During November, students on the International Business BA Honours course had the opportunity to interact with and learn from speakers from PwC, a global network of firms providing business consulting, assurance and tax services.
The talk featured Steve Derz, Head of Corporate M&A EMEA at PwC, who assesses and leads acquisition projects of PwC member firms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa; as well as Marina Barbir, who focuses on the technology sector and leads the integration of PwC’s acquisitions.
The two speakers delivered an insightful talk to International Business BA Honours students on how the company uses effective communication to successfully acquire firms. Derz and Barbir drew on their extensive experience of acquiring more than 300 firms to emphasise the importance of effective communication and understanding the role that culture plays in mergers and acquisitions.
Steve Derz said: “In every acquisition, the Why? is pivotal. It's the guiding star, turning corporate strategy into reality. Communicating it well enables companies to create more value together.” Marina added: “While confidentiality is paramount to our work, we adapt our communication and content to each project phase, embracing cultural perspectives. Our strategy is finely tuned to resonate with all stakeholders.”
This guest talk allowed the students to see how business theory is put into practice at major firms. During the Q&A session, students were able to gain insight into how a PwC acquisition affects the acquired company policies and the timeline for complete integration.
About the experience first-year student, Haluk Mert Değirmenci, said: “I had the privilege of attending a fantastic talk last night on the communication process in mergers and acquisitions thanks to Marina Barbir and Steve Derz from PwC. Their insights were invaluable and I’m grateful for the knowledge shared."
Another first-year student, Herman Hodne, said: “I found it interesting how Steve and Marina use their experience to grow PwC through acquisitions, and the importance of effective and good communication and understanding of different cultures to make these acquisitions happen.”
Learn more about Business and Management courses at the University of Westminster.
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