THE FUSE

Nearly a decade into his career at a fast-growing tech consulting firm, Ned had earned a reputation for discipline and strategic clarity, rising quickly by building the company’s highest-performing division. That success helped put the firm on a larger company’s radar and ultimately led to an acquisition. When the deal closed, Ned thought the toughest work was behind him. But as part of the acquisition, he was offered a generous retention bonus and asked to stay on to lead the integration of the two organizations. On paper, it looked like a straightforward assignment. In reality, it became the defining leadership test of the acquisition and of Ned’s career, revealing how quickly morale can erode when uncertainty and connection go unaddressed.