M&A Science Podcast - #1 Podcast for M&A Practitioners

the m&A Science podcast

The M&A stories that don't make the deck

The operators behind billions in acquisitions, telling you how it actually went. Learn from the calls they made, the ones they'd take back, and the judgment that never makes it into a case study. Hosted by Kison Patel, every Thursday.

Hundreds of acquisitions of hard-won experience, straight from the people who lived it.

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Latest episodes

Diligence

Ken Bond

How to Structure Teams Approaching M&A Diligence

In this interview, Ken Bond, former Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, talks about how to structure your M&A team as you approach diligence, look for a project manager, and source deals.

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Mark Khavkin

How to Negotiate and Structure NDAs in an M&A Deal

An NDA is not a routine document in an M&A deal. It is vital in setting up the relationship of both parties as they move forward. Discussing in-depth how to negotiate and structure NDAs in an M&A deal is Mark Khavkin, CFO at Pantheon Platform.

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Gwen Pope

Making M&A GTM Successful

A go-to-market plan should be a top priority during an acquisition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gwen Pope, Head of Global Product M&A at eBay, talks about how to make our M&A GTM successful.

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Aaron Whiting

Sabeeh Khan

Managing M&A Sourcing, Diligence and Integration

In this interview, we are going to talk about managing sourcing, diligence and integration from a project manager's perspective featuring Sabeeh Khan, Director, Corporate Strategy & Development at Syniti and Aaron Whiting, M&A Integration and Strategic Programs at ContinuumCloud

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Trish Mosconi

Staying True to Culture in M&A

Culture is one of the most controversial and hot topics in the world of M&A. Most people say that Culture isn’t a deal killer. But not for Trish Mosconi, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Corporate Development at Synchrony. In our interview, she talks about how they walked away from an almost perfect deal due to cultural differences.

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Integration

Strategy

Karen Ashley

How to Commit to Integration from Start to Finish

Fully committing to integration starts with a deep partnership between corp dev and integration. Learn all about it featuring Karen Ashley, Vice President of Corporate Development Integration at Cisco.

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Russ Hartz

Execute a Divestiture Without Using a Bank

Bankers have a massive role in the M&A industry, and often, they help buyers and sellers connect and close deals. But regardless of popular belief, with the right amount of dedication and resources, a company can execute divestitures without a bank.

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Integration

Christina Amiry

Evolving Your M&A Integration Function

Executing an entire M&A deal can be done remotely. Catch this interview as Christina Amiry, Head of M&A Strategic Operations, Integration at Atlassian, shares with us how to work in a fully remote environment, the tools that they use, and how they engage with people all over the world.

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Adam Coffey

Buy and Build Strategy

PE firms have a very short-term holding period and need to grow businesses fast. Adam Coffey, former CEO at CoolSys, Refrigeration and HVAC Systems, is an expert on growing these companies using the buy and build strategy. In this article, he will share what it is and how to create sustainable success.

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Pragnya Kashinath

Making GTM a Success

A GTM strategy is one of the most important parts of an integration plan. In this episode, Pragnya Kashinath, M&A Consultant at Deloitte, talks about creating a successful GTM strategy from the very beginning of the transaction and the challenges that go with it.

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Strategy

Cameron Weiner

Buy or Build Considerations in M&A

Before you start any acquisition, you should always consider whether to buy it or build it yourself. In this episode of the M&A science podcast, Cameron Weiner, VP of Strategic Development, Head of M&A at Shopko Optical, shares how they source deals and determine whether they should buy or build.

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Punit Minocha

Engineering Deals for Success

M&A deals are never easy, and requires rigorous planning. In this interview, Punit Micocha, Executive Vice President, Business and Corporate Development at Zscaler, is going to help us execute successful deals by planning the end game.

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Peter Linas

Managing Infrequent Acquisitions

In this episode, Peter Linas, CPO & EVP Corporate Development at Bullhorn, talks about how his corporate development team looks like in an infrequent acquisition environment, and how they hire external consultants to make their deals successful.

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Strategy

Alexi Venneri

Conducting Effective M&A Without a Dedicated Team

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a dedicated M&A team to execute successful transactions. With proper team alignment and motivation, getting deals done is very much possible.

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Strategy

Divestiture

General

Duncan Painter

How To Make Transformational M&A Successful

We all know that M&A can transform a business overnight if the deal is done correctly. However, not everyone knows how to make transformative M&A successful. In this interview, Duncan Painter, former CEO at Ascential Plc, talks about transformational deals for their company and how they make it successful.

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General

Jay Dettling

How to Preserve Value in M&A

In this episode, Jay Dettling, former CEO of Ansira, talks about preserving value in M&A. Learn how Jay creates value during integration, retains value when being acquired, and the importance of communication. Jay shares his experience being on both sides of the deal, the best tips for communicating, how you can manage FUD, and what CEOs going through acquisition should expect and prepare for.

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Michael DeVita

Assessing Value Realization

Kison interviews Mike DeVita, Business Value Advisor at Salesforce, about how to assess value realization, what is it, how it works, the steps, and the common challenges. Mike has an impressive career history, previously serving as Salesforce's Success Strategy Lead and prior to that as Director of M&A Integration at Walgreens.

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Strategy

Strategy

Darshan Mehta

How to use Multiple Deal Structures to Make Partnerships Successful in India

Reliance Retail is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world. Learn how they manage multiple deal structures to make their partnerships successful directly from their President and CEO, Darshan Mehta.

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Rhonda Rein

Executing Divestitures

Divestiture is not the reverse of an acquisition, and it certainly takes more work and more preparation. In this episode, Rhonda Rein, former Director, Corporate Development at Thomson Reuters, helps us understand where divestiture starts, how TSA work and what happens after close.

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Jason Lippert

How To Successfully Execute Deals With A Small Team

Do you need a team of dedicated M&A professionals to successfully execute M&A deals? Jason Lippert, CEO of LCI Industries (NYSE : LCII) shares how they were able to conduct M&A deals with a tiny team.

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Randy Tinsley

Managing Internal Dynamics

Randy Tinsley, Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Synopsys, talks about how to manage the internal dynamics of your organization. Learn how to assemble your team, steps to take to ensure internal alignment, and how Randy tracks deals 3 years out post-close.

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Jay Jester

Deal Origination from a PE Investor's Perspective

Jay Jester, Partner at Plexus Capital, LLC, talks about the key differences between how corporate development, private equity, and investment bankers source deals. Learn about how investment bankers' perceptions are changing, the banker selection process, and how private equity employees source deals.

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Mladen Kresic

How to Negotiate Like a Pro

Most of us are always negotiating in our everyday lives but do you want to learn how to negotiate like a pro? Mladen Kresic, Founder and CEO of K&R Negotiation Associates LLC, shared a lot when it comes to negotiating effectively in this episode.

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William Stone

How SS&C Conducts Acquisitions

William (Bill) Stone, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SS&C Technologies, a global provider of software and investment/financial services. Bill shares how their strategies have changed and the key lessons he has learned from conducting over 50 acquisitions.

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Darren Lampert

From Private to Public Company

In this episode, Darren Lampert, CEO at GrowGeneration Corp, talks about what it's like going from a private to a public company. Darren lived through this transition and discusses how M&A has changed from private to public, how life as a CEO changed, and the benefits of becoming a public company.

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Ailene Holderness

How to Build an M&A Team That Can Support Multi-Vertical Strategies

Managing a multi-vertical M&A strategy requires a high-performing team, full of perpetual learners and with a strong appetite for risk-taking. In this episode, Ailene Holderness, former Head of M&A at IAC, talks about how they manage their multi-vertical strategy and how to build a high-performing M&A team.

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Jeff Bender

Managing M&A on a High Scale

What does it take to manage M&A on a high scale? Jeff Bender, CEO at Harris, shares what their entire process looks like and how they are able to manage massive volumes on M&A deals in their organization

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Dustin Intihar

Hunting Deals in M&A

Kison talks to Dustin Intihar, former Director of M&A and Strategic Alliances at The Lubrizol Corporation, about how to hunt for deals in M&A. Learn how to get a target to take your call, what that first conversation should look like, and how Dustin coaches business leaders on strategy development and target identification.

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Philip Soar

How to Prepare a Business for Private Equity Acquisition

In this episode, Philip Soar shares his approach to sourcing opportunities, what does he look for in a company, and the different techniques to cultivate relationships with PE firms.

