What does it take to drive innovation in an industry as complex as equipment finance? Over the past several months, we at TomorrowZone interviewed twelve top innovation leaders shaping the future of this space. All are members of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) Innovation Advisory Council.
In our interviews, we explored their personal journeys, the biggest lessons they’ve learned, and how they’re tackling today’s challenges to build a more awesome future.
Each innovator’s story is uniquely exciting, and we’ve captured their journeys in individual episodes of the TomorrowZone Catalyst Podcast’s Innovator Success Series.
- Jennifer Martin, CPO at LTI Techologies Episode 14
- Tawnya Stone, GreatAmerican, Episode 15
- John Cooper, CNH Industrial Capital, Episode 17
- Mark Blais, Channel, Episode 20
- Robert Preville, Approve, Episode 23
- Harmony Oswald, legal lucy, Episode 27
- Darpan Saini, App0, Episode 28
- Denis Stypulkoski, Reimagine Advisors, Episode 29
- Moto Tohda, Tokyo Century USA, Episode 30
- Scott Keenan, Customers Commercial Finance, Episode 31
- Jillian Munson, QuickFi, Episode 32
- Katie Thompson, Siemens Financial Services, Episode 33
Some powerful themes emerged that can inspire any business striving to innovate in an evolving world. Here are the top takeaways from our conversations with these bold innovators:
- Diverse Paths Fuel Innovation
Not surprisingly, many innovation leaders shared stories of stumbling into equipment finance from other industries like tech, engineering, legal, and sales. Their diverse experiences equip them with unique perspectives, fueling creativity and fresh thinking. - Success Starts with People
Innovation’s not about tech first—it’s about people. These leaders continually build trust, listen intently, and nurture curiosity. They know that better business outcomes come from empowered, engaged teams. - Embrace Obstacles as Opportunities
Budget limits, resistant cultures, and resource constraints were recurring challenges. What sets these innovation leaders apart is their ability to frame obstacles as opportunities to rethink how things get done. Where others see barriers, they see new possibilities. - Lead with Empathy and Resilience
Resilience is a key theme for all our innovators. When sharing some of the best advice they received on leading innovation, a few themes popped up over and over. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Staying transparent and focusing on purpose helps to keep teams motivated and moving forward. - Experiment Relentlessly
Every leader shared stories of iterative experimentation. Testing small pilots, learning fast, and scaling what works —all while staying open to unexpected possibilities. - Stay Curious and Connect the Dots
The ability to “see the dots” by collecting experiences and knowledge from different areas helps these leaders discover breakthrough ideas. Going beyond just solving known problems—they are open to seeing what others can’t see. - Think Beyond Tech — Focus on Transformation
While AI, automation, and predictive models are all the rage right now, these leaders emphasize that innovation isn’t just about new tech. It’s about designing processes that create exceptional customer and employee experiences. - Build for the Future, Today
Whether redefining business models or transforming customer experiences, all of our innovation leaders demonstrate a relentless focus on what’s next. They are not just adapting—they are shaping the future.
Innovation leaders are transforming equipment finance balancing tech and human focus. They are staying on top of the latest tech trends as well as staying curious, embracing challenges, and leading with empathy. These inspiring stories remind us that the future belongs to those bold enough to experiment, fail, learn, and try again.
Ready to elevate your innovation strategy? Contact TomorrowZone today to explore what’s possible — together.
