"Step Forward is one of those M&A books that tells you what the spreadsheets and diligence checklists don’t—the social or people issues of a deal that really make or break it. Cianni brings real-world experience and practical insight you can use at every stage. If you’re a CEO who wants to get the full value out of a deal, this is a smart, straightforward read."
— Al Altomari
Pharmaceutical executive; Two-time CEO of public companies; Board member of private and public biotech companies

"Step Forward is an insightful and strategic road map for avoiding the many pitfalls raised in M&A, covering not only the financial and operational issues in deals but diving deep on the most critical human issues that enable and support deal success. This should be required reading for anyone embarking on their first deal. I wish I had it thirty years ago when I started working on deals."
— Perry C. Papantonis
Senior Managing Director and Global M&A Leader, WTW

"Step Forward is a standout contribution to the M&A leadership space. Dr. Mary Cianni captures what most deal playbooks miss: the human and cultural realities that ultimately determine whether value is created or destroyed. This book is both engaging and highly usable, offering leaders a clear way to think, communicate, and lead through the M&A moments that matter most. I strongly recommend it for executives, integration leaders, HR partners, and anyone else supporting complex transactions."
— Klint C. Kendrick, PhD, SPHR
Fortune 500 HR M&A executive; Host, Master Your Merger podcast

"Having had the good fortune to work closely with Mary as a senior leader on some large, complex global mergers, I benefited greatly from her thoughtful insight and practical ideas. Now, with this book, a wider audience of leaders will be able to tap into her wisdom, enjoying charming anecdotes from her professional and personal life, with helpful how-to examples along the way. A must-read for current and aspiring leaders!"
— Anne Donovan Bodnar
Former CAO & CHRO, Willis Towers Watson

"Most M&A books tell leaders what to do. Step Forward tells them who to be—and in my experience advising on post-merger integrations across four continents, that’s the harder and more important question. Mary Cianni writes with the authority of someone who has sat in the rooms where deals quietly came apart and offers leaders a deeply human playbook for making sure theirs do not."
— Anirvan Sen
CEO, Fifth Chrome; Author, Buy-and-Build Operating System; Business and investor mentor

"With the eye of a psychologist and the heart of a storyteller, Mary Cianni gives leaders something the deal team rarely provides: permission to pause, ask the harder questions, and lead the people through the disruption deals inevitably bring. Her Reserved, Resilient, Relentless leader framework gives language and practical guidance for the many demands made of a leader throughout the deal journey. Her Italian story parallels help the lessons stick in a way no case study ever could. I've spent years telling clients that the promise of the deal is delivered by the people, not the spreadsheet. Mary has written the book I'll be recommending to every executive considering a merger or acquisition or walking into their fifteenth integration."
— Jennifer J. Fondrevay
Founder & Chief Humanity Officer, Day1 Ready™; Author, Now What? A Survivor's Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions; Forbes Leadership Strategy contributor

"Mary Cianni brings a needed perspective to M&A, one that moves beyond strategy and into the lived experience of the leaders responsible for making it work. This is a grounded and insightful read that surfaces a reality many organizations overlook: leadership in these moments isn’t intuitive. It’s disorienting, high-pressure, and often unsupported. That’s where outcomes are determined."
— Ned Eustace
Executive Coach to growth and M&A leaders

"I found the stories in Mary Cianni’s book to be especially powerful. They are a clear reminder to look beyond what’s formally presented and focus on how a company truly operates day to day. In M&A, it’s easy to get lost in the data room and miss the subtle—but critical—ways companies work. This book offers a simple, memorable framework that keeps those realities front and center."
— Chris Greaney
Experienced CHRO and M&A executive

"Mary Cianni charts a road map for anyone considering or involved in a merger, acquisition, or divestiture. Drawing on her experiences and wisdom, Mary outlines how to step forward, deal with the pressures, and engage with the personalities who will make or break the deal."
— Christopher Johnson
Founder, FJ Advisory