Monitor sits down with three diversity, equity and inclusion leaders — Djuana Beamon, Jennifer Fanz and Stephanie Smith — who share strategies for creating a culture of inclusion and provide examples of how to implement DE&I initiatives that forge meaningful change. ... read more

The dearth of women in top leadership positions continues to exist in most companies. Two powerful women in equipment finance — Eileen Schoonmaker and Michelle Speranza — discuss how women can advocate for themselves and each other and how companies can change their practices to provide more women with the opportunity to ascend the corporate ladder. ... read more

STRIPES Leadership Program, designed specifically for the equipment finance industry, kicked off its inaugural program in September. Monitor checks in with STRIPES participants — and the managers who enrolled them in the program — to learn more about how it is developing tomorrow’s leaders, impacting the success of their organizations and forwarding the future of the industry. ... read more

Months of supply chain disruptions and rising prices have made asset management more challenging than ever in 2021. Carl Chrappa of The Alta Group provides an overview of the effects of these issues on different equipment types and gives advice on how to prepare for the opportunities that will develop in the next few years. ... read more

Stopping harassment in the workplace takes consistent intervention and support from colleagues when they see coworkers being mistreated. Leah Pusateri of Hollaback! walks through the five most important ways to effectively intervene when harassment occurs. ... read more

Ellen Comeaux of TIAA Bank, Chris Craft of 1st Source Bank, David A. Normandin of Wintrust Specialty Finance and John Wolfe of M&T Bank sifted through the challenges and opportunities of 2021 to provide the bank perspective on the equipment finance industry. ... read more

Unconscious bias is widely pervasive, including within the technology we use. Identifying and eliminating unconscious bias in artificial intelligence, data sets and other technology applications in the equipment finance industry is an evolving conversation. Keelie Fitzgerald of Odessa and Lisa Nowak of Solifi discuss unconscious bias as it relates to equipment finance technology and offer ways to reduce or eliminate it.... read more

The COVID-19 pandemic led 2.3 million women to leave the workforce and drastically amplified social inequalities, especially for women of color. Emani Davis discusses how employers can create a culture that supports women and families and allows women of color to feel safe bringing their whole selves to work. ... read more

Companies need to reassess and improve the experiences they create for job seekers to attract, retain and support a more diverse pool of talent. ... read more

Nearly one in five people have a mental health condition, so employers must make mental health a priority when creating an inclusive workplace. Therapist Charles Hill explains the steps that employers and managers can take to ensure their teams feel safe and supported at work. ... read more

In its first in-person event since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association dove into the industry’s future with discussions on leadership, servitization, regulations, capital markets, artificial intelligence, fleet modernization, diversity, equity and inclusion, the circular economy and more.... read more

The National Equipment Finance Association’s 2021 Funding Symposium, built on a theme of reimagination, was the association’s first in-person conference since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing networking, education and more. ... read more

The American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers held its first in-person event in two years this past September, hosting its 2021 Annual Conference in Nashville, TN. The event, which featured options for in-person and virtual attendees, provided networking opportunities and education for first-timers, veterans and everyone in between. ... read more

As where and how we work continue to evolve, it is important to consider all perspectives when choosing the right approach. Ludmila N. Praslova discusses different types of hybrid working models and explains how job-crafting to employee strengths can help ensure equal footing for neurodivergent talent. ... read more

Work-from-home models aren’t going away anytime soon, so even as more companies begin to bring employees back into the office, it is important to focus on keeping remote employees engaged and supported. ... read more

Telling the difference between a lease and a loan under the framework of the Uniform Commercial Code isn’t as simple as it sounds. Kenneth P. Weinberg provides advice on making the distinction from an equipment leasing perspective. ... read more