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Martin Richenhagen

How To Prevent International Deals From Failing

Join this discussion as Kison and Martin talk about best practices when conducting international deals.

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General

Scott Hile

Developing Leadership in M&A

Often, leadership is overlooked in M&A. But make no mistake, a successful deal is largely attributed to leadership, much as it is when the deal fails

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Allen Gilmer

The Role of A Board Member in M&A

Kison speaks with Allen Gilmer, Founder of Enverus (formerly Drillinginfo) who has an interesting story of starting an M&A function from scratch and hiring a COO so he can step back but still retain control as a board member.

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Jeff Hennig

Managing M&A Communication Workstream

Jeff Hennig, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Xilinx, shares about how to put an effective workflow in place to manage communication. Learn when to start planning your communication strategy, common challenges, and why having a communication strategy is so important.

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General

Brett Shawn

M&A Deals From a Legal Perspective

Kison will be talking to Brett Shawn, Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Warburg Pincus LLC to discuss how M&A is executed from the legal perspective. They'll be covering minority deals, the different types of risks you are looking for in a deal-and how to mitigate them including COVID-19 related risks.

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General

Andrew Gratz

The Legal Team’s Role in M&A

In this episode, Andrew shares why the legal team's involvement early in the deal process is important and the different key milestones in a deal they are responsible for. He also talks about the dangers of deal fever, working with corporate development teams, and more.

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Strategy

Clayton Stanley

Joint Ventures at Scale

Clayton Stanley, Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners, talks about how to make the JV model work on scale and figuring out the right size of the M&A team. Learn about how you can create a joint venture model that is scalable and the prioritization of tasks.

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Strategy

Kimberly Baird

Ashley Rice

Evolving To Agile M&A at Scale

This episode of the M&A Science podcast features our friends over at Cisco. In this interview, we talked about evolving to Agile M&A at scale, with Ashley Rice, Sr. Consultant HR M&A at Cisco, and Kimberly Baird, Corporate Development Integration Lead at Cisco.

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Integration

Javid Moosaji

Transforming M&A to Improve Integration

This week's episode of the M&A Science podcast is unique. We recorded it almost a year ago but it got lost in the production process. Javid Moosaji, former M&A Sales Integration Strategy at PayPal. It's too good not to share with the M&A community - listen to it and you'll know why.

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Strategy

Matt Arsenault

Career Paths in M&A

Kison interviews Matt Arsenault, Vice President of Corporate Development at Jamf, about the many career paths you can take in M&A. Learn how to shift career path gears, roles to look for when transitioning, and what the future of a corporate development role may look like.

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Strategy

Emma Barton

Conversations From The Frontlines

This episode is a session from our Holiday Summit last December with Emma Barton, Director, Alliance and Integration Management at AstraZeneca. We're talking about the spectrum of deals corporate development manages approaching partnerships and alliances and how those relationships may progress into M&A.

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Integration

Carlos Cesta

Agile Value Capture from Initial Deal Prospecting to Integration

This episode of M&A Science is a session from the M&A Science Holiday Summit last year. The interview featured Carlos Cesta, Vice President of Corp Dev at Presidio discussed the best practices to capture value from initial deal prospecting to integration.

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Strategy

John Orbe

Structuring Corporate Venture Capital Deals

Kison sits down with John Orbe, Associate General Counsel - M&A at Emerson to talk about corporate VC deals, what the process looks like, and how to navigate challenges you may encounter.

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Strategy

Jerry Will

Managing a Multi-Vertical M&A Strategy

Join Kison on this interview with Jerry Will, former Vice President of Corporate Development at 3M. We'll be learning about managing a multi-vertical M&A strategy through continuous improvement and leadership development.

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Strategy

Elena Sidelnikova

Identifying Risks in Software M&A

Join Kison and Elena Sidelnikova, former Head of Finance and Corporate Development/M&A, CFO at Always Compassionate Home Care, for an interview about how to identify risks in software M&A.

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Strategy

Michael Palumbo

Evolving Your Corporate Development Function

How do you start building your corp dev function from scratch? Where would you start when you are the very first person in your department?

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Strategy

Gina Sandon

How to Evolve Your M&A Workflow Using Agile Principles

Kison interviews Gina Sandon, Director, Corporate Development, Merger & Acquisitions Synergy, Integration and Transition at IBM, about how to evolve your M&A workflow using Agile principles.

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Sean Alford

Building a Partnership Between the Investment Sponsor and Operating Sponsor

The partnership between the investment sponsor and the operating sponsor needs to be symbiotic to fully align both sides and help each other make the right decisions on deals. Learn how do these sponsors support each other through a transaction in this episode.

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Integration

Johanna Tseng

How Proactive Integration Engagement Can Differentiate Value in Deals

In this episode of M&A Science, Kison speaks with Johanna Tseng, former M&A Integration Leader at Coinbase. Learn how early your integration team should get involved in a transaction and how you can optimize integration planning.

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Integration

Carlos Cesta

Aligning People in M&A for a Better Outcome

In this episode, Kison speaks with Carlos Cesta, Vice President of Corporate Development at Presidio, about aligning leadership for greater deal success. Together they discuss leveraging employees to ensure deal success, when to start thinking about integration, and developing a joint integration plan.

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General

Philip Pratt

How to Build an M&A Center of Excellence from Scratch

Building an M&A center of excellence comes with both challenges and benefits. Hear from an industry professional at Corning what steps you should take to build one, challenges you may encounter, and how to gain buy-in from leadership.

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Strategy

Jeff Baker

Navigating International Deals

Kison speaks with Jeff Baker, EVP, Mergers, and Acquisitions at InComm to discuss the complex world of international deals. Jeff talks about how to handle culture clash, why asking questions goes a long way, making sure you watch out for illegal activities, and more.

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Diligence

Christina Ungaro

Structuring Talent Focused Acquisitions

On this episode of M&A Science, Kison interviews Christina Ungaro, former Head of Corporate Development at JLL. Together they discuss how companies should structure talent-focused acquisitions, breaking down exactly what that kind of transaction requires and entails, the necessary diligence, and how to make these deals successful.

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Strategy

Jeremy Segal

Building a Corporate Development Team with Contingencies

Building a corporate development team is hard. Building one to include joint ventures and strategic partnerships is even harder. Learn from an industry professional how you can align your team with multiple mandates to ensure success.

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Diligence

Klint Kendrick

The HR Practitioner’s Guide to M&A Due Diligence

On this episode of M&A Science, Kison Patel speaks with Dr. Klint Kendrick, Chair of HR, M&A roundtable. Together they discuss the HR practitioner's guide to M&A and due diligence, covering topics such as when to bring HR in, major HR risks, and how to weigh risks.

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Strategy

James Harris

How to Implement an Agile Approach into M&A

In this podcast, James Harris explores the ways in which deal practitioners can implement a more Agile approach to each step of M&A, from due diligence to integration.

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Divestiture

Ajit Sane

What You Need to Wind Down Your Business

This episode of M&A Science is an interview with Ajit Sane, Director IT M&A at Agilent Technologies. The topic of discussion is how to wind a business down with minimal customer and people disruption.

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Divestiture

Isaac Lund

Working with Private Sellers

On this episode on M&A Science, Kison speaks with Isaac Lund, VP Corporate Development and M&A at National Express LLC. The topic is all about learning how to work with a private seller to get the best outcome.

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Divestiture

Neal McNamara

How To Plan a Divestiture From an Accounting Perspective

Joining Kison in this interview is Neal McNamara, Co-founder of Virtas Partners, an advisory firm specializing in preparing companies financially and operationally for M&A.

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Valuation

Anirvan Sen

Focusing Less on Cost Synergies to Increase Value Creation

Kison speaks with Anirvan Sen, the Founder and Managing Director of Fifth Chrome, a professional advisory firm that specializes in M&A integration and operational growth. In this podcast, they discuss creating deal value by focusing more on growth capabilities and revenue synergies than cost synergies.

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Strategy

Jordan Lampos

How to Prepare a Company for an Acquisition

In this episode, Kison speaks with Jordan Lampos, a director in investment banking at Duff & Phelps, about how to best prepare a company for an acquisition and the ways in which project management can improve the complex process.

