Inside Corporate Finance: Three Perspectives on Building a Career in M&A

What does a career in M&A really involve?

In this special edition of IMAP’s Inside Corporate Finance series, Katie Kohli from Capstone Partners - IMAP USA, Gizem Uzuner from Danista Capital Partners - IMAP Turkey, and Marie-Audrey De Marco from Indosuez Corporate Advisory - IMAP France, share three different perspectives on the profession -  from the breadth of experience it can offer, to the importance of judgement, trust, and understanding the human side of a transaction.

Together, their experiences show why a career in M&A extends far beyond financial analysis alone.

What Makes a Career in M&A So Varied?

For Katie, one of the strengths of corporate finance is the breadth of exposure it provides.

A career in M&A can mean working across different industries, businesses, leadership teams and investors, creating an opportunity to build a broad understanding of how companies operate and make strategic decisions.

Her own path, including experience as an entrepreneur, also shapes the importance she places on advising business owners through transactions that may represent a defining moment for them.

Why Does Insight Matter as Much as Analysis in M&A?

For Gizem, corporate finance sits at the centre of important decisions.

Strong analysis is fundamental, but the real value comes from being able to understand the wider business, interpret complexity, and turn information into meaningful insight.

That perspective also influences the relationship with clients. Developing trust over time and helping clients navigate complex decisions are central to how she views the role of an M&A advisor.

Why Is M&A About More Than the Numbers?

Marie-Audrey highlights the pace and variety of a career in M&A, with exposure to different types of transactions, industries and strategic situations.

The work brings together financial, strategic and legal considerations, but she also emphasises the human dimension. Working closely with founders and management teams means understanding the people behind the transaction can be just as important as understanding the financial analysis.

What Can a Career in Corporate Finance Teach You?

Across all three perspectives, a common theme emerges: M&A provides an opportunity to understand businesses from multiple angles. It requires analytical capability, but also curiosity, judgement, communication, and the ability to build trusted relationships.

And because every business, transaction and client situation is different, the learning never really stops.

Click Here to watch the video to hear their perspectives.