Middle Market Growth

Hosted by Association of Corporate Growth

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Episodes

186

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

The Middle Market Growth podcast features in-depth interviews with industry experts and middle-market dealmakers about trends impacting midsize companies and M&A. This podcast is a production of the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about ACG, visit acg.org. To hear more interviews with experts and thought leaders, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 22, 202614 min

PE's Evolving Playbook: How Competition Changed Buyer Behavior

Since 2020, private equity has seen high highs and low lows, and in a more competitive and condensed market, firms are having to pull different levers to see value. Adrian Nohr, principal with CLA, joins the podcast to share her perspective on how shifting market dynamics are influencing buyer behavior, discuss how dealmakers are navigating valuation gap, and explore the latest considerations leading firms are evaluating to remain competitive. This episode is brought to you by CLA. Learn more at claconnect.com. The Middle Market Growth podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 15, 202619 min

Beyond Layoffs: Where AI Transitions Can Leak Value

AI has fueled white-collar layoffs at blue chip companies, but many middle-market workers and leaders are uncertain of exactly how and when AI will impact their lives and businesses. Stephen Murray, founder and president of Grow Fast Advisory, shares how AI is driving change in the middle market, where value can leak during the transition to AI, and what well-managed AI adoption gets right. This episode is brought to you by Grow Fast Advisory, AI-enhanced advisory for critical transitions. Learn more at growfastadvisory.com. The Middle Market Growth podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 8, 202614 min

Lending to Consumer-Focused Businesses Amidst Inflationary Pressures

Geopolitical tensions have shaken the markets, spiked fuel prices, and created new financial challenges for consumers at the gas pump and beyond. Joining the podcast to share more about the health of the consumer sector and what it means for lending in the space are WhiteHorse Capital’s Javier Casillas and Stephen Migdal. This episode is brought to you by WhiteHorse Capital. To learn more about WhiteHorse, visit WhiteHorse.com. The Middle Market Growth podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

May 1, 202622 min

The Next Generation of Law Firm Deals

In the last fifteen months, private equity investment in law firms has gone from theoretical to reality. Tom Lenfestey of the Law Practice Exchange is back with the podcast to talk about new legal and regulatory developments, what drives multiples in law firm valuations, the cultural elements dealmakers should consider, and more. This episode is brought to you by Hilco Global. Learn more at hilcoglobal.com. The Middle Market Growth podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

April 24, 202629 min

The Four Types of Middle-Market Decision Makers

Recent research from the National Center for the Middle Market (NCMM) found there are four distinct styles of decision making for strategic leaders in the middle market, each with impacts on performance and growth. Doug Farren, executive director of the NCMM, is back with the podcast to talk about those decision-making styles and what they mean for business leaders and investors. This podcast is brought to you by Grata. Learn more at grata.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

April 10, 202618 min

Redefining the Middle Market for a New Age of M&A

New research from RSM argues that the way we define the middle market is due for a major change. Tuan Nguyen, an economist at RSM, says the shifts in the makeup of the middle market have major implications for the people that work within it. Nguyen joins the podcast to dive into the findings and share the biggest takeaways for middle-market business leaders and dealmakers. This episode is brought to you by Hilco Global. Learn more at hilcoglobal.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

March 27, 202618 min

The Anatomy of a DealMAX Deal: Inside DealMAX with Datasite and Blueflame AI

For the sixth episode of this year's Inside DealMAX series, we talk to two attendees who ended up inking a deal at last year's DealMAX. Doug Cullen, chief strategy officer of Datasite, and Henry Lindemann, cofounder and chief growth officer of Blueflame AI, join the podcast to share their story, tips for those who hope to replicate their success at this year's DealMAX, and data-based insights for M&A in 2026. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

March 20, 202619 min

Browsing Retail M&A with PwC’s Mike Ross

ACG’s Q1 Market Pulse Survey found that retail was the sector least likely to see increased M&A activity in the first half of 2026. But a closer look reveals a more nuanced market, says Mike Ross, U.S. consumer markets deal leader at PwC. He joins the podcast to explore the consumer habits creating investment opportunity, why carve-outs have grown in popularity, and more. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

March 13, 202625 min

Through the Lender’s Lens: Inside DealMAX with Christine Nowaczyk and Jalal Taby

What’s ahead for the lending world in the year ahead, and how does that play into why lenders come to DealMAX? In our fifth Inside DealMAX episode of 2026, we’re joined by Christine Nowaczyk, SVP at U.S. Bank, and Jalal Taby, SVP at Comerica Bank—both veteran lenders and DealMAX attendees—to talk about their lending outlook for 2026 and how they get the most out of DealMAX. Register today at dealmax.org. This episode is brought to you by Grata. Learn more at grata.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

March 6, 202621 min

The Micro Clues That Could Win the Deal

Have you ever wished you could get a memo on what the person negotiating with you across the table is really thinking? You can, says microexpressions expert Annie Sarnblad, if you learn to read the minute and universal facial cues that everyone makes. Sarnblad joins the podcast to explain why microexpressions matter and how to make them work for you in negotiations. This episode is brought to you by Grata. Learn more at grata.com. The Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To hear more interviews with middle-market dealmakers and industry experts, subscribe on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.