Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
Managing Human Capital in M&A Master Class
OCTOBER 23, 2026 | LIVE-ONLINE
Gina Sandon’s M&A Master Class guides participants through a range of important decisions made during the acquisition process to navigate human capital challenges. The curriculum provides a pragmatic, interconnected roadmap from initial diligence through post-close cultural alignment and retention. Participants gain actionable insights into mitigating risks and driving deal value through effective people management.
- Develop human capital diligence methods
- Engineer retention mechanisms for key talent on both sides of the transaction
- Construct a framework that drives integration milestones and value creation
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM CST
Section 1: Human Capital Diligence
- Identifying key employees, high-potentials, and flight risks
- Evaluating leadership team effectiveness and cultural variations
- Uncovering liabilities (e.g., pensions, golden parachutes, change-in-control triggers)
- Benchmarking compensation structures against the acquirer's philosophy
- Auditing employment agreements, classifications, and pending litigation
- Utilizing surveys and focus groups to diagnose cultural concerns and employee sentiment
- Translating diligence into a quantifiable risk assessment and integration cost projections
(The section timings are subject to change)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 | 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM CST
Section 2: Crafting Employment Strategies
- Strategies for communicating new roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures
- Harmonizing and tailoring Total Rewards & Day-One Readiness
- Aligning titles and leveling: creating a consistent and fair organizational structure
- Key components: cash bonuses, equity awards, and performance-based incentives
- Structuring vesting schedules and "cliff" provisions to maximize retention
- Determining maximum retention funds and 'at market' ratios to deal value
- Tax implications and considerations for the company and employees
(The section timings are subject to change)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 | 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM CST
Section 3: Designing Retention Agreements
- Enforceability of non-compete, non-solicit, and confidentiality agreements
- Establishing mentorship and buddy programs
- Quick wins: demonstrating commitment through immediate, positive changes
- Monitoring flight risks and developing contingency plans
- Developing the "change curve" and determining the appropriate pace
- Designing feedback loops, pacing check-in meetings, and conducting ‘stay’ interviews
- Identifying and empowering "change champions" within the acquired organization
(The section timings are subject to change)
Gina Sandon, Director at IBM, M&A Integration, Value Realization
Gina Sandon is Director, Corporate Development, Mergers & Acquisitions Synergy, Integration and Transition at IBM. Gina has 20+ years of experience in technology go-to-market including marketing, sales, channel ecosystems, and business partners. In recent years she’s lead M&A teams from due diligence through integration for more than 30 transactions (acquisition, divestiture, joint venture, spin-off and carve out). She has a passion for innovation and value capture, working with executives and individuals through transformation and change management led programs.
Professor Sandon has been involved with the Institute since 2019.
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
Designed for Corporate M&A Teams
The Institute's M&A Master Classes provide focused, technical deep-dives into critical phases of the transaction process. Each is designed for corporate M&A teams, enabling them to engineer greater structural integrity within specific transaction workstreams.
Credits: 4.75 CLE / 5.50 CPE. The Institute is accredited in Illinois. Reciprocity may be available.
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
Managing Human Capital in M&A
Master Class
Friday, October 23, 2026 | Live-online
- Section 1 | 10:00 - 12:00
- Break | 12:00 - 12:30
- Section 2 | 12:30 - 2:15
- Break | 2:15 - 2:30
- Section 3 | 2:30 - 3:30
Exclusively for Corporate M&A Professionals
M&A Academy
SAN FRANCISCO | CHICAGO | NEW YORK
This curriculum-driven program provides structured guidance on engineering the deal process, from target sourcing through closing, to help corporate M&A teams build sound practices to deliver high-performing transactions.
