Transforming M&A: Lessons in Culture, Growth, and Purpose with Ron 'Omani' Carson

Apr 7, 2025

Ron 'Omani' Carson, founder of the Carson Group and Omya, shares his inspiring journey from launching a financial firm in his college dorm to managing over $30 billion in assets. He reflects on his first challenging M&A deal and how it shaped his understanding of success and connection. Omani discusses his transformative mindset shift toward love and abundance, emphasizing the importance of mental wellness in business. He also explores conscious capitalism and how merging personal joy with professional purpose can create a thriving workplace culture.

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ANECDOTE

Dorm Room Beginnings

Ron Carson started Carson Group in his college dorm room at Able Hall, cold-calling from a phone book.
His initial venture was selling life insurance to farmers after his parents' farm went bankrupt.

ANECDOTE

Love Affair Marketing

Carson initially struggled to gain clients' trust, facing rejection at their doorsteps.
He found success by giving out Valentine's Day candy, which sparked the idea of "love affair marketing."

ADVICE

Systematize Client Relationships

Systematize client interactions by learning about their interests, goals, and preferences.
Use this information to connect with them personally and build stronger relationships.

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Ron “Omani” Carson, Founder and Chairman at Carson Group | Founder of Omya

We sit down with Ron “Omani” Carson, founder of Carson Group, for a wide-ranging conversation about transformation—both professional and personal. From launching a financial services firm out of a college dorm room to building a national platform with over $30 billion in assets under management, Omani shares the gritty beginnings, his early lessons in love affair marketing and systemization, and why his first M&A deal nearly broke him.

But the real story unfolds around age 50, when Omani underwent a profound mindset shift—from fear and scarcity to love and abundance. This new lens on leadership reshaped Carson Group’s culture, unlocked purpose-driven M&A, and set the stage for launching Omya, his newest venture focused on helping entrepreneurs align joy, legacy, and impact.

This episode is more than M&A—it’s a masterclass in reinvention, authentic leadership, and building businesses that matter.

Things you will learn:

How to scale a firm through systemization and “love affair” client marketing
What went wrong in Carson Group’s first M&A deal—and how they rebounded
How trauma and personal evolution can drive professional reinvention
What “conscious capitalism” looks like in a modern financial firm

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What is the Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit

Only two weeks left to register! This half-day event brings together corporate development leaders and M&A experts to explore Buyer-Led M&A™, showing how you can take control of every stage of the deal. Register Now: DealRoom.net/Summit

________ Episode Chapters:

[00:01:00] Dorm room origins and cold-calling farmers in Nebraska

[00:07:00] Early success, burnout, and chasing money without fulfillment

[00:10:30] Love affair marketing, process systemization, and client growth

[00:18:00] Lessons from their first M&A deal: culture clash, team turnover, missed red flags

[00:23:30] Partner program and minority investments: a better M&A model

[00:27:00] Personal transformation at age 50 and the birth of “Omani”

[00:35:00] Embracing spirituality, mental wellness, and psychedelic therapy

[00:40:00] Impact investing, farming regeneration, and the trillion-dollar goal

[00:46:00] How Carson’s culture shifted—and made M&A better

[00:51:00] 7-day water fasts, health optimization, and living life with intention

[00:55:00] The craziest M&A moment: the painful first acquisition