focused leaders cut through noise and lead with clarity, curiosity, and purpose.   Connect with Us: Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    28 min

  7. MAR 10

    Clarity Under Pressure: Leading Transformation in Real Time with Deborah Reuben

    In this episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben steps into the guest seat as Jennica Burgh, TomorrowZone's Director of Operations, turns the tables and interviews her about the journey behind writing Enter the TomorrowZone. What unfolds is an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about leadership, reflection, readiness, and what it really takes to guide transformation under pressure.   Writing the book forced Deb to live the shifts she teaches. The endless decisions. The doubt loops. The discipline required to make something complex simple. What started as a project became a real-time case study in leading through uncertainty.   One truth stands out: Simplicity is not accidental. It is the result of disciplined thinking.   In an age of accelerating technology and constant change, clarity cannot be rushed. Leaders who skip deep thinking create fragile systems and expensive complexity. Leaders who pause, reflect, and align build transformation that holds under pressure.   If you are navigating your own messy middle, this conversation offers both perspective and practical insight. Commitment fuels momentum. Reflection compounds capability. And clarity is a strategic advantage no leader can afford to ignore.   Deborah Reuben, CLFP, is the CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone®, a strategic innovation consultancy helping leaders navigate complexity with clarity and courage. With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of finance, technology, and transformation, Deborah is known for guiding executive teams through high-stakes change with a disciplined, human-centered approach.   She is the author of Enter the TomorrowZone and the Certified Lease and Finance Professionals' Handbook (6th–10th editions), and has played a key role in modernizing industry education. Deborah has served on the ELFA Board of Directors and currently serves on the CLFP Foundation Board. Through TomorrowZone®, she partners with forward-thinking organizations to strengthen their leadership operating systems so transformation efforts hold under pressure and deliver meaningful, lasting results.   Connect with Us: Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com Purchase | Enter the TomorrowZone

    45 min

  8. MAR 3

    98: Enter the TomorrowZone: Innovation by Design (Book Launch Special)

    In this special episode of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast, host Deborah Reuben shares the replay of the official launch event for her new book, Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future.   This conversation goes beyond celebration. It explores why so many transformation efforts stall and what leaders must strengthen before making major technology investments.   Technology does not transform organizations. People do.   Deborah unpacks the patterns she has seen across executive teams navigating AI acceleration, system modernization, and high-stakes change. The breakdowns are predictable: moving to solutions before clarity, investing before alignment, accelerating before readiness.   Enter the TomorrowZone offers a different sequence. Clarity first. Alignment before acceleration. Judgment over hype.   You will hear reflections from leaders applying this thinking in real organizations and why intentional design creates transformation that sticks.   Special thanks to Brian Dundon, Broadleaf Financial Group, Tawnya Stone, GreatAmerica, and Jen Croneberger, Human Leadership Institute, for sharing your insights. Also, thank you to Robbie Samuels for coordinating and producing our launch party.   If you are leading digital transformation and want results that last, this episode will sharpen how you think about your next move.   Connect with Us: Deborah Reuben | LinkedIn TomorrowZone EnterTheTomorrowZone.com

    56 min
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About

A podcast exploring curiosity, connection, and possibility. Forward-thinking insights and fresh perspectives to catalyze innovation and future readiness mindsets for business professionals in finance and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    Deborah Reuben
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © TomorrowZone
  • Show Website
    TomorrowZone Catalyst

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