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Divestiture

Kelly Haggerty

Perspectives on Modern M&A Consultancy and Divestitures

Kison speaks with Kelly Haggerty, who founded her own advisory firm, Nearco Transaction Advisors, after 15 years of leading integrations and divestitures for top consulting firms and Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, Kison talks with Kelly about her experience as an M&A advisor and the lessons she's learned regarding what makes a strong, efficient, and successful deal.

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General

Paul Koenig

Creating Solutions for Industry-Wide Challenges

Kison speaks with Paul Koenig, Founder and CEO of SRS Acquiom, a platform that manages escrows, payments, risks, and claims for complex M&A transactions.

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Diligence

Jai Sundararaman

The Art of Protecting Value Drivers

Jai Sundararaman, the Vice President of Business Transformation at IPG, the best strategies for identifying, extracting and protecting value drivers during the due diligence process and most importantly, while conducting integration post-close.

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Strategy

Mark Goulston

The Power of Empathy in M&A

Kison speaks with Dr. Mark Goulston on the benefits of practicing empathy for more successful M&A, specifically to improve value creation and productivity post-close.

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Valuation

Dawn White

The Importance of Conducting Cultural Assessments

Dawn explains the importance of conducting cultural assessments during M&A transactions and explores how these assessments can lead to stronger deal outcomes, increased value creation and an overall happier and more productive workforce.

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Integration

Nitin Kumar

Integration Strategies Suited for Modern Business Landscapes

Nitin Kumar, a seasoned C-level operating executive and management consultant in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector, discusses how to create integration strategies better suited to modern business environments.

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Diligence

Joseph Feldman

Creating Corporate Development Acquisition Strategies

In this episode, Kison speaks with Joseph Feldman, a corporate development, acquisitions, and growth strategies consultant. Joseph discusses acquisition strategies, diligence checklists, company inconsistencies, and post-close surprises.

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Diligence

Judah Karkowsky

Best Ways to Approach Cultural Integration

In this episode, Kison interviews Judah Karkowsky. They discuss the best ways to approach cultural integration, handling ownership issues, the surprises you can find during preliminary due diligence, international entities’ approach on diligence, being transparent with employees during integration, and confidential data protection.

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Integration

Paul Weiskopf

M&A In the Technology Industry

In this episode, Kison asks Paul Weiskopf, a professional who has worked over 25 years with companies in the technology industry such as Hewlett Packard, Adobe Systems and smaller companies, about his professional experience on M&A. Weiskopf shares his knowledge about strategy common errors that lead companies to failure and about the best ways to build integration plans for acquisition teams.

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Integration

Nitin Kumar

Wargaming for M&A Integration Leaders

This special episode of M&A Science is an audiobook written by Nitin Kumar, a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, on the strategy of wargaming. In an era of disruption and uncertainty, developing and executing successful M&A transactions require new strategic approaches.

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Diligence

John DeRusso

How Empathy Makes Mergers and Acquisitions Successful

John Derusso, Director of Corporate Development Integration with Cisco Systems, discusses the importance of practicing empathy during M&A integration for more successful and productive outcomes.

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Diligence

Jeff Desroches

How to Identify and Deal with Issues During Diligence in M&A

Together, Jeff and Kison discuss approaches to take for deal negotiations, how to present an offer and prepare yourself for any responses you may get, and what the main priorities of diligence are.

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Strategy

Ivan Golubic

Making Joint Ventures Successful - Top Secrets Revealed

This interview was with Ivan Golubic, former VP Corporate Development at Goodyear. The topic of discussion is how to make joint ventures more successful. Kison and Ivan discuss the three reasons JVs fail and the keys to making them more successful.

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Strategy

Justin Goldman

Michael Frankel

Working with the Business Leader to Build an M&A Strategy

Keeping business leaders motivated and accountable for the deal post-close can be a difficult task. Ensure you have very realistic expectations around financial performance and operational goals so that they take the business case seriously. Hear from two industry experts on how you can incentivize business leaders to stay focused and retaining deal value.

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Strategy

Michael Frankel

Bruce Bowden

How to Cultivate Relationships with Deal Targets

Relationships with deal targets are extremely important as they can help shape the entire deal process. Learn how you can form those relationships and avoid common pitfalls along the way to increase your chances of getting the deal done.

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Strategy

Diligence

Dawn White

How to Plan a Successful Cultural Assessment in M&A

Kison speaks with Dawn White, an M&A Integration Manager at Corning. She describes how to best conduct and approach cultural assessments as well as common missteps she’s seen in the process and how to overcome them.

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Diligence

Valuation

Erik Levy

How Successful Diligence and Integration Planning Frames Successful M&A and Valuation

Kison Patel sits down with Erik Levy, Group Head Corporate Development and M&A at DMGT plc, to discuss how the approach to valuation sets the precedent for integration and diligence. He has completed over 150 acquisitions, minority and venture investments and strategic partnerships.

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Integration

Kim Jones

Assimilating Unique Cultures in M&A

Kison speaks with Kim Jones, Senior HR M&A Manager at Microsoft. Together they discuss what company culture is, at what of the deal to consider it, and how to assess the company culture.

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Strategy

Toby Tester

How to Drive Transformational Change Through M&A

On this episode Kison speaks with Toby Tester, an M&A Consultant and Project Manager with over 20 years of experience driving strategic, financial and operational value through M&A. Toby discusses how organizations are increasingly turning to M&A in order to transform their business and remain competitive in the modern, digital marketplace.

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General

Ritch Schaafsma

How to Develop International Joint Ventures Successfully

On this episode, Kison and Ritch Schaafsma, VP of Corporate Development, Global Mergers and Acquisitions at General Motors, discuss the ins and outs of international joint ventures.

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Divestiture

Kelly Haggerty

Common Divestiture Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Kison speaks with Kelly Haggerty, who has over 15 years of experience managing acquisitions and divestitures. They talk about Kelly's experience as an M&A advisor and the lessons she’s learned regarding what makes a strong, efficient, and successful deal and how consultants can better prepare their clients for long-term success.

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Strategy

Sachin Kumar

What the rebadging process looks like and how to do it well

This interview features Sachin Kumar, Senior Director - M&A and Regional Lead for HR North America at Conduent. Our topic of discussion is the not so famous process of Rebadging.

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Strategy

Diligence

Joseph Feldman

M&A from a Business Consultant's Point of View

Kison interviews business consultant Joseph Feldman, who works with middle-companies on acquisitions. In this podcast, Feldman discusses acquisition strategies, diligence checklists, company inconsistencies, and post-close surprises.

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Diligence

Integration

Armando Biondi

The Importance of Communication, Due Diligence and Post-Closing Integration

In this episode, Armando Biondi, Co-founder, and COO of AdEspresso shares the communication and negotiation involved during Hootsuite's acquisition of AdEspresso.

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Strategy

Ken Marlin

How to Set Clear M&A Objectives: M&A Advice from a Former Marine

In this episode, Ken Marlin, author of The Marine Corps Way to Win on Wall Street and managing partner of the investment bank Marlin & Associates, ‍discusses advising buyers, business strategies, and setting clear business objectives.

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Strategy

Diligence

Scott Hile

Balancing Legal and Business Concerns in M&A Transactions

Kison speaks with Scott Hile, an experienced M&A professional as he shares his experiences from both sides of M&A, including common transaction concerns and challenges.

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Diligence

Integration

Matt Gambs

How to Sell A Bank: The True Story of Ups and Downs of M&A Banking

In this episode, Matt Gambs, ‎a Senior Vice President at Wintrust Financial, is very familiar with the community banking realm. In this podcast, Gambs gives advice on picking advisors and investments, and how to learn from failures in your career.

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Integration

Jeremie Bacon

Why Decisive Communication is Vital for a Successful Integration

On this episode, Jeremie Bacon, CEO, and co-founder of Chicago-based Synap Software Labs, discusses the importance of truly considering cultural synergy when conducting M&A deals.

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Strategy

Diligence

Mark Miller

Advice on Hiring Advisors

Mark Miller, a former Vice President at the private equity firm Huron Capital, shares his knowledge on selecting the best advisor for your deal. In this podcast, he answers the question: what should you look for when you pick an advisor for your deal team?

