---
title: "EP: 82 How to Navigate Acquisitions Without Breaking Your Business with Jessica Wright"
date: 2026-05-06T05:31:13Z
modified: 2026-07-02T20:15:44Z
permalink: "https://amzoptimized.com/podcast/ep-82-how-to-navigate-acquisitions-without-breaking-your-business-with-jessica-wright/"
type: amz-podcast
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 7725
featured_image: "https://amzoptimized.com/wp-content/uploads/hqdefault-250.jpg"
author: Pasha Knish
timestamp: 2026-07-02T20:15:44Z
tags: []
---

On the Agency Operators Podcast, Pasha speaks with Jessica Wright, CEO of A02, about navigating agency acquisitions and the operational realities of transitions. Jessica shares her 20-year Amazon and e-commerce background, from a toy manufacturer to an accelerator that acquired brands, then Seller Labs, and ultimately into A02 through two acquisitions.

They discuss why merging teams is often harder than a true acquisition, the importance of retaining people and culture alongside clients, and why waiting to make redundancy cuts can prevent costly mistakes.

Jessica highlights software transitions—especially ad tech—as a major risk area due to data loss and learning curves that can drive churn, and emphasizes using team feedback, cost analysis, and realistic client communication expectations. She also contrasts client communication changes (email/phone vs Slack) and how setting boundaries and response expectations reduces chaos.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:52 Jess Career Journey

03:37 Hardest Merger Lessons

06:45 People and Role Redundancy

08:07 Software Migration Pitfalls

09:19 How to Track Integration

14:14 Client Communication Changes

16:49 Slack Expectations and Boundaries

20:07 Wrap Up and Contact Info

Listen on Spotify: