"If you make a deal, the return on that investment really is based on how effectively you integrate it." -Philip Pratt

On this episode of M&A Science, Kison interviews Philip Pratt, Director, Acquisition Integration at Corning Incorporated, about building an M&A center of excellence from scratch. Philip has been at Corning for over eleven years, working in every aspect of M&A from being Director of M&A integration and even as Director of Acquisition Integration of Corning Glass Technologies in Japan.

This interview showcases the benefits and challenges of creating a center of excellence. Philip takes Kison through every step of the process, from gaining buy-in from leadership, to creating goals, to empowering your employees.

They also define governance structure, establish progress management, and designing training programs. Lastly, Philip gives the listeners tips on how to pursue creating a center of excellence. He gives advice about what kind of feedback loops to use, skills you should focus on developing, and how retrospectives come into play.

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