Smarter Due Diligence in a Fast-Paced World

The Business Emergency Room: For Leaders Facing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity (VUCA)

Most business failures can be traced back to weak or rushed due diligence, and that gap often turns into costly business risk. When the stakes are high, whether you are hiring a key leader, buying a company, or entering new partnerships, how do you really know what you are agreeing to? What signs should you pay attention to, and what details are easy to miss?

In this episode, Maartje van Krieken talks about the risks that come when leaders treat due diligence as an afterthought. She shares clear numbers that show how often deals fall apart and brings those numbers to life with real stories, from a merger that exposed hidden problems to a so-called star hire who never even left his old job.

Maartje also offers a five-part framework to help leaders focus: define what success should look like, admit what you do not know, look for the dirty laundry, clear out bias, and set exit options before you need them. These steps will not catch every problem, but they will help you avoid unnecessary risk and build partnerships that can stand the test of time.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Importance of Due Diligence in Business

03:25 High Failure Rates in Acquisitions

03:57 Small Gas Company Merger Example

05:08 Hiring Disaster in Russia

09:05 Public Examples of Due Diligence Failures

09:59 Define Critical Success Factors

12:07 Use AI for Smarter Due Diligence

13:30 Look for the Dirty Laundry

15:28 Eliminate Decision-Making Biases

19:01 Create Outs and Prenups in Partnerships

20:57 Success Story: Oil and Gas Joint Venture

25:33 Final Insights on Managing Business Risk

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

The Chaos Games Consulting

The Business Emergency Room

LinkedIn

Substack

YouTube

Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm