Walden M&A is pleased to announce the addition of Samantha Jones as a Principal, adding a distinct perspective to our M&A advisory services. She brings a combined experience as both a business seller and corporate executive with expertise in strategy, marketing, business development, and operations. This unique firsthand knowledge from both sides of the table provides our middle-market clients with both strategic insights and empathy throughout the transaction lifecycle.
“The diversity of my experience has fundamentally shaped how I approach M&A. I know what keeps a seller up at night, and I understand the rigorous due diligence a corporate buyer demands. That insight is critical to maximizing client value while minimizing surprise,” says Jones.
A Seller’s Insight: The Value of Preparation
For business owners considering an exit, the M&A process can be daunting. Jones’ background includes successfully selling her family’s fifth-generation, $50 million distribution business, which allows her to relate deeply to a client’s journey.
“I think it’s important to work with someone who’s actually been through it, not just someone who’s advised those transactions,” says Jones.
Her experience as a seller taught her a fundamental lesson: preparation is key. When she went through her own strategic sale, she relied on conversations with strategic and financial buyers for advice. These discussions helped her work through various scenarios and identify areas to shore up before starting formal discussions and negotiations with the buyer.
This personal journey underscores the value of an expert partner. Jones understands the emotional stress of selling a business built over decades (or in her case, 135 years). She knows a seller’s perspective, having not only gone through it herself but also alongside her father, who spent his 35-year career expanding the business.
A Corporate Buyer’s Mindset: Driving Strategic Value
Following her successful exit, Jones spent a decade on the corporate side at Pitney Bowes, during which she drove transformation, launched new products, and negotiated fintech partnerships. This extensive corporate experience provided her with significant experience advising her Walden M&A clients, helping them secure more strategic deals.
She views a seller’s business exactly as an acquirer would, focusing on three core areas: strategic planning, marketing, and business development.
“Negotiating a winning partnership deal follows the same framework as an acquisition. It’s about effective project management of multiple parties, working through due diligence, understanding the key contingencies you each need, making sure you’re drafting a purchase agreement everyone’s comfortable with at the end,” says Jones.
The Collaborative Walden M&A Approach
Jones’ diverse background is a perfect fit for the collaborative culture at Walden M&A, a quality she believes distinguishes the firm in the market.
When a client hires Walden M&A, they are hiring the collective experience and knowledge of an extensive team, not just an individual advisor. She highlights an essential element critical to every M&A deal: culture and people. John Phillips and his team’s collaborative approach immediately drew her to join the Walden team.
Strategic Focus: Manufacturing and Automation
Jones’ experience spans distribution, packaging, shipping, logistics, and fintech. While the industries differ, the core focus remains consistent: how to continue generating positive cash flow.
She brings a current focus to industrial manufacturing and automation, with an understanding of the distinct dynamics across these sectors. “For industrial manufacturers, a successful transaction relies on appreciating their long-term capital needs and operational excellence. My goal is to help these founders realize their life’s work in a way that respects their legacy while positioning them for the next stage of growth,” Jones explains.
The most critical piece of strategic advice she provides to middle-market business owners is simple: look at the business and how it will succeed now and in the future. This is the foundation for enhancing a company’s appeal and maximizing value in today’s market.
Walden M&A welcomes Samantha Jones as a Principal, confident her unique blend of experiences will continue to deliver the highest level of M&A advisory service to our middle-market clients. “I was drawn to Walden M&A’s reputation for deeply strategic, client-first advisory. I’m thrilled to join a team that prioritizes partnership and exceptional outcomes, and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued growth,” Jones concludes.
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