As a group lead at Mitsubishi HC Capital America, Amanda Brubaken is responsible for a team of managers who handle vendor program transactions from the time of credit decisions through funding. Brubaken has had an impressive ascent into the industry, having been appointed to the Equipment Leasing Finance Association’s Emerging Talent and Advisory Council three years ago. This opportunity led to her interview about the industry’s future being featured in the keynote speech at ELFA’s annual convention.

Brubaken highlights that, in order to attract young talent to the industry, it is important to garner the right people early in their careers in equipment leasing. “We’re a $1.6 trillion industry that operates under most people’s radar, and we can’t bring people into an industry that they don’t know exists,” Brubaken says. In order for the sector to grow, Brubaken emphasizes the importance of getting young talent in the door early in their careers.

Although the industry faces challenges, it is also granted substantial opportunities, one of which Brubaken says is the ability to leverage technology to provide a better customer experience. Brubaken believes that, if the industry takes better advantage of this technology, it can attain creativity and flexibility that will set it apart from the competition.

Brubaken’s knowledge and experience impacts how she operates as a leader on a daily basis. Particularly, she does not let the fear of making mistakes stop her from taking risks, understanding that mistakes are learning opportunities. Her open-minded and receptive approach to leadership is just one thing that makes her stand out, along with the importance she places on mentorship. She believes collaboration between C-suite leaders and individual contributors allows for generations to learn from each other and to propel young talent into future leadership roles.