Jennifer Fondrevay

Now What? A Survivor's Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions

Going through a Merger or Acquisition can cause massive disruption for the workforce, leaving people feeling confused and discouraged. There are advantages to be had in any organization transition, even M&A, if you change your perspective. It’s not how you look but where.

The people can be a company’s greatest asset if you put them at the heart of the change rather than the sidelines. Paying more than lip service to managing disruption by helping your teams navigate the grief stages of acquisition and the “cast of change” characters, can mitigate the fears of transition while yielding bottom line benefits.

Learning Objectives

Anticipate what’s coming when a deal is on the horizon or right at your door
Recognize the grief stages of acquisition and learn how to navigate each one
Identify the “cast of change” characters (e.g., the Former Rock Star) and engage them
Cultivate the right mindset, collaborate with the “other side” and find your niche to succeed

Managing Through Disruption: Navigating, SUrviving, and Thriving Through Constant Corporate Change

Taking the lessons learned from her two-year research on the disruptive impact of mergers and acquisitions, Jennifer distills her key strategies on how an organization can navigate and thrive during any transition.

From a leadership change to a company relocation to digital transformation, transitions have key challenges in common. Jennifer shows how understanding the people piece to overcoming the obstacles while respecting the unique aspects of each company, are the building blocks for converting the fear of change into an opportunity to grow.

Learning Objectives

From M&A to digital transformation, organizational transitions have key challenges in common.
People can be your company’s greatest asset if you put them at the heart of the change rather than the sidelines.
Helping your teams navigate the stages of transition and the “cast of change” characters can mitigate the fears of transition while yielding bottom line benefits.

Creating an Exceptional Employee Experience Through Good and Bad Times
How a company recruits, on-boards and attracts star employees impacts a company’s greatest asset – it’s talent pool. Whether the company is prospering or gripped by disruption, investing in the employee experience from the very beginning creates committed employees who are willing to navigate the new normal of constant change.

Jennifer shares insights from her two-year research of M&A that identifies how to: optimize each employee touch point through transition, offset “us versus them thinking” and establish a communication cadence that engages your workforce throughout the journey.

Learning Objectives

How to attract, engage and retain employees by maximizing key touchpoints through their employment journey.
The key touch points to leverage to gain employee commitment.
Turning employees into your brand advocates, even when they leave.

Eliminate and Uncertain Future: Know What Makes You Valuable

• Top three leadership traits required to lead teams through change and uncertainty.
• Tactics for frontline leaders to motivate their teams and maintain productivity, while creating an encouraging employee experience.
• Techniques to navigate the emotions brought on by massive change and disruption.
• Insights on behavior and personality changes that emerge when fear is the operative emotion.
• A “survive and thrive” game plan to cultivate the right mindset when the metrics for success keep changing