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Strategy

Paul Tennola

Bolt-on Acquisitions from an Expert's Point of View

Paul Tennola, CFO of Paynet and M&A corporate development professional of 29 years, shares his knowledge on bolt-on transactions as compared to new platforms.

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Strategy

Integration

Scott Kaeser

How Strong Relationships Lead to Successful M&A

Scott Kaeser, Vice President at United American Security, shares his experience regarding deal hurdles, disasters, and managing successful processes. In this podcast, Scott Kaesar discusses the importance of interpersonal relationships for deal success, post-close surprises, how to learn from a deal gone wrong, and when to just walk away.

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Integration

Diligence

Ben de Haldevang

David Boyd

Disrupting And Rethinking The Stagnant Approaches To Deal Management

Ben de Haldevang and David Boyd, Founding Partners of Agile Gorilla, discuss their modern, agile approach to deal and integration management. Through agile principles, such as backlogs and iterative learning cycles, Ben and David enable industry practitioners to conduct more successful, sustainable and equitable mergers and acquisitions.

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Diligence

Andrew Jordan

The Importance of Conducting a Quality of Earnings in M&A

On this episode Andrew Jordan, a Director at Cohen & Company, shares his knowledge on M&A and quality of earnings, and specifically, how they correlate with each other.

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Divestiture

Sean Peace

How You Survive an Unprofitable Business

On this episode Sean Peace, the founder of an auction marketplace for music royalty streams called Royalty Exchange, tells a captivating story about selling and exiting an unprofitable business in a unique niche.

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Diligence

Strategy

Abhik Jain

Buy and Sell-Side in a Corporate World & Strategies on Both Sides

In this episode, Abhik Jain, Vice President of International Strategy and Business Optimization at Hill-Rom, shares his knowledge of buy-side and sell-side M&A deals, as well as personal advice on handling negotiations and transactions.

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Strategy

Diligence

Greg DellaFranco

Key Private Equity Criteria for Prosperous M&A

Greg DellaFranco, a Senior Manager of Corporate Development at Deloitte Consulting, shares his knowledge on M&A in the private equity realm.

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Integration

Briana Elkington

Building an Effective Internal Communication Plan for M&A

On this episode, Kison speaks with Briana Elkington, Program Manager at VSP Global. Previously she was a Lead Project Manager at Oracle where she assembled a project management office responsible for the successful integration of acquired assets.

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Strategy

Diligence

Bruce Bowden

Michael Frankel

Cultivating Relationships with Deal Targets

Kison will be discussing how to foster and maintain good relationships with deal targets.

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General

Christian von Bogdandy

Creating Successful Deal Outcomes Using Innovation

In this webinar, Kison speaks with Christian Von Bogdandy, Practice Director at Slalom. You will learn about how decision making affects a deal outcome, how to use the agility model to improve practices, what maks a deal 'successful' and more.

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General

Richard Chow

The Discount Is the Wrong Question in Private Equity Secondaries

Richard Chow of PJT Partners explains why buy-side investors should stop asking about the discount and start pricing what actually drives secondaries returns.

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General

Strategy

Bill Stone

How SS&C Financed 100 Acquisitions Without Giving Up Founder Control

Bill Stone, founder and CEO of SS&C, breaks down how he financed nearly 100 acquisitions with debt instead of equity without losing control of the company.

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General

Diligence

Strategy

Aaron Binstock

Where AI Actually Helps and Fails in M&A Legal Work

Cooley partner Aaron Binstock breaks down where AI actually helps in M&A deal work, and the mistake that nearly cost a client millions.

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Integration

Jennifer Lipschultz

The Back-Office Surprises Nobody Warned You About When Going Global

Jennifer Lipschultz, ECI Software Solutions, on the banking, benefits, and language surprises that break global M&A integrations after close.

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Strategy

Derek Liu

How to Structure an Acquihire Deal in the AI Talent Race

Baker McKenzie's Derek Liu breaks down how to structure, diligence, and retain talent in acquihire deals now that AI is driving billion-dollar price tags.

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Strategy

Andrew Morbitzer

What Buyers Want from Bankers and Founders

Andrew Morbitzer, VP of Corporate Development at Life360, explains why most M&A pitches fail before the first meeting and what sellers and bankers need to do differently.

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Strategy

Shawn Rodricks

220 Deals. One Playbook. How to Scale M&A Without Losing Control

Shawn Rodricks closed 220 acquisitions across two orgs by building the operating system first. Get the playbook, team structure, and integration framework.

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Strategy

Jeremy Segal

How to Build a Deal Model That Beats PE on Price

Jeremy Segal of Progress explains how to build a pre-LOI deal model precise enough to outbid PE on competitive acquisitions without overpaying or retrading.

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Integration

Haseeb Jawad

The People You Lose in M&A: Key Talent Retention Before Close

Commvault’s Haseeb Jawad on how to build retention before close, so the people your deal thesis depends on actually stay.

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Sourcing

Matt Arsenault

How to Buy Companies That Aren't Profitable Yet

Matt Arsenault of Jamf breaks down how to buy venture-backed companies priced at future value, closing the deal when the math doesn't add up.

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Strategy

Nathan Rust

Lutz Lehmann

Patrick Mumman

Jeremy Segal

Tej Brahmbhatt

When Deals Get Weird: Stories You Don't See in the CIM

Eight deal professionals share the M&A moments the CIM never shows -- from birthday cake mid-presentation to a buyer who died before close

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Strategy

Sam Delestienne

Steve Hoffman

Brent Baxter

John Strenger

Matt Melsen

The Real Work Behind the Close: When Judgment Beats the Checklist

Sam Delestienne won at $15M below the highest bid. Five corp dev leaders tell us what closes deals when process runs out.

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Strategy

Jörgen Wigh

The Nordic Compounder Playbook: How Jörgen Wigh Runs 85 Companies With 22 HQ Staff and No Integration

Jörgen Wigh explains the Nordic serial acquirer model: governance, 10% failure rate targets, cross-border friction, and what it takes to build from scratch.

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Strategy

Jörgen Wigh

The Nordic Compounder Playbook: How Lagercrantz Bought 90+ Companies and Never Sold One

Jörgen Wigh built a billion-dollar M&A company with 85 acquisitions and zero exits. Learn how to maintain pricing discipline, operate autonomous companies, and compound without traditional integration.

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Integration

Jim Buckley

Todd Manley

Carey Pugh

Mahesh Ganesan

What Actually Works in M&A Integration | Intel, Coursera, Ansys & UKG

Integration leaders from Intel, Coursera, Ansys, and UKG debate what tools and workflows deliver real value in M&A integration (and what just creates expensive noise).

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Sourcing

Tomer Stavitsky

How Strong Partnerships Lay the Groundwork for Successful Acquisitions

Tomer Stavitsky, SVP Corp Dev at Omnicell, explains how partnerships can strengthen pre-acquisition strategy, covering PE dynamics, ROFR structures, and milestone design.

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Strategy

Chandradev Mehta

How M&A Turns a Chemical Company Into a Tech Business

Chandradev Mehta of Hexion on using M&A to transform a commodity chemical business into a technology-enabled, chemistry-as-a-service model.

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Strategy

Keith Levy

CPG Exit Strategy: How to Build a Consumer Brand That Strategics Will Actually Buy | Keith Levy Part 2

Keith Levy spent 30 years inside strategic acquirers and growth equity. Here's what it actually takes to build a consumer brand a strategic will buy. Part 2 of 2.

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Diligence

Keith Levy

CPG Due Diligence: The Operator Framework Behind a $1B Exit | Keith Levy Part 1

Keith Levy backed an exit of just under $1B and a $400M exit using the same five-pillar framework. Here's how he evaluates a consumer brand before writing a check. Part 1 of 2.

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Strategy

Matt James

400 Acquisitions and a Failed Process: What Happens When You Don't Integrate

Matt James, EVP, CFO & Chief Acquisition Officer at Oakbridge Insurance, co-founded the platform in 2020 and has since closed 60+ acquisitions. In this episode, he breaks down how Oakbridge built integration into the deal process from day one, what he's seen go wrong at billion-dollar platforms that didn't, and how he structures deals, teams, and data systems to hold up under serious buyer scrutiny.

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Strategy

Dan Caruso

M&A Roll-Up Playbook: The IRR Framework That Replaced Budgets at Zayo | Dan Caruso (Part 2)

Dan Caruso on the IRR framework that replaced budgets at Zayo, the negotiation tactics behind 45+ deals, and how he engineered a competing bid when buyers tried to retrade at the finish line.

