Decision-Ready Boards, Growth Mindset, and the Fog of Change – with Tom Doorley

When a merger or acquisition closes, the press releases go out, the champagne corks pop, and headlines highlight the deal’s potential. But as anyone in the business knows, the real work begins after the deal is done—in what Tom Doorley calls “Day Two.” That’s when integration, alignment, and value realization either come to life—or fall apart.

In my recent episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal, I had the opportunity to speak with Tom Doorley, a veteran strategist and founder of Sage Partners. With a track record that spans startups, boardrooms, and a merger into Deloitte’s global strategy practice, Tom brings clarity to the often messy business of what it actually takes to make a deal work.

Here are the three most compelling and actionable lessons he shared for anyone operating in the post-deal landscape:

1. Make Your Board “Decision-Ready” – and Actually Use Them

One of Tom’s most powerful frameworks is the concept of a decision-ready board—a board of directors that is informed, engaged, and capable of contributing meaningfully to strategic direction, especially in the wake of a major transaction.

“Boards are expensive. If you’re not getting a return on that investment—beyond compliance—you’re doing it wrong.”

Tom challenges the traditional view of boards as periodic reviewers of quarterly results or governance watchdogs. Instead, he positions them as strategic assets that can offer foresight, pattern recognition, and post-deal calibration—if they’re given the tools and context to be effective.

What makes a board decision-ready?

• They understand the deal rationale and strategic goals behind the transaction.
• They receive real-time updates, not just retrospective reports.
• They participate in post-deal evaluations—not to assign blame, but to learn and improve before the next transaction.

Professionals involved in post-deal strategy should consider: Are we leveraging our board’s insights early enough? Are they equipped to challenge us constructively and help us course-correct quickly?

2. Not All Growth Is Created Equal: Focus on Value-Creating Growth

We’ve all heard companies celebrate expansion, market share, or “growth at all costs.” But Tom makes a clear—and crucial—distinction: Growth isn’t valuable unless it’s aligned with your strategic core and creates durable enterprise value.

He shares a vivid contrast between two real-world cases:

• Success story: Kimberly-Clark, through innovation and timely investment in new diaper technology, leapfrogged Procter & Gamble to dominate the premium category with its Huggies brand. This not only captured market share, but elevated the brand’s pricing power across adjacent product lines like Kleenex.
• Misstep: Later, Kimberly-Clark acquired Scott Paper, a value-brand business that lacked the brand equity and innovation culture of its acquirer. The mismatch in market positioning and internal culture resulted in years of underperformance—an example of growth that diluted, rather than amplified, value.

“It’s not enough for an acquisition to be in the same category. If it doesn’t fit the way you create value, it will pull you off course.”

This lesson is especially relevant for private equity firms, corporate development teams, and operators who often assume category adjacency equals strategic fit. It doesn’t. Alignment across brand promise, innovation capabilities, and customer expectations is non-negotiable.

3. Plan for Day Two—Not Just Day One

Perhaps the most important insight from Tom’s experience is this: Too many companies obsess over the close and under-invest in what comes next. The celebration of Day One is often followed by the chaos of Day Two, when integration begins, questions mount, and execution lags.

“We put just as many resources on post-deal execution as on due diligence. Almost no one does that—but it makes all the difference.”

Tom shared that during his time at Deloitte, his team adopted a practice of starting post-merger integration planning before an LOI was even signed. That meant building early alignment on leadership roles, reporting structures, branding decisions, and operational priorities before any paperwork was finalized.

The impact? Fewer surprises, faster integration, and greater trust across both sides of the table.

He also highlights a critical operational challenge that’s often overlooked: contracts and vendor transition. In the fog of change, systems must still pay suppliers, legal obligations must be met, and customers must experience continuity. Teams that treat these “weeds” as afterthoughts often find themselves stuck in fire drills for months—eroding trust and burning value.

The professionals who succeed, Tom suggests, build repeatable integration playbooks that balance strategic vision with tactical precision.

Closing Thought: Value Is Forged in the Execution

Tom’s insights are a masterclass in post-deal leadership. From activating boards to avoiding vanity growth, and from strategic clarity to operational readiness, his message is clear:

Real value isn’t created at the negotiation table—it’s forged in the follow-through.

Whether you’re a dealmaker, operator, advisor, or board member, these principles will help you turn smart transactions into sustained success.

🔗 Want more? Listen to the full episode of M&A+ The Art After the Deal with Tom Doorley here. Visit www.In2Edge.com for more insights and post-M&A resources.

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Lisa Scott Founder & CEO, In2Edge, Host of M&A+ The Art After the Deal and Author of M&A+: Fostering Trust, Removing Risk & Adding Value During the M&A Process.

🔍 About In2Edge

At In2Edge, we specialize in the art of execution after the deal. From contract transitions and procurement integration to legal operations and organizational readiness, we help private equity firms and corporate acquirers unlock real value post-transaction. Our experienced team works in the trenches—side by side with your internal teams—to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

In2Edge: Hands-on. Execution-driven. Value-focused. Learn more at www.In2Edge.com or reach out to explore how we can support your next deal.