M&A: Tales from a Millennial First-Timer

In May 2019, the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend, I received some of the most jarring news in my career to-date: my company was being acquired.

I had only been at my company nine months, and was a newcomer to the industry. About two weeks before the news broke, my fiancé and I closed on our new home. I was knee-deep in planning my wedding. Needless to say, my levels of stress and uneasiness were at an all-time high.

Analysts said that the deal was to be a merger of equals, with cost synergies being leveled out over the next three years. I had no idea what ANY of this meant. MSNBC became my best friend, and I Googled countless articles about what a merger was. I felt like I was in the dark, I was scared for my job, and had no idea what to expect.

When the deal was finalized in September 2019, a flurry of change ensued, and it was rampant. Organizational structure shifted; colleagues departed; rebranding and fusion were at the forefront. And in the midst of all of this, I learned one of the most important lessons I will likely ever learn in my professional career, which is that change is constant. You must adapt, re-adapt, and roll with the punches. Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. As an M&A rookie, I've picked up a few lessons along the way over the course of the past 10 months:

Make Yourself Indispensable.

If you were resting on your laurels before, now is the time to kick it into high gear. Become more involved, take on larger projects, volunteer for things, and make yourself known. Get to know others inside your organization, as well as reach out to those who are part of your new organization. Connect with management on LinkedIn and strengthen your relationships. Be a team player because this is truly the time where it's all hands on deck.

Job Security Is Not A "Thing".

Maybe I'm wrong, but as a millennial, I think we all think we are "safe" when you work for a large corporation and fulfill your basic responsibilities. At a previous company in my earlier days, coworkers used to say that you could never get let go from a large company. Au, contraire! Business is business. When decisions need to be made and cost synergies are being evaluated, everyone is subject to change, whether you're the determined newbie or the seasoned veteran.

Stay Positive.

Sounds simple, but it speaks volumes. In the first few months after the news broke, truthfully, I couldn't help but feel anxious and worrisome. You get earfuls of water cooler talk on the daily, and don't know what to believe. The best thing you can do is be a ray of office sunshine; know that things will be okay. Be the positive influence that others need to see and hear. Positivity still needs to be peppered with a little realism, but being a Debbie Downer doesn't solve a thing. As someone wise told me, M&A can actually be the very best thing that happens in your career, opening doors for you that would otherwise stay closed.

As my career progresses, I'm sure that I will go through many more mergers and acquisitions, similar to my more-experienced colleagues. But if I can shed any advice on the manner, it will be to expect the very best, create opportunity, work hard, and work on your malleability. An employee that faces change and tackles obstacles with gusto is one who will succeed in the long run.