Middle Market Growth Conversations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

It's possible that no one knows more about DealMAX than Kate Weaver, vice president of events at ACG. She joins us for the fourth episode of this year's Inside DealMAX series to share the secrets behind the scenes and what attendees can look forward to this year, as well as hot tips and conference hacks only an insider would know. To join us at DealMAX, learn more at dealmax.org. 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.

While data providers may see M&A conferences as an opportunity to seek out dealmakers, GF Data's Ruben Burke and Ryan McCann say DealMAX flips the script and offers a chance for the dealmakers to come to them. The two sit down for the third episode of this year's Inside DealMAX series to share how they engage with the middle-market M&A community, plus offer some sneak peeks into the latest of GF Data's findings on the state of the market. Register today at dealmax.org. Learn more about GF Data, an ACG company, at gfdata.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.

From geopolitical events to tariff fallout, 2025 brought plenty of surprises, and 2026 will surely hold some of its own. Pankaj Gupta, CEO of WhiteHorse Capital, and Stuart Aronson, chair of WhiteHorse Capital, are back with the podcast to share their observations on how the lending space was impacted by the events of 2025 and their predictions for the year ahead—for the lending world and the broader M&A marketplace. This episode is brought to you by WhiteHorse Capital. To learn more about WhiteHorse, visit whitehorse.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.

Many industries, including management consulting and legal firms, have long used a talent model that requires hiring large classes of entry-level workers. Now that AI efficiency gains have appeared in many sectors, that large pool of new hires is being trimmed down—but what does that mean for firms that will need mid-career and senior workers in a few years? Atta Tarki, founder and chair of ECA Partners, discusses the challenge, how it will impact PE firms and their portfolio companies, and how business and talent strategies will need to evolve in the age of AI. 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.

Last August, President Trump issued an executive order for the Department of Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission to lay a framework allowing private equity investments within 401(k)s. The initiative would unlock a new, potentially massive source of capital. But democratizing private equity for retail investors would have many implications for firms, says Jim Walker, partner and global head of wealth at Adams Street Partners. He joins the podcast to discuss how this initiative might play out, how the PE community can prepare, and what firms can learn from existing funds developed for high net worth individuals. 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.