CSI Chat

We are joined by business Professors Feng Gu and Baruch Lev to discuss their latest book, "The M&A Failure Trap:  Why Most Mergers and Acquisitions Fail and How the Few Succeed".   We talk to Professor Gu and Professor Lev about: * The process of analyzing historical acquisitions and how they reached the conclusion that most M&A ends in failure.  * Over time, has the M&A failure rate improved or gotten worse?  The statistics are surprising.    * What are some of the main reasons why M&A ends in failure?  The Professors have also put together a "M&A Checklist" which should help companies in their M&A process.   It is a very interesting discussion with Professor Gu and Professor Lev and I hope everyone enjoys it!

We are joined by Pav Gill, formerly of Wirecard and perhaps the most famous whistle-blower on the planet.  Despite serious risk to Pav's physical well-being and his professional reputation, he made the courageous decision to blow the whistle on the issues he was seeing within Wirecard.   During our "CSI Chat" with Pav, we talk to him about: - His decision-making process to originally join Wirecard as legal counsel and how long it took him to realize that there may be serious issues within the Company.   - What were some of the issues he was seeing within Wirecard and why didn't anyone listen to his concerns?   - At one point, Pav was instructed by his superiors at Wirecard to travel to another country for a "business trip".  Pav later realized that if he decided to hop on the plane, it would be a "one way trip".  Pav explains.   I hope everyone enjoys the "Chat" with Pav!

We are joined by Dan McCrum, an investigative reporter from the Financial Times who wrote extensively about Wirecard and was the author of the terrific book, "Money Men:  A Hot Start-up, A Billion Dollar Fraud, A Fight for the Truth" which chronicles the story of Wirecard, the large German payment processing company which collapsed.  During our "CSI Chat" with Dan, we discuss: -  The role of an investigative reporter and the extensive research which goes into articles produced by the Financial Times.  There is an incredible amount of work involved prior to hitting "Print".  How does Dan sleep the night before a big story?  Dan explains during the chat.   - Dan outlines how he first crossed path with Wirecard and the early signs he uncovered which indicated there might be a problem.  Dan also outlines his interactions with some of the executives at Wirecard.   - Dan explains the risk he encountered to both his safety and his professional reputation while pursuing this story.  From Russian poison recipes to plots to plant drugs in the back of Dan's car, this is an example whereby the truth is stranger than fiction! I hope everyone enjoys our "CSI Chat" with Dan!

We are joined on “CSI Chat” by retired United States Navy SEAL Drago Dzieran. Drago wrote an terrific book entitled “The Pledge to America: One Man’s Journey from Political Prisoner to U.S. Navy SEAL”. During our "Chat", Drago and I talk about: * The challenges of growing up in Poland under the Communist rule and how we was able to immigrate to the United States. Drago’s time in Poland included being locked up as a political prisoner under extremely difficult circumstances. * Drago became a US Navy Seal at the age of 31 (which is very old when it comes to a Navy SEAL). Drago talks about surviving the extensive US Navy SEAL training and the notorious “Hell Week”. I hope everyone enjoys our "CSI Chat" with Drago.

We are joined on CSI Chat by Crypto Currency expert Jake Ryan to talk about Crypto and his book “Crypto Asset Investing in the Age of Autonomy”. If you were looking for a “Crypto 101 Seminar”, you will find the “Chat” very interesting. During our "CSI Chat" with Jake, we talk about: * The current state of the “United States Dollar” and how Crypto Currency may play a significant role in the future. * The history of Crypto Currency/Bitcoin and how it was developed by a yet to be identified founder, “Satoshi Nakamoto”. * Crypto 101 basics including the the role of a blockchain and a more fundamental question on how to value the various Crypto Currencies which currently exist on the market place. I hope everyone enjoys our "CSI Chat" with Jake!