Key Learnings from Post-Acquisition
A year ago, WDG—the company I founded and built—took a bold leap and joined the Agital family. Looking back, that milestone wasn’t just a deal on paper. It was the start of a transformative journey of growth, integration, and adaptation.
One year in, I want to share what worked, what surprised us, and what other leaders navigating acquisitions might take away from the experience.
Balancing Continuity and Change
The first question people usually ask me is: “How did you keep your team together?”
The truth: clarity and communication. From day one, I made it a priority to talk openly with the team—about the opportunities, but also the concerns. We addressed the elephant in the room: Would our culture survive the acquisition?
By reinforcing that our core values—creativity, innovation, and a client-first focus—weren’t up for negotiation, we gave people the stability they needed in a moment of uncertainty. That sense of continuity became the foundation for everything that followed.
Leveraging Past Experience
This wasn’t my first time going through an acquisition, and prior lessons shaped how I approached integration. One big one: don’t try to overhaul everything at once.
Instead, we phased integration into smaller, manageable steps. Aligning with Agital’s platform was a challenge, but incremental wins—tightening workflows here, standardizing processes there—built momentum without overwhelming the team.
That discipline kept us moving forward without breaking what already worked.
Growth Through Synergy
The real upside of joining Agital came from the collaborations across divisions. Partnering with REQ expanded what we could deliver in branding and digital strategy. Working with Go Fish Digital allowed us to fold AI-driven SEO seamlessly into our offerings.
These weren’t just “service add-ons.” They changed the scope of what we could achieve for clients. The proof: dozens of new client partnerships in our first year together—and, more importantly, a higher level of value delivered to every engagement.
Meeting Private Equity Expectations
Private equity ownership adds another layer: accountability to growth, margins, and scalability. To meet those expectations, we zeroed in on two things:
Operational Efficiency – We streamlined processes and leaned into data-driven decision-making. AI tools became a quiet but powerful lever—helping us deliver sharper outcomes for clients while boosting internal productivity.
Talent Development – We invested in attracting and retaining top-tier talent across design, development, and strategy. Just as important, we worked to integrate new hires into our culture so they felt connected to WDG’s legacy while embracing Agital’s broader mission.
The Human Element
For all the strategy, metrics, and process improvements, what made this year work was simple: people.
The resilience of our team.
The trust of our clients.
The shared vision across Agital leadership.
As a leader, I’ve learned that empathy and adaptability matter just as much as strategic execution. Listening to feedback—from employees, partners, and clients—helped us course-correct when needed and double down when something was working.
Looking Ahead
The first year post-acquisition has been a success, but it’s only the opening chapter. My focus moving forward is on sustainable growth, innovation, and cultivating a culture of collaboration. We’ll keep refining processes, investing in talent, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
For entrepreneurs considering a similar path, here’s my advice:
Stay true to your values.
Leverage the lessons you’ve learned.
Embrace change as an accelerant, not a threat.
An acquisition isn’t an endpoint—it’s a springboard.
A New Chapter: Harper & Nash
Alongside WDG’s journey, I’m excited to share the launch of Harper & Nash, a new firm focused on helping businesses scale through AI-driven efficiencies and operational excellence. This is my way of taking what I’ve learned—both from building and scaling businesses—and helping others unlock growth in their own journeys.
Here’s to building, growing, and achieving more—together.
Ab Emam
