When Culture isn’t the North Star is Mission-Driven M&A

In this episode of Ethical Exits, Hannah sits down with Nikki Eaves, Founder of Purpose + Impact Communications, to explore the messy human middle of M&A: communication, trust, change management, culture, and values.

Nikki has supported more than a dozen acquisitions, divestitures, and spinoffs from the people side of the transaction. Together, they unpack what actually happens between announcement, Day 1, and integration, and why so many deals quietly begin to fail long before the numbers show it.

They discuss:

Why announcing is not the same as communicating
Why employees often experience Day 1 as something happening to them
Why “culture fit” may not be the thing to preserve at all costs
Why values may be the better North Star
And why treating people like a checklist item puts the entire deal at risk

Listen to Ethical Exits

Exploring M&A as a Force for Good: A Podcast Series for Impact Entrepreneurs.

Ethical Exits is sponsored by Up & Over Advisors & Steward Market

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