Change happens. But, sometimes it happens on a greater scale and at a greater pace than we expect.

We live in a world — and work in an industry — where the rate of change is accelerating and complexity is compounding. In times like these, leaning into change will serve us better than resisting it. The question for all of us right now is, how do we want to direct this exceptional change? Where do we want to go next?

This Monitor issue is filled with the voices of people who have some definite ideas about that — and some tools to help us get to a better place for all of us, in the industry and outside it. And when we say all, we mean everyone, in all our diversity and with all our unique points of view.

It’s that time of year again when we as an industry shake the dust off from the summer season and rush into the fall conference season with renewed vigor, as we sprint to the homestretch of 2022. We at Monitor are excited to present an action-packed issue of success stories and a new round of industry icons for which our readers were able to cast votes for the first time this year. Each of the Monitor Icons have certainly earned their place and we appreciate their contributions!

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Issue is particularly close to our hearts, as it represents an important aspect of our community within equipment finance. DE&I relates to all aspects of life across the world, including the equipment finance industry. It relates to humanity, innovation, growth and leadership. An industry that embraces all that is impacted by DE&I is an industry that will thrive and break barriers. In this forward-looking issue, we focus on highlighting the strides made by individuals belonging to people from historically disadvantaged groups and share practical advice to create culturally expansive organizations within this realm.

Also included in this issue is the Monitor 101+. Complete with equal parts stories of success and hard data, the Monitor 101+ highlights up-and-coming firms, individuals and companies in the equipment finance industry.

The future is bright for the equipment finance sector in no small way thanks to the next generation of industry leaders. In our third annual Monitor NextGen issue, we highlight some of the budding superstars who are reshaping the industry and propelling it forward.

Monitor’s 2022 Funding Source Issue features our annual ranking of the Top 30 Private Independents as well as a special Funding Source Spotlights section. We also cover the surge in M&A activity in the equipment finance industry and sit down with the leaders of funding sources to discuss the current market.

Monitor’s Innovation Issue features our second annual listing of the Most Innovative Companies in EF, in-depth innovation and asset management topics plus a Q&A with Matt Green about CIBC’s new equipment finance offering.

The interactive digital edition of the third annual Monitor Women in Equipment Finance issue includes the annual Bank 50 as well as features focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

In addition to our cover stories — the profiles of this year’s Monitor Icons and Auxilior Capital Partners — this issue highlights third-party originators, measures the impact of inflation on the industry, takes a look at the role of empathy in innovation and much more.

The Monitor 101+ is back for round two. Our industry — and especially smaller independents — have faced some unprecedented challenges due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This issue takes a look at how the smaller players have fared and provides advice for pandemic-proofing your portfolio and remaining adaptable to avoid disruption.