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Strategy

Dan Caruso

M&A Roll-Up Playbook: How Zayo Did 45 Acquisitions and Sold for $14B | Dan Caruso (Part 1)

Dan Caruso built Zayo from zero to a $14B sale. Here's how he sourced deals, integrated fast, and measured what actually mattered.

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Strategy

Rodrigo Dominguez Sotomayor

Cross-Border M&A: Doing Deals in Latin America

Rodrigo Dominguez Sotomayor of White & Case breaks down what actually drives deal success in Latin America — from regulatory traps to cultural dynamics most buyers miss.

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Sourcing

Chrissy Cox

Partnering Before Purchasing: How Booz Allen Wins Proprietary Deals Early

Chrissy Cox of Booz Allen Hamilton on building proprietary deal pipeline through partnerships, testing culture before LOI, and why the best deals start years before the process does.

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Strategy

Nathan Rust

Cultural Fit Over EBITDA: How Salas O'Brien Built a 30-Merger Program Without a Single Failure

Nathan Rust reveals how Salas O'Brien screens 200+ opportunities a year — and why cultural fit, not EBITDA, is their real deal filter. 93% leadership retention. 30 mergers. Zero failures. (They call them mergers for a reason.)

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Strategy

Mauro Sambati

Donato Romano

Cross-Border M&A: How to Do Deals in Italy

Mauro Sambati and Donato Romano of Gianni & Origoni break down Golden Power, Italian labor law, and the cultural dynamics that make or break cross-border deals in Italy.

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Strategy

Robert Lovegrove

Four Questions That Defined a $1 Billion Deal

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Robert Lovegrove, President & CEO of The ChemQuest Group Inc. Previously, as VP of Corporate Strategy at Milliken & Company, shares how one of the company’s largest acquisitions was shaped by focus, discipline, and internal alignment.

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Integration

Diligence

Strategy

Birgitta Elfversson

Lars Elfversson

Stop Falling in Love with the Deal: Guardrails for High-Volume Acquisitions

Learn board-level guardrails for high-volume acquisitions (and why roll-ups fail when teams under-estimate people + integration risk.)

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General

Kison Patel

The Next Chapter After 400 Episodes

After 400 episodes and nearly 100 founding members, Kison wanted to give you a real update - where M&A Science has been, what we're building, and where this is going.

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Integration

Diligence

John Palusci

M&A in Healthcare

John Palusci, former VP of Transformation and Strategic Finance at BAYADA, shares how to scale M&A in a nonprofit healthcare org with a buyer-led mindset, value alignment, and structured diligence.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Arash Attar-Rezvani

M&A Execution: Strategy from Skadden Expert Arash Attar-Rezvani

In part two of this masterclass conversation, Arash Attar-Rezvani gets into the execution challenges that separate successful M&A practitioners from the rest.

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Sourcing

Integration

Keith Crawford

Mastering Carve-Out Transactions

Keith Crawford of State Street shares proven frameworks for navigating complex carve-out transactions, from proactive sourcing to integration execution.

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General

Todd Manley

Build a Career in M&A: Lessons from Intel's Todd Manley

In this episode, Todd Manley joins Kison Patel to share his non-traditional path into the world of M&A. Starting his career in IT and organizational behavior, Todd brings a unique lens to integration and leadership in corporate development.

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General

Todd Manley

How to Break Into M&A: Lessons from Todd Manley Part 2

In Part 2 of our conversation with Todd, we unpack how professionals from diverse backgrounds can successfully break into M&A and what it takes to build and maintain high-performing deal teams.

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Diligence

Integration

Harrison Thomas

Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A—and What They’re Testing Next (Part 1)

Discover how Beacon Specialized Living Services is transforming M&A with AI. Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer, shares why they created an AI committee, what they’re testing, and how it’s reshaping deal execution.

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Diligence

Integration

Harrison Thomas

Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A—and What They’re Testing Next (Part 2)

Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, reveals how Beacon is centralizing diligence, streamlining integration, and piloting AI to future-proof its M&A engine. Learn what works and what to avoid.

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General

Todd Olson

Why Pendo Buys Startups (And It’s Not for Revenue)

Pendo CEO Todd Olson shares his playbook for acquiring startups—from buying for product fit to keeping founders motivated post-close. Learn why Pendo values speed, people, and long-term integration over quick wins.

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Integration

Ciprian Stan

Integration Focused M&A: Why Execution Should Inform Strategy Before You Sign Part 2

Ciprian Stan of SALESIANER Gruppe explains why culture, trust, and execution must shape M&A strategy before a deal is signed.

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Sourcing

Ryan Gable

The Secrets to Sourcing Proprietary Deals in Private Equity

Ryan Gable, Managing Partner at BW Forsyth Partners, shares how a people-first, permanent capital model drives M&A success. Learn how Forsyth sources proprietary deals, avoids short-term pitfalls, and builds businesses for generations.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Haley Van Cleve

Strategies for Successful Buy-and-Build M&A

Haley joins us to decode the art of building successful buy-and-build platforms from the ground up. In this episode, Haley walks through Alpine's proven methodology for transforming small $3M EBITDA businesses into $100M+ platforms through strategic M&A and operational excellence. Learn how Alpine's unique talent model,

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Integration

Strategy

Ciprian Stan

Integration Focused M&A: Why Execution Should Inform Strategy Before You Sign

Ciprian Stan, Integration Manager at SALESIANER Gruppe, tells us why seller-led M&A no longer works, and what top acquirers do differently after close.

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Strategy

General

All

Xavier Gury

What Buyers Get Wrong About Selling to Founders

Xavier Gury, founding partner at Wind VC, shares lessons from his 3 exits including a performance-based earnout that grew his company from 100 to 250 people.

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Strategy

Valuation

General

Javier Enrile

How to Think Like a Buyer: Valuation, Risk Management, and Deal Structuring in Financial Services M&A

TIAA's Javier Enrile shares buyer-side M&A strategies, from intrinsic valuation methods to deal structuring tools that protect downside risk in financial services.

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Strategy

Byron Lichtenstein

Why M&A Fails Without Strategy

Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners, reveals how to execute strategic M&A at scale, supporting 500+ portfolio companies with buyer-led deals.

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Integration

Nicole Markowski

Learn to Set Honest Expectations in M&A

Nicole Markowski, former Director at Wipfli, reveals how integration-led diligence prevents value destruction and why the human element determines M&A success.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Jennifer Miller

How Corporate Venture Capital 2.0 is Reshaping M&A

Jennifer Miller, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Oshkosh Corporation, brings over 24 years of M&A experience spanning investment banking, boutique advisory, and corporate development.

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Strategy

Integration

General

Carlos Cesta

How Experienced Buyers Actually Make M&A Work

Carlos Cesta (125+ deals) breaks down how experienced buyers structure deals for outcomes, not transactions. The deal spiral, earnouts, and integration.

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Strategy

Arash Attar-Rezvani

Cross-Border M&A Strategy: Navigating Complex International Deals

Skadden's Arash Attar-Rezvani shares 25 years of cross-border M&A strategy expertise, covering regulatory hurdles, deal structures, and cultural nuances.

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Strategy

Hilary Shirazi

Corporate Development Strategy: Notion's M&A Approach with Hilary Shirazi

Hilary Shirazi, Head of Corporate Development at Notion, shares how to build M&A strategy, the Four T's framework, and scaling deals without an IMO.

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Strategy

Stefan Williams

Buyer-Led M&A Strategy at Snowflake

Stefan Williams, VP Corporate Development at Snowflake, reveals how to build an M&A function from scratch, integrate acquisitions at scale, and drive growth through buyer-led strategy.

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Integration

Tim Hall

When Integration Beats Roll-Ups

Tim Hall, Managing Partner at Brenton Point Capital, shares how independent sponsors win through integration excellence, not just deal aggregation, in buy-and-build platforms.

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Strategy

Valuation

Sourcing

Christian Hassold

A Founder's Guide to Lean M&A Strategy

Christian Hassold, SVP at Wpromote x Giant Spoon, reveals the culture red flags founders overlook in M&A—and why culture fit should stop deals dead in their tracks.

