VLF Members Join M&A West 2026: Reflections on Leadership, Capital, and M&A in the AI Era
Napa, California | 2026
Members of the Vietnamese Leaders Forum (VLF) recently joined business leaders, investors, private equity professionals, investment bankers, and advisors at M&A West 2026, hosted by ACG San Francisco in Napa Valley.
Under the theme “The Next Vintage of M&A,” the event explored the evolving landscape of mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financing conditions, valuation expectations, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on business strategy and value creation.
A New Era Requires New Thinking
One of the strongest themes throughout the conference was the need for leaders to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing business environment.
Artificial intelligence, shifting capital markets, higher investor scrutiny, and changing growth expectations are reshaping how companies are built, financed, acquired, and scaled. While experience remains valuable, the ability to rethink established assumptions and adapt to new realities is becoming an equally important leadership advantage.
In many cases, progress is not only about learning something new—it is also about unlearning what no longer works.
Key Takeaways from M&A West 2026
The M&A Market Is Becoming More Selective
Investors and acquirers are placing greater emphasis on quality of earnings, operational resilience, management capability, governance, and long-term value creation. Companies seeking capital or acquisition opportunities must be increasingly prepared and disciplined.
Capital Efficiency Matters More Than Ever
The market is no longer rewarding growth at any cost. Businesses are expected to demonstrate sustainable revenue models, healthy margins, operational discipline, and credible paths to profitability.
AI Is Now a Strategic Business Topic
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a core consideration in business operations, productivity, customer experience, and competitive positioning. The conversation has shifted from whether companies are using AI to how effectively they are leveraging it to create long-term value.
A related perspective shared by technology leader Rich Hua highlights an important distinction: successful AI transformation is not primarily a technology challenge—it is fundamentally a leadership, culture, and business transformation challenge. Organizations that focus solely on deploying AI tools without rethinking decision-making processes, operating models, and talent development may struggle to realize meaningful value.
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, leaders must look beyond implementation and focus on how technology can enable better strategy, stronger execution, and sustainable competitive advantage.
Related reading: AI Transformation Is Not Mainly a Technology Challenge – Rich Hua
M&A Preparation Should Start Early
Successful transactions are built years before a company enters a sale process. Strong financial reporting, governance, strategic clarity, and operational readiness all contribute to higher valuations and smoother transactions.
Relationships Continue to Drive Opportunities
Despite advances in technology, M&A remains fundamentally relationship-driven. Trust, reputation, and professional networks continue to play a critical role in deal sourcing, investment opportunities, strategic partnerships, and successful transaction execution.
Looking Ahead
M&A West 2026 served as a timely reminder that the next cycle of growth will require leaders to combine experience with adaptability, discipline with innovation, and strategy with execution.
For the Vietnamese business community and global leaders alike, one lesson stood out clearly: in the AI era, the ability to rethink, unlearn, and adapt may become one of the most valuable leadership skills of all.