"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