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Integration

Strategy

Donara Jaghinyan

How Integration Debt, Cultural Friction, and Communication Failures Kill M&A Deals

Donara Jaghinyan breaks down integration debt, change management frameworks, and cross-border cultural challenges that derail M&A deals post-close.

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Integration

Strategy

Donara Jaghinyan

Why Integrations Break: TSAs, Carve-Outs, and the Hidden Dependencies That Derail M&A Deals

Donara Jaghinyan reveals why M&A integrations fail—from TSA pitfalls to carve-out complexity. Learn how IMOs manage dependencies, day-one readiness, and cross-functional execution.

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Andy Cohen

Building Your M&A Reputation: Why Relationships Beat Transactions Every Time

Andy Cohen, VP of Corporate Development at F5, shares 30 years of M&A wisdom: why reputation matters more than winning, and how relationships drive 60+ successful deals.

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General

Strategy

Divestiture

Mathew Person

Buyer-Led vs. Seller-Led M&A

Explore how Mathew Person, SVP of Corporate Development at Quickbase, structures a buyer-led M&A strategy that prioritizes culture, diligence, and stakeholder alignment. Learn how to avoid common deal pitfalls and build trust for long-term value.

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Integration

General

Strategy

Sharon Van Zeeland

Scoring Culture Fit in M&A

Sharon Van Zeeland, VP at Rockwell Automation, shares how to systematically assess culture during M&A and sync integration planning with diligence for faster value creation.

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General

Strategy

Leon Brujis

Making M&A Boring (and Why That’s a Good Thing) with Leon Brujis

Leon Brujis of 65 Equity Partners reveals how non-control investments in founder-led companies deliver superior returns through partnership, not control.

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Integration

Strategy

Johanna Jaakola

Tesia Hostetler

Integration-Led Diligence: Cisco's M&A Approach

Johanna Jaakola and Tesia Hostetler from Cisco reveal how integration-led M&A, early decision-making, and a 180-person integration community drive surgical execution.

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Integration

Strategy

Johanna Jaakola

Tesia Hostetler

Integration-Led M&A: Cisco's Surgical Approach to Deal Success

Johanna Jaakola and Tesia Hostetler from Cisco reveal how integration-led diligence transforms deal outcomes by connecting strategy to execution from deal thesis through close.

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Integration

Strategy

Brandon Batt

M&A Integration Starts with Hiring with Brandon Batt

Brandon Batt, Chief People & Transformation Officer at Quadient, reveals how building M&A readiness through strategic hiring drives integration success before deals close.

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Strategy

Rachel Hindley

Strategic M&A Framework: IFS's Acquisition Playbook with Rachel Hindley

Rachel Hindley, VP Corporate Development at IFS, reveals how to balance PE exit horizons with long-term strategy using four acquisition archetypes and integrated diligence

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Sourcing

Integration

Sarah Hughes

Inside Atlassian’s M&A Strategy: Sourcing, Negotiation & Integration

Discover how Atlassian executes M&A with strategic clarity. Sarah Hughes shares Atlassian’s approach to sourcing, founder relationships, cultural fit, and integration strategy on the M&A Science podcast.

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Strategy

Integration

Becky Manders

Buyer-Led M&A™ Virtual Summit: Live M&A Science Podcast Episode with Becky Manders

Becky Manders, Head of Acquisition Finance at IVC Evidensia, shares insights on how they successfully execute a global M&A roll-up strategy.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Dan Pollock

Building Trust in Acquisitions

Learn how SAM Companies’ Dan Pollock scaled an in-house M&A engine, sourced proprietary deals, and built trust with sellers to drive sustainable growth. From relationship-building to integration, this episode breaks down real-world corp dev execution.

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Strategy

Viral Patel

How Blackstone is Unlocking Lasting Value Across Private Equity

Blackstone’s Viral Patel shares how the world’s largest alternative asset manager is expanding access to private equity through perpetual funds, building long-term value through thematic investing, and fostering a culture of innovation and integrity that drives success across the portfolio.

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Strategy

Diligence

General

Rob Kindler

M&A Lawyers vs. Bankers

Former Global Head of M&A at Morgan Stanley and current Paul Weiss Partner Rob Kindler shares lessons from four decades in dealmaking—from evolving roles of lawyers and bankers to navigating regulatory risk, activist pressure, and boardroom dynamics in high-stakes M&A.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Scott Clawson

CEO Scott Clawson's Growth Strategy

In this episode, Scott Clawson, CEO of Culligan International, breaks down how he scaled a legacy brand into a $3.3B global platform through 300+ acquisitions. Learn how to build a decentralized M&A engine, align organic and inorganic growth, and choose the right private equity partners.

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General

Divestiture

Marc Bell

Fixing Broken Companies Through Smart Deals Part 2 with Marc Bell

In Part 2 of our M&A Science interview with Marc Bell, we explore how to structure deals with confidence, avoid bad partners, and lead companies through chaos. Learn practical tips on diligence, capital strategy, and what really drives long-term M&A success.

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Strategy

Marc Bell

Fixing Broken Companies Through Smart Deals with Marc Bell

Marc Bell, CEO of Marc Bell Capital, shares his strategy for acquiring distressed assets, betting on the right operators, and creating value through structure, scale, and strategic turnarounds. Learn how he’s built and exited businesses across industries—from Broadway to satellites.

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General

Ola Sars

From Beats to B2B

Music tech pioneer Ola Sars shares how he went from founding Beats Music to executing a buyer-led M&A strategy at Soundtrack. Learn how he's digitizing a legacy market through roll-ups, licensing, and strategic dealmaking.

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Sourcing

Integration

John Romeo

How to Build Better Deals: Sourcing and Integration

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Strategy

Integration

Rob Brown

Scaling M&A Across Borders

Learn how Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International, drives global M&A through a strategic blend of cultural diligence, AI innovation, and aggressive integration planning. Discover firsthand lessons on evaluating acquisitions, navigating cross-border complexities, and scaling M&A with intention.

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Valuation

Divestiture

Stew Campbell

How to Build Companies That Last pt. 2

Stew Campbell, Partner at TCG, returns to the M&A Science podcast to break down how founders can evaluate growth equity partners, run their own competitive capital process, and preserve long-term value through strategic investor relationships.

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Valuation

Divestiture

Stew Campbell

How to Build Companies That Last pt. 1

Explore how growth equity works for founder-led companies with Stew Campbell, Partner at TCG. Learn how boards create value, how to align on long-term goals, and what separates elite investors in M&A.

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Strategy

Jon Dhanawade

How Private Equity Firms Structure Successful M&A Deals

on brings legal insight from both sides of the table, sharing practical strategies for aligning deal terms with investment objectives, mitigating downside risk, and building strong seller relationships. Whether you’re a corporate buyer or a fund-backed operator, this episode will help sharpen your deal judgment.

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Sourcing

Strategy

Paul Miller

Setting up Successful Acquisitions

Paul Miller joins us to share his extensive experience in M&A, having led more than 90 acquisitions throughout his career. Paul reveals how Questex uses a proactive, buyer-led approach focused on culture, strategic alignment, and integration discipline.

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Larry Hartmann

Scaling Through Strategy: A Buyer-Led Approach to M&A Success

Larry shares how he transformed ZRG into one of the fastest-growing executive search and talent advisory firms through 17 acquisitions in just four years.

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Integration

Sourcing

Clare Roberts

Expanding a Business through M&A Without Sacrificing Culture

Clare Roberts shares her journey of founding Kids Planet and growing it into one of the UK’s largest childcare providers with 225 nurseries. She reveals how she balanced organic growth with strategic acquisitions while staying true to her company’s values. Clare discusses the importance of culture in M&A, managing seller relationships, and how to maintain operational quality during rapid expansion.

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Strategy

Tina Kassangana

Managing Risks and Liabilities in M&A

In this week's M&A Science episode, NYC corporate M&A lawyer Tina Kassangana joins us to unpack the legal landmines that can derail deals—before and after closing. From working capital disputes to earnout litigation and navigating complex contract conflicts, Tina brings sharp, practical advice that every buyer needs in their playbook. If you're building a repeatable M&A process, this one’s a must-listen.

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Strategy

Diligence

Michael Belluomini

Evolving M&A Strategy with a Buyer-Led M&A™ Approach

Dive into how Carson Group scaled their M&A program from internal investments to proprietary dealmaking—executing 14 deals in just one year. Hear from Michael Belluomini, SVP of M&A, on how his team balances volume, speed, and cultural fit.

