Step Forward

Lead the Moments That Shape Every Deal 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.