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AcquiredAugust 22, 2016
Episode 18: Special—An Acquirer’s View into M&A with Taylor Barada, head of Corp Dev at Adobe
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Ben & David are joined by special guest Taylor Barada , VP and Head of Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships at Adobe, to discuss how large tech acquirers approach buying companies. This episode is full of great insights for startups & entrepreneurs who might find themselves navigating the M&A process, as well as anyone curious about the craft of dealmaking and the strategic approach of large acquirers.
5 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned
“The speaker references a book called 'Profit from the Core' that discusses analysis of companies and growth initiatives, particularly in relation to understanding core business profitability.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: business acquisition strategies
For: Business leaders and strategists
Key quote: “Anytime you change, one of those five things, you're like a one step adjacency further from the core and it creates risk.”
The host references 'Profit from the Core' to discuss the importance of understanding a company's core business when considering acquisitions. They highlight the risks associated with diversifying too far from that core and the statistical success rates of various adjacency strategies.
ASIN: B00817WSYA
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It's Not About the Bike
Lance Armstrong
“The speaker references a book by Lance Armstrong to illustrate a point about the nature of deals in M&A, suggesting that the essence is not just about the deal itself.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: M&A strategy and culture
For: Business leaders and strategists
Key quote: “it's not about the deal.”
The host mentions 'It's Not About the Bike' to illustrate that the essence of a deal is not just about the mechanics but rather the underlying strategy. This reference serves to emphasize the importance of having a clear direction rather than merely following competitors.
ASIN: B004VMD2VW
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Mindset
Carol Dweck
“The book talks about the growth versus fixed mindset and is described as phenomenal, with a basic concept that can be understood in 30 seconds.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: company culture and mindset
For: Entrepreneurs and business leaders
Key quote: “But it's not that's not the only thing.”
The host discusses the importance of mindset in evaluating potential acquisitions and how it impacts the success of the integration. They reference the book 'Mindset' to emphasize the significance of having the right attitude and perspective in driving future success.
ASIN: B07VK8MBRB
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“Shoe Dog about Phil Knight from Nike and unbelievable entrepreneurial journey and just an incredibly revealing memoir that I really just found illuminating inspiring and awesome.”
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: entrepreneurial journey
For: entrepreneurs and venture capitalists
Key quote: “it was just insane like reading the story and I'm not talking about a short period of time like for like I can't remember like seven, eight almost ten years he was like on a shoestring and like trying to get these bank loans it was just crazy it just it blew your mind”
The host mentions 'Shoe Dog' to highlight Phil Knight's incredible entrepreneurial journey and the challenges he faced in securing capital for Nike. This memoir is described as illuminating and inspiring, making it a must-read for those in the venture community.
ASIN: B01CRJA470
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Originals
Adam Grant
“the last would be Originals by Adam Grant and you know that was just you know”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: importance of routines
For: Individuals interested in creativity and personal development
Key quote: “how do you be original and who are the originals and stuff”
The host mentioned 'Originals' by Adam Grant while discussing the significance of routines and creativity in achieving success. The book highlights how individuals can embrace originality and creativity in their pursuits.
ASIN: 0241397979
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