STRIPES LAB, a STRIPES alumni-created webinar series committed to advancing leadership development across the equipment finance industry by building on STRIPES programming, hosted a dynamic leadership development webinar on Thursday, May 14, titled “Uncovering Blind Spots – How Leaders Get Honest Feedback Up & Down the Chain.”
The webinar brought together 55 accomplished leaders from across the equipment finance industry, representing a range of functional areas and including STRIPES graduates, current participants and other professionals interested in the topic, to explore one of the most persistent challenges in organizational leadership: creating cultures where honest, effective feedback can thrive.
The session featured industry panelists Rick Matte, president and CEO of Post Road Equipment Finance, and Tom Lyle, managing director at Aquarian Investments, with moderator Matt Diehl, a STRIPES alumnus and head of business development and program management at LEAF Commercial Capital. The discussion centered on the critical need for leaders to create environments where honest feedback can flow freely in both directions within an organization.
Key Session Highlights
The panelists engaged in thoughtful discussions about real-world applications, sharing experiences and best practices from their own organizations. The session emphasized the importance of vulnerability in leadership and the courage required to seek and navigate feedback that may challenge existing perspectives.
The panel addressed several critical leadership challenges:
- Barriers that prevent authentic feedback from reaching leadership
- Warning signs that indicate you’re not getting honest feedback and strategies for soliciting honest input from team members at all levels
- Building feedback loops that work across different organizational levels
- Recognizing and addressing leadership blind spots that can hinder organizational effectiveness
- Practical tools for soliciting input (like skip-level meetings, anonymous surveys or feedback frameworks)
“This session tackled one of the most fundamental challenges facing today’s leaders,” Ted Osgood, vice president of manufacturing programs at First Citizens Bank Equipment Finance, said. “My biggest takeaway was realizing how much we miss when we don’t actively create space for upward feedback. As leaders, we often think we’re approachable, but our teams may see barriers we don’t even recognize. The ability to receive and act on honest feedback, especially from those we lead, isn’t just nice to have; it’s essential for making better decisions and building trust. Without it, we’re leading blind.”
The STRIPES LAB initiative brings together experienced professionals and emerging leaders to foster growth, share insights and build stronger organizational cultures. The group continues to develop programming that meets the evolving needs of today’s leaders, with future sessions planned to address additional critical leadership topics.
For those interested in viewing the session playback, please contact Erin Rafter, program manager of STRIPES Leadership Program, at erin.rafter@stripesleadership.com.
For more information about becoming a STRIPES Leader or the STRIPES Leadership Program, contact carolynn.caruso@stripesleadership.com or visit www.stripesleadership.com.
