Step Forward

Name: Step Forward
ISBN: 9798891883277

Leading the M&A Moments That Matter

by Mary Cianni

Publisher

Advantage Media Group

Publication

Jan 05, 2027

Format

Paperback/Softback

Illustrated

Price

19.99

Dimensions

6 x 9 in

ISBN

9798891883277

Pages

240

Age

Adult 18+

Rights Sold

🌍 World Wide Rights Available

Description

Most mergers and acquisitions begin with confidence: the numbers work, the strategy makes sense. And yet, months later, momentum stalls, key people leave, and the value everyone expected feels harder to reach. In Step Forward: Leading the M&A Moments That Matter, Mary Cianni draws on thirty years of experience guiding executives through complex transactions to examine what often determines whether a deal fulfills its promise. Rarely dramatic, the turning points most often appear in how leaders handle uncertainty, how cultures read one another, and how meaning shifts during change. Through stories from her consulting work and her life in a small Italian village, Cianni offers practical insight into the human side of M&A. You will learn how to: Recognize early signals that shape integration Steady teams during uncertainty Address cultural friction before it deepens Sustain focus long after the announcement For executives, integration leaders, and board members, Step Forward offers a clearer way to guide a deal from the beginning of the decision through to the announcement and lasting impact.

Awards & Endorsements

Review

"Step Forward is one of those M&A books that tells you what the spreadsheets and diligence checklists don’t—the social or people issues of a deal that really make or break it. Cianni brings real-world experience and practical insight you can use at every stage. If you’re a CEO who wants to get the full value out of a deal, this is a smart, straightforward read." — Al Altomari Pharmaceutical executive; Two-time CEO of public companies; Board member of private and public biotech companies

"Step Forward is an insightful and strategic road map for avoiding the many pitfalls raised in M&A, covering not only the financial and operational issues in deals but diving deep on the most critical human issues that enable and support deal success. This should be required reading for anyone embarking on their first deal. I wish I had it thirty years ago when I started working on deals." — Perry C. Papantonis Senior Managing Director and Global M&A Leader, WTW

"Step Forward is a standout contribution to the M&A leadership space. Dr. Mary Cianni captures what most deal playbooks miss: the human and cultural realities that ultimately determine whether value is created or destroyed. This book is both engaging and highly usable, offering leaders a clear way to think, communicate, and lead through the M&A moments that matter most. I strongly recommend it for executives, integration leaders, HR partners, and anyone else supporting complex transactions." — Klint C. Kendrick, PhD, SPHR Fortune 500 HR M&A executive; Host, Master Your Merger podcast

Author(s)

Mary Cianni

Mary Cianni has spent more than thirty years advising executives through mergers, acquisitions, and large-scale organizational change. A psychologist by training, she brings a grounded, steady perspective to the human dynamics that influence complex transactions. Her work has guided leaders across industries as they navigate growth, disruption, and integration. Cianni divides her time between New York City and Arcevia, Italy.