In this episode of Momentum Mode, Corey Ferengul and Mike Shannon sit down with Ann Perry, M&A consultant and former corporate development leader at companies including VMware, Intel, and McAfee, to unpack what really determines whether an acquisition succeeds or fails.

From how startups actually get on the radar of strategic buyers to why integration should start before a deal is even signed, Ann shares hard-earned lessons from decades inside Silicon Valley deal rooms.

They dig into the realities founders don’t always see:
• Why culture mismatch kills value post-close
• How messy IP and entity structure can derail a transaction
• The real purpose of earn-outs (and why they often end in lawsuits)
• Why Intel rewarded “devil’s advocates” for stopping bad deals

If you’re a founder thinking about being acquired, an operator navigating integration, or an investor trying to understand what really drives M&A outcomes, this episode is a must-watch.

In this episode of Momentum Mode, Corey Ferengul and Mike Shannon sit down with Marty Pletkin, Managing Director of Corporate Development at Deloitte, to unpack what really determines whether M&A deals succeed or fail.

With decades of experience across global transactions, Marty shares a behind-the-scenes look at how acquisitions actually happen — and why leadership alignment, timing, and operational discipline matter far more than financial models alone.

The conversation explores common misconceptions founders have about exits, the hidden risks that emerge during diligence, and how companies can maintain leverage while navigating complex deal processes.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The one factor that ultimately determines if a deal closes
• Why time — not price — kills most transactions
• How founders unintentionally weaken their position during diligence
• The difference between strategic buyers and financial buyers
• How to maintain operational momentum during an exit process

If you’re a founder, executive, or investor navigating growth, fundraising, or potential acquisition, this episode offers a practical perspective on how deals really get done.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, scaling, and strategic decision-making.

Most companies don’t fail because of a lack of ambition.
They stall because they outgrow their structure.

In this episode of Momentum Mode, Corey Ferengul and Mike Shannon sit down with Anthony Knierim to unpack what actually drives durable growth inside scaling organizations.

From operational discipline and accountability to leadership evolution and system design, Anthony shares what separates companies that scale intentionally from those that grow into chaos. The conversation explores:

• Why early success often hides structural weaknesses
• The difference between motion and real progress
• How process protects innovation (instead of slowing it down)
• Why accountability must be cultural, not situational
• The leadership shift required to move from founder-led to system-led growth

If you're a founder, operator, or executive navigating growth, this episode offers a practical lens on building organizations that last — not just ones that move fast.

Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, scaling, and building with intention.