From Small Companies to Public Markets: 100+ M&A Deals with Callum Laing of Unity Group

For many entrepreneurs, growth means hiring more people, increasing revenue, and expanding into new markets. But what if there were another path to scaling—one that uses capital markets, partnerships, and strategic acquisitions to grow faster and more efficiently? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Callum Laing, partner at Unity Group, investor, entrepreneur, and M&A practitioner who has been involved in more than 100 transactions and helped create over $500 million in shareholder value. Callum specializes in helping ambitious entrepreneurs use the capital markets to scale their companies and unlock new opportunities for growth. Callum explains how small and mid-sized companies can think differently about scaling by leveraging public markets, partnerships, and acquisition strategies rather than relying solely on organic growth. Drawing on decades of experience working with entrepreneurs, investors, and boards, he shares how capital structures and strategic positioning can unlock growth opportunities that many business leaders overlook. The conversation explores Callum’s work building and leading MBH Corporation PLC, a publicly listed holding company designed to help profitable small businesses scale through an agglomeration model. Instead of forcing companies to merge operations, the model allows independent businesses to retain their identity while benefiting from shared resources, capital access, and strategic alignment. Anthony and Callum discuss the realities of mergers and acquisitions, the common mistakes leaders make when approaching deals, and why ego and impatience often undermine successful partnerships. Callum also shares why entrepreneurs must think differently when operating in capital markets, and how the strategic “game” changes once businesses move from private ownership to public market environments. The episode closes with a powerful insight for leaders: scaling a company isn’t only about growing bigger—it’s about building the right structures, partnerships, and strategy that allow businesses to create long-term value. Responsible for strategy? We’ve created Strategic Leadership Foundations — a concise executive course on alignment, decision-making, and execution structure. It’s free, practical, and designed for leaders running the process themselves. Enroll here: https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit For in-person strategic planning and leadership alignment programs: https://www.smestrategy.net In this episode, you will learn: How small businesses can use capital markets to accelerate growth Why mergers and acquisitions can be powerful tools for scaling companies How the agglomeration model allows businesses to grow without losing independence The strategic differences between running a private company and operating in public markets Why patience and alignment matter more than speed when structuring M&A deals How entrepreneurs can think differently about partnerships, capital, and long-term value creation Connect with Callum Laing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumlaing/ Unity Group: https://www.unity-group.com/ Website: https://www.callumlaing.com/ About the Host Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals. Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604 About SME Strategy SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results. Learn more: www.smestrategy.net Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com