The middle market continues to face an uncertain and challenging environment, but new data from KeyBank’s Middle Market Snapshot survey reveals something surprising about midmarket borrowers’ use of private capital: It’s become an important lever for strategic growth, not just survival. KeyBank’s Chris Picardi joins the podcast in a conversation about more of the survey’s findings and considers how lenders can position themselves as partners that tailor the capital stack to businesses’ unique needs.

This episode is brought to you by KeyBank. Learn more at key.com. All credit, loan, and leasing products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval terms, conditions, and availability and subject to change. This is for general information purposes only and does not consider the specific investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs of any individual person or entity. Information included was prepared based on survey respondents’ answers, information from business leaders considered to be reliable, and an express disclaimer of warranty, express or implied, as to such information’s accuracy or completeness. KeyBank does not provide legal advice. 260608-4572578

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.

Firms that can respond swiftly to a complicated and rapidly shifting investment environment have a competitive advantage. Creating that agility requires the right human capital strategy, a component that is often overlooked, says Insperity Private Capital Consultant Brad Burke. He joins the podcast to offer tips on enhancing operational agility through people pre- and post-close, how AI plays into the equation, and more.

This episode is brought to you by Insperity. For more information, visit Insperity.com/ACG.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.