The TomorrowZone® Catalyst Podcast

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

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

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 

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 

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