Insider's Valuation Technic (2022-2024)

The year 2021 marked a pivotal chapter in my career at McKinsey. After six years with the firm, I advanced from a novice in the financial industry, lacking even a basic understanding of financial statements, to an official expert in McKinsey's M&A service-line. It was also the year I earned my CFA charter, the result of 2.5 years of dedicated effort during early mornings and weekends. Furthermore, 2021 was the year I was promoted to Associate Partner, a recognized leadership role within McKinsey.

With these accomplishments, the desire to share knowledge and experience with younger generations began to take shape. The aim was to help others without a formal academic background in finance quickly grasp the essential concepts and practical skills required in M&A scenarios. Fresh off the completion of translating McKinsey's bestseller, Valuation (7th edition), the idea of writing a book tailored to entry-level professionals emerged as a logical next step.

A close friend from college, now an M&A expert at Deloitte, became a natural collaborator for this project. With his earlier experience as a CPA and CFA, he had always been my trusted resource for technical insights. The collaboration was a perfect fit, as McKinsey's expertise in the commercial aspects of M&A due diligence complemented Deloitte's focus on the financial side.

Weekend meetings took place in various settings---McKinsey and Deloitte offices, cafes, libraries, and even each other's homes. The first draft took about a year to complete, followed by another year of design and editing in InDesign. Around the time the first draft was finalized, I made a personal decision to leave McKinsey and embark on a new entrepreneurial venture.

In January 2024, the book was finally published by In-Loud, the same publisher that handled the translation of Valuation. The book quickly found its way into numerous online and offline retailers and received attention from a range of bloggers. Invitations for lectures followed, and the book was prominently displayed in several public spaces.