Trailblazers of Change: Celebrating Women in M&A

Welcome to the fast-paced world of mergers and acquisitions, where every decision carries weight and intuition reigns supreme. In honor of International Women's Day, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of women who have emerged as powerful agents of change in the M&A industry. From leading acquisitions to advising on complex deals, women have reshaped the industry's landscape, championing inclusivity and gender diversity along the way.

It's a widely acknowledged fact that women are underrepresented across the M&A industry. Despite this, their impact is undeniable. They bring unique perspectives, insights, and skills to the table, leading to more innovative solutions and better business outcomes. At DealRoom, we believe in amplifying women's voices in M&A. This commitment drives our regular roundtable discussions focused on women in the industry, providing invaluable forums for sharing insights, fostering networking opportunities, and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in this dynamic industry. Register here for future Women in M&A Roundtables.

 DealRoom’s Transformative Female Customers in M&A

‍Meet Amy Weck, VP of M&A and Integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, LLC. In her recent podcast with M&A Science , Amy shared her journey into the world of M&A, which began with a simple Google search for books on the topic. Discovering the Agile M&A Book was one of the things that helped her get started. Over a decade, her role evolved from managing transactions and overseeing due diligence processes for internal teams and external firms to integration management. 

As she navigates the complexities of merging two distinct cultures, environments, and leadership teams, Amy realizes that the key to successful integration lies in effective communication and transparency. Setting clear expectations from the beginning and actively listening to people is her mantra for success because she strongly believes that most of the time, people just want to be heard. This builds an environment where team members trust that their voices will be heard and eventually become more efficient and enthusiastic around their work. Her insights serve as a testament to the invaluable role that women play in building an environment where people thrive.

Meet Nicole Markowski, Manager of Corporate Development at Wipfli LLP. In her recent podcast with M&A Science, Nicole emphasizes the importance of positive relationships in driving M&A success. Building trust, she believes, is foundational and starts with an outward mindset. Nicole advocates for a meet-to-learn approach, where individuals actively seek to learn from one another, fostering mutual understanding and trust. She highlights the role of patience in navigating challenges, particularly with resistant individuals. Nicole's emphasis on resilience resonates with the unique perspective women bring to M&A, characterized by their ability to foster trust, patience, and resilience in adversity, making invaluable contributions to the industry.

‍DealRoom Female Leaders in Action

At DealRoom, we are proud to boast a leadership team composed of remarkable women. They're leading the way in M&A innovation and shaping the future with our DealRoom product.

First up, we have Julia Rollins, Director of Customer Success at DealRoom, who brings over 7 years of industry experience. Julia is not just a leader but a go-to person for all things M&A. She believes that M&A can and does reshape industries and economies on a global scale, and women bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table, which lead to better outcomes. The dynamic nature of M&A, where deals happen "live," fascinates her, and she enjoys observing how different companies and organizations approach inorganic growth. When asked about what she's most excited about in M&A in 2024, Julia states that she is curious about the geopolitical landscape's influence on deal volume and risk appetite, as well as the impact of technology like AI on operational M&A processes. Her forward-thinking mindset and industry expertise make her insights invaluable to our team at DealRoom as we navigate the future of M&A.

Now, introducing Elizabeth Buck, VP of Partnerships and Alliances, formerly Director of M&A Integration at Salesforce for more than a decade. Elizabeth feels M&A is an amazing process to be a part of, having a seat at the table for one of the most difficult, transformative, and impactful business activities out there by itself makes it fascinating. She describes M&A as inherently synonymous with change; she believes that another word for change could very well be "M&A" itself. Women in M&A, in Elizabeth's opinion, are those who have an open mind and welcome challenges that come from creating the future. As a keen observer of this landscape, she is personally fascinated by monetary policies and their impact on M&A cycles. Closely watching the Fed and the market's response these days, she’s curious about whether the tap will turn on quickly or not and eventually how much will it open up this year, given the abundance of dollars on the sidelines.

Next up, is Hannah Jarrett, VP of Marketing at DealRoom, driving innovation and collaboration in the M&A space. For Hannah, being a woman in M&A means creating opportunities for more women in the industry, fostering connections, and solving challenges together. She is excited about all the women she and her team see signing up for M&A Science community events, from in-person gatherings to virtual roundtables, who are eager to build their networks and their skillsets. Hannah anticipates a significant shift in the approach to M&A by the end of 2024. Having heard numerous accounts from Corp Dev teams of individuals burning the midnight oil managing tasks manually across countless excel spreadsheets, she foresees a departure from the status quo. This transformation will involve teams optimizing their processes with purpose-built M&A platforms like DealRoom, synchronizing the entire M&A lifecycle from pipeline to integration. This evolution promises to propel teams beyond strategic growth goals, fostering efficiency and unprecedented confidence.

Last but not least, we have MJ, regarded as the friendliest face at the company, our Director of People and Culture. In an industry where men dominate, MJ believes that having a predominantly male workforce can lead to similar ideas and approaches. However, she firmly believes that women in M&A can bring the right balance to the table, offering diverse backgrounds and experiences that foster innovation and enhance productivity.

MJ's message to women embarking on their careers, particularly in M&A, is simple yet profound: wear confidence like a badge of honor. She stresses the importance of building a strong support network from the outset, encouraging women to seek out mentors, allies, and other women facing similar challenges. She also emphasizes the need for self-advocacy, encouraging women to assert themselves, speak up in meetings, share their ideas, and advocate for their own professional advancement in dynamic industries like M&A.

As the M&A landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that women stand tall at the forefront, driving transformative change. Their leadership, expertise, intuition, and unwavering determination not only break barriers but redefine the very essence of success in this ever-evolving industry.

Let's celebrate the remarkable WOWmen in M&A who are boldly forging ahead and shaping a brighter tomorrow for us all.