M&A Academy at Cornell Tech New York City

Engineering the M&A Process

M&A Academy at Cornell Tech New York

SEPTEMBER 15 & 16, 2026

This in-depth curriculum-driven program provides practical guidance - from target development through closing - to help corporate M&A teams avoid missteps in the deal process and improve their ability to deliver high performing transactions.

$2,500 l $0 for Members Learn About All Access Membership Accounts

Section 1

M&A Strategy & Process Management

Strategy development with the business
Identifying and cultivating appropriate acquisition targets
Constructing indications of interest / letters of intent / setting the tone
Negotiation tactics and process / auction dynamics

Developing a clear and testable growth thesis
Defining roles and key milestones in the M&A process
Managing decision bias; setting walk away frameworks

Section 2

M&A Valuation & Diligence

Valuation models and stress testing the business case
Earn-out formulations and contingent consideration mechanisms
Allocating diligence responsibility to advisors and internal teams
Diligence reports and risks of confirmation bias

Tactics to increase accuracy and validity of synergy estimates
Linking the deal thesis and value drivers to the diligence process
Conducting commercial, financial, operational, and organizational diligence

Section 3

M&A Governance & Closing

Finalizing the deal theses with diligence results and integration frameworks
Determining deal performance metrics; plans for post-closing reviews
Accounting principles and net working capital adjustments
Post-closing purchase price adjustments

Identifying common mistakes and pitfalls in synergy realization plans
Managing the final 'go forward' or 'abandon' decision process
Escrows and contingent consideration payments

M&A Best Practices

Designed for Corporate M&A Teams

Teaching Faculty

Stephen G. Morrissette, Ph.D

Stephen G. Morrissette, Ph.D. is a Visiting Professor of Business Administration at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he teaches Merger & Acquisition Strategy.

His 30 years of transaction expertise includes various Chief Financial Officer roles where he was responsible for M&A and post-merger integration.

His career includes 15-years of full-time teaching senior executives in Strategic Planning, M&A, and Capital Planning.

Professor Morrissette has been teaching for the Institute since 2015. He was appointed to serve as Faculty Director in 2020.

Exclusively for Corporate M&A Teams

M&A Academy at Cornell Tech

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
8:30am - 5:00pm EST

Wednesday, September 16, 2026
8:30am - 12:00pm EST

$2,500 l $0 for Members Learn About Membership Accounts

Registration is not open to M&A consultants, advisors, vendors, or members of the media. Unqualified registrations will be canceled and refunded, less a $100 bank processing fee.

Also at Cornell Tech New York City

M&A Conference | September 16 & 17

Stay on campus for the annual M&A Conference at Cornell Tech New York City - a cross-disciplinary program that draws on experienced M&A professionals from various industries and regions who share first-hand experiences, best practices, and recommendations for navigating deals through both internal and external challenges.

Learn More

Transaction Advisors Institute M&A Conference

“The M&A Academy is a great way to get up to speed on corporate development best practices."

M&A Integration Manager

Google

Integration Management Office Manager

Cargill

“An excellent time spent away from the office, to come together to learn, share, and expand knowledge surrounding the M&A process. The attendee's were diverse - multiple different backgrounds, industries, etc - that it enabled great discussion, learnings and new found LinkedIn connections. Overall, I would definitely recommend this M&A course!"

Director & Associate General Counsel, Competition Law

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

"The M&A Academy provided me with insights that I will use to take deeper and alternative looks at transaction rationales in my deal analysis activities. The best aspect by far was the breadth of knowledge transfer that you get as a result of the diversity and depth of experience possessed by the participants."

Corporate Development Lead

Block, Inc.

"Enjoyed bringing my team together to learn about M&A in a more structured environment, with other professionals from other companies/industries (vs. mostly by just doing deals!). It helped to complement the existing deal experience the team had."

Senior Manager, M&A

NielsenIQ

"Professor Steve Morrissette gives you a valuable toolkit to create value within your M&A team. This course skips the mundane text-book definitions and dives right in to the key points in sourcing a deal, running a process, and how to link these to a successful integration plan."

Senior Director, Corporate Strategy

Tyson Foods

"As someone who has some experience in M&A, the M&A Academy was a great class for both beginners and experienced practitioners alike."

Director, Corporate M&A

DuPont

“Engaging context with practical, real life experiences to help the M&A 'boots on the ground' practitioner.”

Corporate Development Director

Akamai Technologies

"The M&A Academy really taught me how to best translate my company's broader objectives into a cohesive M&A strategy. I've already put material from this M&A course into practice at my company.”

Senior Counsel, M&A & Securities

Acuity Brands

"Professor Steve Morrissette's instruction and discussion leading were engaging and informed by a wealth of practical and theoretical knowledge. Nearly as valuable were the perspectives and experiences shared by my fellow practitioners taking the class. It was very helpful to check our approach and process against established thinking and the real-life practice of Professor Steve Morrissette and my classmates."

Corporate Strategy Manager

USG Corporation

“Professor Steve Morrissette was great. The energy level he brought to the class was amazing and his ability to quickly translate questions into real world examples was interesting and helpful”.