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145

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Monitor's podcast series features real-time conversations with thought leaders who discuss topics of importance to the equipment finance industry.

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60 recent

August 31, 202639 min

Podcast 144: Podcast 144: From "The Indefensible" to "The Indispensable": How to Actually Decide to Buy a Jet

Most people buy jets backward. They fall in love with an aircraft first, then spend years trying to justify the purchase. In this episode of the Monitor podcast, host Rita Garwood sits down with Chris Lee, President of the Aircraft and Specialty Finance Deposit Divisions at 1st Source Bank, to talk about how to flip that order — starting with the mission, not the machine.Chris has been a pilot, an aircraft salesman, a financier, and an owner, so he's seen this decision from every seat at the table. In this conversation, he breaks down the mission-first framework from his article "How Not to Buy a Jet," walks through the Warren Buffett story that inspired it — including why Buffett once called his own plane "The Indefensible" before renaming it "The Indispensable" — and explains when charter, fractional ownership, or renting might actually be the smarter move.In this episode:• Chris's path through nearly every corner of the aviation industry• The mission-first framework for aircraft acquisition• The Warren Buffett story, and the risk of misreading it• How to put a real dollar value on your own time• When NOT to buy a jet — charter, fractional, and rental alternatives• How mission clarity changes the financing conversation• Chris's one question every prospective buyer should ask before they start shopping

August 26, 202630 min

Podcast 143: The Science and the Art: What AI Should — and Shouldn't — Decide in Underwriting

What does building autonomous vehicles at Cruise and dispatch systems at Uber have to do with underwriting a $50,000 equipment finance deal? More than you'd think. In this episode, Monitor Editor-in-Chief Rita Garwood talks with Utsav, Founder and CEO of Kaaj, about why the economics of underwriting small and mid-ticket deals have been broken for years, where the hours actually go between an application landing and a credit decision, and how AI can take over the repetitive "science" of a deal so underwriters can focus on the art — relationship-building, deal structuring, and judgment. They discuss:• What building AI systems at massive scale taught Utsav about deploying technology where mistakes have real consequences• The gap between shortening turnaround time and rushing credit judgment• How to tell a genuinely scalable AI system apart from an impressive demo• What data lenders should insist on owning when working with AI vendors• The smallest credible AI pilot a lender can run — and how to measure if it worked• What a high-performing credit operation looks like three to five years from now

August 19, 202638 min

Podcast 142: Masks Off: How LeadHER Is Turning a Summit Into a Movement

Only 6 of the top Monitor 100 CEOs are women — even though 81% of women profiled in Monitor's Women's Issue say they aspire to senior executive or C-suite roles. That gap is exactly why LeadHER exists. In this episode, Monitor Editor-in-Chief Rita Garwood sits down with Lisa Rafter, Publisher of Monitor, and Lori Frasier, Architect and Co-Lead of LeadHER, to talk about the inaugural LeadHER Women's Summit — what inspired it, the "masks off" moment that became its defining symbol, and why the two of them are building LeadHER into an ongoing community rather than a one-time event. They discuss: • The industry statistic that sparked LeadHER• What happens when women stop performing a role and start showing up as themselves• The real gap holding women back — it isn't the pipeline, it's sponsorship• The leadership myth Lori believes needs to be retired• Mentor Circles, vulnerability-based trust, and why community outlasts inspiration• The upcoming LeadHER Learning Series and how to get involved LeadHER Learning Series: Beyond Balance — Building Sustainable Success at Work and Beyond September 10, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. EST. Register at monitordaily.com/events/leadher-learning-series/

August 5, 202625 min

Podcast 141: Moats in the Era of AI: Why Software Stopped Being the Advantage

If AI is making it cheap and easy to build technology, what actually separates one lender — or one vendor — from the next? In this episode, Patricio Pazmiño, Chief Product Officer at Kin Analytics, breaks down why proprietary data, embedded expertise, and industry relationships are becoming the real moats in equipment finance, and why the tech stack itself no longer is. We cover: • Why AI is more of an opportunity than a threat for product teams • What's actually defensible when a competitor can buy the same tech stack tomorrow • Why the "easy" automation race misses the decisions that matter most • Real examples of identical tools producing very different outcomes • What lender leadership teams should protect and invest in over the next 3-5 years Patricio Pazmiño is Chief Product Officer at Kin Analytics, which has spent a decade building technology and credit scoring models purpose-built for the equipment finance industry. Subscribe for more conversations on lending technology, AI, and credit decisioning.

