In unchartered waters, intent is your only compass

There’s a frantic energy in the air—and not just because RSA is in town.

Catching up with a few friends this past weekend, the conversation veered towards all the partnership and M&A activity expected coming out of RSA—and the broader scramble as companies wrestle with how to move as AI upends entire industries.

The old routes don’t apply anymore. AI is pushing us all into open water. Most leaders are steering through fog.

Reflecting on years of driving inorganic growth—whether at startups, scale-ups, consulting for Fortune 100s, or now as an entrepreneur—I’ve learned one thing: intent is your only real compass.

When you’re navigating uncharted waters, intent keeps you from drifting aimlessly.

In my experience, there are four distinct paths for driving inorganic growth:

Bulk Up:  Acquire to scale fast—go big and claim market share by merging with a direct competitor or overlapping player.

Knit:  Add adjacencies—bring in new technologies, teams, or capabilities that expand your TAM and strengthen your core offering.

Columbus:  Embrace bold exploration. Venture into untapped markets or experiment with business models that defy conventional wisdom. Done right, it can be transformative.

Divest:  Sometimes less is more. Shed non-core assets to lighten the load and sharpen your focus on what truly matters.

And they are not mutually exclusive.
Looking back at my time at Ixia, we successfully ran all four plays— infact within a 3–4 year window.

So if you’re plotting your own AI journey—or facing your next big inorganic move—don’t just reach for someone else’s map. Check your compass. Start with intent.

In uncharted waters, intent isn’t just helpful—it’s the only thing that keeps you from sailing in circles.

What path are you choosing?