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Strategy

General

Bob Chapman

Kyle Chapman

Culture-Driven M&A and Truly Human Leadership

What if M&A could be a force for good? In this week’s episode of M&A Science, Barry-Wehmiller’s CEO Bob Chapman and President Kyle Chapman share how they’ve built a $3.6B global business on the foundation of Truly Human Leadership. You’ll learn how to lead with culture, plan integrations with care, and why the best buyers adopt—not acquire. Tap in for an inspiring blueprint for culture-first, Buyer-Led M&A.

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Strategy

Integration

Sindre Talleraas Holen,

How to Build a Global M&A Machine with Local Expertise Part 2

Part 2 of this episode continues the conversation with Visma’s Head of M&A, Sindre Holen. Go behind the scenes of Visma’s valuation approach, how they support founders post-close, and what it takes to integrate (or not) in a high-volume deal environment.

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Strategy

Diligence

Sindre Talleraas Holen,

How to Build a Global M&A Machine with Local Expertise

In Part 1 of this episode, Sindre Talleraas Holen, Head of M&A at Visma, shares how the company scaled its M&A function across 30+ countries. Learn how Visma sources deals, adapts to cultural nuances, and empowers local teams to drive growth—all while maintaining a disciplined, buyer-led approach.

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Ron 'Omani' Carson

Transforming M&A: Lessons in Culture, Growth, and Purpose

Ron “Omani” Carson shares how a mindset transformation reshaped his approach to leadership, company culture, and M&A. From burnout to billion-dollar growth, this is a founder’s story of purpose, systems, and building with love.

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Strategy

Andrew Bab

Private Equity in Healthcare: Legal Challenges and Best Practices for 2025

Andrew Bab of Debevoise & Plimpton unpacks the latest legal challenges in healthcare M&A, from state regulatory hurdles to Delaware case law and the growing scrutiny on private equity. Learn how to navigate risk, compliance, and deal structure in one of the most regulated sectors of M&A.

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Strategy

Valuation

Hugh MacArthur

Evolving Strategies in Private Equity

Hugh MacArthur, Chairman of Bain & Company’s Global Private Equity Practice, joins the M&A Science podcast to unpack the evolution of private equity. From early deal structures to today's AI-powered due diligence, Hugh shares hard-earned lessons on scaling strategy, value creation, and thriving in a hypercompetitive landscape.

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Valuation

General

Benjamin Beller

How to Navigate Bankruptcy and Restructuring in M&A

Learn how to strategically navigate corporate bankruptcy and restructuring from Ben Beller, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell. From Chapter 11 planning to distressed M&A opportunities, Ben breaks down legal strategies that drive value.

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Strategy

Divestiture

Ashish Achlerkar

How to be a Serial Acquirer from Scratch

Starting a business from scratch is challenging, but Ashish Achlerkar, Founder and Chairman of NearU, took a unique path—leveraging M&A as a tool for entrepreneurship. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ashish shares how he transitioned from investment banking to building a multi-state, multi-million-dollar business in the skilled trades industry.

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Strategy

Integration

Michael Hoy

The People-Centric Approach to M&A Success

Michael Hoy, Executive Vice Chairman of Great Day Improvements, shares how a people-centric approach to M&A fuels growth. Learn how Great Day prioritizes trust, transparency, and financial alignment to integrate acquisitions successfully and build a national home improvement leader.

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Tracie Smith

Gwen Pope

Mastering Serial Acquisitions

Serial acquisitions bring unique challenges, from managing multiple deals at different stages to ensuring strategic alignment across business functions. Gwen Pope and Tracie Smith of Tiger Team M&A share their approach to building repeatable M&A frameworks, establishing clear decision-making structures, and avoiding common integration pitfalls. Whether you’re a seasoned M&A leader or refining your acquisition strategy, this episode delivers actionable insights to help you optimize your deal execution.

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Strategy

Valuation

Mimi Wu

How to Execute Distressed M&A

If you're an investor, corporate executive, or M&A professional, this episode delivers actionable insights into distressed deal-making, creditor negotiations, and structuring bankruptcy sales. Learn from one of the industry’s top legal minds on how to successfully execute complex distressed M&A transactions.

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Strategy

General

Kaj Rozga

How to Navigate Antitrust Complexities in M&A

Learn how to assess and mitigate antitrust risk, structure deals to avoid regulatory roadblocks, and navigate today’s evolving enforcement landscape.

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Integration

Sourcing

Valuation

John Cerasuolo

How to Build a Roll-Up Machine

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Sourcing

Strategy

Valuation

Jeff Giles

Corporate Development Strategy in High-Volume M&A

From building a world-class acquisition strategy to navigating complex deal negotiations, Jeff shares hard-earned insights that every M&A leader can learn from. If you're looking to understand how to execute M&A at scale while maintaining a people-first approach, this episode is a must-listen.

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Diligence

Strategy

John Orbe

Navigating Large-Scale M&A Deals and Legal Complexities

From handling legal risks to leveraging technology for due diligence, John Orbe provides actionable insights into executing large-scale M&A deals. If you're an M&A professional, legal expert, or corporate strategist, gain valuable lessons on structuring high-stakes transactions.

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Integration

Strategy

Amit Monga

Lessons from the Trenches: Mastering Tech M&A, Integration, and Carve-Out Strategies Part 2

In this second part of the interview, Amit Monga, Founder and CEO of SARAPOINT, takes us straight to the trenches of corporate M&A, sharing firsthand lessons on navigating tech acquisitions, integrations, and effective carve-out strategies.

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Integration

Strategy

Amit Monga

Lessons from the Trenches: Mastering Tech M&A, Integration & Carve-Out Strategies Part 1

Learn actionable M&A strategies from Dr. Amit Monga, CEO of SARAPOINT. Explore lessons on integration, carve-outs, and managing deals outside your core strategy to ensure corporate M&A success.

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Integration

Diligence

Strategy

Andrew Kelley

How to Optimize Your Corporate Development Team

From building strong relationships to prioritizing due diligence and leveraging emerging technology, Andrew provides actionable insights for driving successful deals. Learn how to overcome common pitfalls, foster alignment, and build a strategic M&A framework.

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General

Diligence

Integration

Joe Mantone

Navigating the Current M&A Cycle, Regulatory Impacts, and 2025 Market Dynamics for Corporate Development Leaders

The M&A market is slowly recovering, but regulatory hurdles and rising interest rates remain. In this episode, Joe Mantone, U.S. Financial Institutions News Desk Manager at S&P Global, shares insights on navigating the current M&A cycle, regulatory impacts, and the road ahead for 2025.

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Integration

Strategy

Valuation

Carey Pugh

Synchronizing the Deal Team and Integration Team for Better Outcomes

The biggest M&A mistake is letting deal and integration teams work in silos. In this interview, Russ Hartz, VP of Corporate Development at Ansys, and Carey Pugh, Director of Corporate Integrations, reveal how synchronizing these teams ensures smooth execution and delivers deal value.

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Strategy

Integration

Diligence

Jason Lippert

Mastering M&A Integration Through Leadership Development and Cultural Alignment

M&A integration is notoriously challenging—cultural misalignment, disengaged leaders, and high turnover often derail even the best-laid plans. How do you overcome these obstacles and ensure a seamless integration that drives long-term success? In this episode, Jason Lippert, CEO of LCI Industries, shares his proven playbook for mastering M&A integration through leadership development and cultural alignment.

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Strategy

Adam Coffey

Expert Insights into Building an Empire through Strategic M&A (Part 2)

Many M&A deals fail to deliver their promised value due to gaps in deal sourcing, diligence, and integration. Without a clear strategy and the right tools, even the best opportunities can turn into liabilities. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, hear all the expert insights from Adam Coffey, Founding Partner at The Chairman Group, on how to source the right targets, structure deals for sustainability, and integrate acquisitions seamlessly. Get your blueprint for building an empire through strategic M&A.

