5 Lessons for Successful Acquisitions from Kodiak CEO Steve Swinney
Acquisitions are more than financial transactions—they’re about creating long-term value, aligning cultures, and building stronger companies for the future. That’s the perspective Kodiak Building Partners’ CEO, Steve Swinney, recently shared in his latest Forbes Business Council column: “5 Lessons From Successful Acquisitions And Expanding Markets”.
With years of experience leading acquisitions across the building materials industry, Steve highlights five critical lessons business leaders can apply when evaluating new opportunities:
- Invest in great people and support them.
Strong leadership and cultural alignment are just as important as financial performance. Deals succeed when the right people are empowered to drive growth. - Pursue deals with organic cultural alignment.
Culture can’t be forced. Successful acquisitions happen when companies share core values and a vision for the future. - Never underestimate the value of research.
Thorough research into markets, industry trends, and business models helps leaders identify risks and opportunities—and refine their strategy over time. - Embrace uncertainty and adapt.
M&A requires resilience. By anticipating multiple outcomes and staying adaptable, leaders can turn uncertainty into opportunity. - Create value through operational synergies.
Acquisitions should generate more than financial returns. They should strengthen operations, create efficiencies, and maximize long-term value for all stakeholders.
Why This Matters for the Building Materials Industry
As Kodiak continues to grow, these lessons reflect the foundation of our acquisition strategy: investing in people, aligning cultures, and building operational synergies across locally led companies. The building materials industry thrives on relationships and trust, which makes cultural alignment and leadership support especially critical for long-term success.
Read Steve’s full article on Forbes Business Council: “5 Lessons From Successful Acquisitions And Expanding Markets”
At Kodiak, we’re proud to see our CEO sharing insights that not only reflect our own approach but also offer valuable guidance to leaders across industries navigating growth and change.