S3 - E10: Cracking the Culture Code in M&A: Insights from M&A Veteran ⁠Mark Walztoni⁠ - a podcast by Anirvan Sen

from 2023-05-24T11:05:53

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In this insightful episode of our podcast, we sit down with seasoned M&A expert Mark Walztoni to delve deep into the significance of culture in mergers and acquisitions. Mark, who has a wealth of practical experience, defines culture as a blend of the ways people work and treat each other, as well as how they interact with customers and vendors. He emphasizes that culture is largely determined by behavioral aspects and serves as an outcome of various other elements.

Mark shares his traditional yet effective approach to assessing culture: communicating directly with individuals, understanding who thrives and who struggles within a specific environment, and pinpointing key factors for successful acquisitions. He also introduces us to his preferred model for cultural assessment, Jay Galbraith’s Star Model, explaining how it offers crucial guidance in answering queries related to organizational culture.

In any M&A, Mark stresses the importance of evaluating not just the culture of the company being acquired but also the acquirer's culture. Further, he underscores the need for a clear vision of the prospective combined culture post-merger. Drawing from his extensive experience, Mark provides various real-world examples of M&A in diverse industries such as IP-centric firms, banks, and medical device manufacturing.

We also delve into the subject of cultural transformation. Mark suggests that change is only effective when the discomfort associated with the change is less than the discomfort of maintaining the status quo. Understanding this principle, he says, is crucial for any long-term, transformative change to stick.

In a unique twist, Mark discusses how his hobby of restoring 18th and 19th-century paintings parallels the process of M&A, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of blending cultures and preserving heritage. Lastly, he talks about the often-overlooked concept of 'change readiness' during M&A cycles, emphasizing its pivotal role in successful integration.

Join us to explore these fascinating insights and learn from Mark Walztoni's vast expertise in the world of M&A.

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About Mark Walztoni:
• Assists clients to plan & execute effective M&A talent integration and business transformation strategies, Top 10 professional services firm consultant, performance coach, and private equity venture partner.
• Mark's career includes 20+ years of experience as senior human resources and M&A leader within American Express, EY, and Thomson Reuters, and 15+ years assisting strategic acquirers and PE firms in HR executive, advisory, and venture partner roles.
• MA in Organizational Psychology and Consulting at Columbia University of New York. Certified executive coach.
• Regular speaker on talent integration and retention topics for leading organizations including the HR M&A Roundtable, Association for Corporate Growth, MergerWare, Hacking HR, Sun Acquisitions, and the Society of Human Resources Management.
• Participated in the development of the AJIL® judgement assessment, which equips leaders with insights to strengthen their judgment and leadership skills.
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Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Anirvan Sen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, CEO of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fifth Chrome⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Anahita Sen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Co-Facilitator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fifth Chrome⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcasts


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This interview is part of a series run by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fifth Chrome⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, an business strategy advisory, and training company specializing in M&A, Integration, and Business Transformations.


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Books mentioned:





Further episodes of Fifth Chrome Business Insights

Further podcasts by Anirvan Sen

Website of Anirvan Sen