July 30, 202640 min

Podcast 140: Speaking Up When the Stakes Are High: Building Confidence & Creating Better Workplaces

What keeps talented professionals from speaking up? During the inaugural LeadHER Women’s Summit, Nancy Robles and Lisa Fleischer led an engaging breakout sessions: Speaking Up When the Stakes Are High. In this conversation with Monitor Editor in Chief Rita Garwood, they discuss: • Building confidence early in your career• Finding your voice in challenging situations• Why authentic leadership matters• The importance of allies and mentors• Creating workplaces where everyone feels heard• Speaking up with confidence—even when the stakes are high Whether you’re an emerging leader, an experienced executive or someone looking to build a stronger workplace culture, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on leadership, communication and professional growth.

May 5, 202632 min

Podcast 139: Unleashing the Power of "Muppet Data" in Equipment Finance

Numbers in a ledger only tell half the story. In this episode, Rita Garwood sits down with Brendan Cronin of Great American Insurance to dive deep into the world of "fuzzy data"—the emails, notes, and transcripts that hold the "why" behind your business outcomes. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why unpredictable, unstructured data is actually a goldmine for insight • How AI is changing the work on your desk without changing the org chart • Why liberal arts backgrounds and "winding paths" make for the best digital transformation leaders • How to move from a "shiny object" pilot project to institutionalized success.

April 15, 202627 min

Podcast 138: Navigating Full AML Enforcement in Canada

As of April 1, 2026, the "informal pause" on anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement in Canada has officially ended. Financing and leasing companies are now subject to full assessments and audits by FINTRAC.In this episode, Rita Garwood sits down with Marcel Buerkler from the CFLA to discuss the regulatory shift that is catching many businesses off guard.In this video, we cover:• Why the financing and leasing sector was targeted for these new regulations.• The three distinct scenarios—from B2B property to high-value consumer goods—that now trigger AML obligations.• What a "full examination" from FINTRAC looks like.• Common red flags, including incomplete KYC data and non-tailored risk assessments.• The staggering cost of non-compliance, with penalties reaching up to $20 million per violation.

April 10, 202623 min

Podcast 137: Why Outsourced Servicing is the New Standard for Equipment Finance

In this episode, Rita Garwood sits down with Joe Andries of GreatAmerica Portfolio Services Group to discuss the rapid acceleration of third-party servicing in the equipment finance sector. Joe breaks down the post-pandemic variables driving companies toward outsourcing, including business continuity, talent retention, and the need for scalable technology.Key topics include:• The evolution of "Outsourced Servicing" in today's market.• Lessons learned from the pandemic regarding fixed costs and operational flexibility.• Solving the talent and recruiting crisis through strategic partnerships.• Common misconceptions about losing customer control.• The future of digital transformation in portfolio management.

April 10, 202626 min

Podcast 136: Invisible Complexity: How Consumer Expectations Are Reshaping B2B Finance

What does “consumerization” actually mean for B2B finance? Spoiler: it’s not about dumbing things down. It’s about making complexity invisible.In this episode, Monitor Editor in Chief Rita Garwood sits down with Ryan Ragland, VP of Enterprise Solutions at Valiant Finance, to unpack how modern buyer expectations are forcing the industry to change, and why that’s a good thing. From embedded finance to the real role of AI, this episode is packed with insights, real talk and forward-thinking advice for lenders, OEMs, and tech vendors alike.Topics Covered:• Why B2B buyers expect consumer-like speed• How to remove friction without losing control• The myth of AI replacing humans• How fintechs get it right—and what legacy players can learn• What embedded finance really meansDon’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

November 8, 202526 min

Podcast 135: Invisible Complexity: How Consumer Expectations Are Reshaping B2B Finance

What does “consumerization” actually mean for B2B finance? Spoiler: it’s not about dumbing things down. It’s about making complexity invisible. In this episode, Monitor Editor in Chief Rita Garwood sits down with Ryan Ragland, VP of Enterprise Solutions at Valiant Finance, to unpack how modern buyer expectations are forcing the industry to change, and why that’s a good thing. From embedded finance to the real role of AI, this episode is packed with insights, real talk and forward-thinking advice for lenders, OEMs, and tech vendors alike. Topics Covered: Why B2B buyers expect consumer-like speed How to remove friction without losing control The myth of AI replacing humans How fintechs get it right—and what legacy players can learn What embedded finance really means