The first leadership forum of the year kicked off this week with Advisory Board Member Courtney Brownie, VP of Finance & Commercial Power Solutions, NexTier.
Emerging Executives Committee Vice Chair Nate King, Director of Sales – Western Hemisphere Land at NOV, set the stage for the forum with a warm welcome to attendees.
Courtney began by addressing the general outcomes of M&As, emphasizing that while most fail to deliver expected results, some do achieve success.
She highlighted key challenges organizations often encounter during M&A and emphasized that shifting your perspective and equipping yourself with the right strategies can turn the transition into an opportunity for team growth.
The main challenges Courtney honed in on were the potential for workplace culture clashes, the drivers behind resistance to change, and communication barriers. She then outlined several strategies leaders can use to address and manage these challenges.
“When you build a team that trusts you and their leaders, you can create a high-performing team that delivers on every front,” said Courtney.
During the forum, Courtney also shared personal experiences that led to her current position in her organization and how she dealt with the uncertainties and fears that come with M&As.
One key point she emphasized was the power of unification during a transition. She mentioned that while M&As can cause anxiety and fear, these emotions can be alleviated when you create a unified vision for your team and shift their focus.
“If you focus on creating an aligned mission and values for your team and give everyone something that they can agree on and feel confident in, then it can bring everyone together and create a positive workplace while going through these workplace transitions,” shared Courtney.
Courtney wrapped up the discussion by delving into the importance of keeping employees involved and engaged, celebrating short-term wins, and the role of emotional intelligence in M&A.
“You can’t overlook the role emotional intelligence plays in M&A. As a leader, it’s critical to listen with empathy, understand your team’s concerns, and respond with confidence. Step back to truly hear them—then step in with transparency to build trust and move forward together.”
– Advisory Board Member, Courtney Brownie VP of Finance & Commercial, Power Solutions at NexTier Completion Solutions
The key takeaway participants walked away with was that mergers succeed because of how leaders guide their teams through transitions.
Towards the end of the luncheon, attendees had the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with Courtney and gain further insights into the topic.
Thank you to Emerging Executives Committee Vice Chair, Nate King for facilitating the session.
Britney Turcios, Marketing Specialist, writes about the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
