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Transform Your M&A Success by

Putting People First

While 80% of mergers fail to meet financial objectives, successful deals share one critical factor: they prioritize people, leadership, and culture. Master the strategies that drive sustainable M&A success.

Flagship Event · Two Days

People Synergy Summit Fall 2026

Where post-close execution meets real world results. Two days, seven speakers, one hackathon.

November 9–10, 2026

10:00 AM–3:30 PM CT

Virtual via Zoom

Free live registration · HRCI Credit

Event Overview

Join leaders across HR, corporate development, private equity, family offices, and integration who are turning people, leadership, and culture into engines of post-close value creation on every deal.

Two full days built around the core M&A challenges you face: total rewards harmonization, integration debt, earnout structures, real deal moments, and a team-based hackathon to apply it all.

Day 1 · Nov 9 Expert Insights

Research-backed frameworks and strategic perspectives on post-close challenges

10:00 – 11:00 AM CT

Opening Keynote
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM CT

Beyond Lift and Shift: Harmonizing Total Rewards After a Merger

Scott Hoffhines
1:00 – 1:30 PM CT

Human Capital in M&A: Executive Research Briefing

Greg Schlimm
1:30 – 2:00 PM CT

Beyond the Purchase Price: How Earnouts and Holdbacks Shape HR Decisions

Michael Skarda
2:30 – 3:30 PM CT

M&A Confidential

Moderator: Dr. Susan Hanold | Featured Practitioner: Naveen Nagpal

Day 2 · Nov 10 Hands-On Development

Applied problem-solving and team-based development for integration work

10:00 – 11:00 AM CT

Integration Debt: The Hidden Cost of Misdirected Integration

Moderator: Jennifer Fondrevay | Panelist: Eiron Roffey
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM CT

Closing Keynote

Dr. Mary Cianni
12:30 – 3:30 PM CT

AI + M&A Deal Hackathon

Team-based competition | Apply what you've learned

Featured Speakers

Scott Hoffhines

Reward Factors

Greg Schlimm

Transaction Advisors

Michael Skarda

Senior Attorney, JWL International

Dr. Susan Hanold

Plan Z Solutions

Jennifer Fondrevay

Founder, Day1 Ready LLC

Dr. Mary Cianni

Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Klint Kendrick

Founder, Master Your Merger

Live access is free. Replay + Resource Pack available at registration.

Explore Our Programs

Master Your Merger empowers HR and M&A professionals to drive sustainable business outcomes through a people-first approach.

Our comprehensive programs, practical toolkits, and thriving community equip you with proven strategies to align cultures, retain top talent, and achieve lasting deal success.

Your Path to

M&A Excellence

Monthly HR M&A

Roundtables

For nearly a decade, our roundtables have helped HR and M&A professionals connect with peers, share insights, and solve real-world challenges in our collaborative sessions.

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Our premier conference featuring cutting-edge M&A strategies, hands-on workshops, and unmatched networking opportunities with industry experts.

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People Synergy

Summit

Training
Programs

Quarterly sessions designed to enhance your M&A expertise, from cultural integration to talent retention. Get hands-on experience with real-world scenarios.