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Strategy

Adam Coffey

Expert Insights into Building an Empire through Strategic M&A Part 1

Scaling a business from good to great often feels like an uphill battle. Organic growth alone can be painfully slow, leaving you far from achieving your dream of building an empire. But how do you supercharge growth without losing control or falling into costly traps? Building an empire takes more than just passion—it requires a clear, strategic playbook. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Adam Coffey, Founding Partner of The Chairman Group, shares his proven framework for transforming businesses into empires, from meticulous buyer-led diligence to flawless integration strategies.

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All

Art Papas

How a Tech Founder Transformed into a CEO Championing M&A Growth

Growth through M&A is about strategy, timing, and bold leadership. The stakes are high, but the rewards are transformative for those who get it right. In this episode, Art Papas, CEO of Bullhorn, shares his journey from tech founder to M&A leader and how he turned acquisitions into engines of growth.

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All

Avinash Patel

What Elite Investment Bankers Do Differently in M&A

Investment bankers aren't always seen as trusted advisors; some see them as deal-pushers, prioritizing fees over friendships. The skepticism is fair, but many miss the point of what they actually bring to the table. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Avinash Patel, Partner at PJT Partners, offers an insider’s view on what elite investment bankers do differently in M&A, from guiding strategic vision to wielding influence in complex transactions.

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General

Yogesh Gupta

Mastering M&A Success with Transparent Leadership and Strategic Agility

In M&A, closing the deal is just the beginning. The true measure of success comes from effective execution post-close. Mastering this phase demands transparent leadership and strategic agility—qualities that can significantly influence whether an acquisition thrives or flounders. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Yogesh Gupta, President and CEO of Progress Software, explores how clear leadership and adaptable strategies are pivotal for M&A success. He shares insights into building a strong foundation and ensuring seamless integration, even before the deal is inked.

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All

Tianyi Jiang

Navigating Investor Relations and Capital Raising for Sustainable Growth

Raising capital is only half the battle. The real challenge is fostering strong relationships with investors while ensuring your business continues to grow. It’s easy to focus on securing funds, but investors look for more than just short-term returns. Without that clarity, it’s harder to build lasting trust and keep things moving forward. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Dr. Tianyi Jiang, CEO at AvePoint, explains how to navigate investor relations and capital raising for sustainable growth.

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All

Davis Thacker

Execution Insights in M&A

The M&A process is notoriously tricky—everyone loves talking about getting the deal done, but few focus on the real work that comes after. Integration, valuation shifts, and cultural alignment often prove to be the biggest roadblocks to a successful acquisition. How do you avoid the common pitfalls that derail so many deals post-close? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Davis Thacker, Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Development at Carta, shares his expert strategies on executing successful M&A.

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Strategy

General

Todd Henrich

Executing Strategic M&A in Today's Market

Today's M&A market conditions are volatile, regulatory scrutiny is high, and the pressure to find value is greater than ever. The risks of entering a deal without a firm understanding of today’s market dynamics have never been more pronounced. How do you ensure your strategic acquisitions stay on course?In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we explore the best practices for executing strategic M&A in today's market with Todd Henrich, SVP Head of Corporate Development at Booking Holdings.‍

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General

Charles Webb

Managing Regulatory Compliance Risks in M&A

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, everyone loves to talk about synergies, growth, and market share. However, these enticing prospects can quickly dim if regulatory compliance risks are overlooked. While not the most glamorous aspect of M&A, compliance forms the bedrock that ensures deals are legally sound and smoothly executed. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Charles Webb, Lead Antitrust Counsel at FedEx, discusses how to manage regulatory compliance risks in M&A.

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Strategy

Henry Ward

Strategic Perspectives on M&A

M&A has become a critical tool for companies to stay competitive in today’s fast-changing market. But success in acquisitions now requires more than just speed—it demands a strategic approach that aligns with long-term goals and adapts to industry shifts. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Henry Ward, CEO and Co-founder of Carta, shares his insights on how businesses can refine their M&A strategies to thrive in an evolving corporate landscape.

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Diligence

Integration

Camilo Franco

Matt Arsenault

From Silos to Synergy: Best Practices for Uniting Diligence & Integration in M&A

Too often in M&A, diligence and integration operate in separate lanes. Diligence focuses on uncovering risks, while integration is left scrambling to make everything fit once the ink is dry. It’s a classic case of working in silos, and it’s leaving value on the table. But there's a way to break down those barriers from the start. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Matt Arsenault, VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf, and Camilo Franco, Director of M&A Integration and Operations, show us how to transform these silos into synergy by aligning diligence and integration from day one.

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General

Jann Lau

How to Validate the Deal Thesis To Ensure M&A Success

A well-crafted deal thesis is the cornerstone of any successful M&A transaction. It outlines the strategic rationale and anticipated value creation from the acquisition. However, a strong thesis alone isn't enough. To ensure the deal delivers on its promise, it's crucial to rigorously validate its assumptions and projections. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jann Lau, Senior Director of Corporate Development at PayPal, shares key strategies for validating the deal thesis and mitigating risks associated with M&A.

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General

Gregg Albert

Insights on Portfolio Rebalancing in M&A

Companies are facing immense pressure to stay agile, seize new opportunities, and maintain a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving business environment. One key strategy to achieve this is portfolio rebalancing, a critical initiative that helps businesses optimize their asset mix and drive sustainable growth. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gregg Albert, Managing Partner - Corporate Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions at Accenture, discusses in-depth, what is portfolio rebalancing and how it could help your company.

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General

Anson Lau

In-House vs. External Legal Insights in M&A

In M&A, it’s not just about the deal—it’s about who’s at the table. In-house and external counsel both play key roles in a deal, bringing unique expertise and advantages. Knowing how to strategically utilize both can help you manage risks, secure favorable terms, and ensure smooth post-deal integration. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Anson Lau, Deputy General Counsel at LONGi Solar, shares how to play to the strengths of both sides to optimize your M&A approach.

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General

Kevin Lynch

The Role of CEO in M&A

Beyond the boardroom battles and billion-dollar deals, mergers and acquisitions present a unique set of challenges and opportunities for CEOs. From strategic planning to post-merger integration, it takes essential skills and qualities for CEOs to excel in this high-stakes arena. In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Kevin Lynch, CEO and Board Member at Optiv, shares his invaluable insights on the role of a CEO and what it takes to lead a company through successful M&A endeavors.

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General

Sanjay Poonen

How to Execute Successful M&A as a CEO

M&A isn't just about signing a deal and popping the champagne. Every CEO knows the entire process is a minefield of cultural clashes, integration headaches, and occasional unexpected challenges that could blow up your strategy. But while M&A can be a high-stakes game, it’s also one that can be mastered with the right playbook. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we’re diving into key strategies CEOs should consider to ensure M&A success, featuring Sanjay Poonen, CEO & President of Cohesity.

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Strategy

Divestiture

Jerome Combes-Knoke

Dynamic Portfolio Strategy: Rebalancing Using Divestitures

Strategic focus is a prerequisite to strong corporate performance. Yet, without proactive efforts to maintain focus, companies can “drift” and become weighed down by misaligned business units. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jerome Combes-Knoke, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Dotmatics (a portfolio company of Insight Partners), shares his broad M&A experience and presents his approach to portfolio strategy and rebalancing through divestitures.

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Integration

Court Carruthers

How to Run a Successful Cultural Integration

Cultural integration is the often overlooked key to long-term M&A success. It's about creating a shared identity, values, and purpose that unites employees from different backgrounds. When done right, it can transform a merger from a transactional event into a strategic partnership. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Court Carruthers, President and CEO at TricorBraun, shares his insights on how to successfully integrate two cultures and build a stronger, unified organization.

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Strategy

Thomas Le

Unlocking New M&A Strategies: Uniting Venture Capital Insights and Public Equities in M&A

The M&A landscape is constantly evolving, making it difficult to predict future trends and identify new opportunities. How can companies maintain a competitive advantage? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Thomas Le, Vice President of Corporate Development at Ziff Davis, Inc., shares his VC-backed strategies for unlocking new M&A strategies.

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Integration

Karen Williams

How to Execute a Balanced M&A Integration

Achieving exponential growth through M&A requires more than signing agreements. It’s about balancing cultures, systems, and people. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Karen Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, discusses how to execute a balanced M&A integration.

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Strategy

Fred Heller

Transforming a Company Through Strategic Acquisitions

Strategic acquisitions can be transformative for companies, enabling growth, innovation, and market expansion. However, successfully navigating the complexities of M&A requires a deep understanding of the process and a clear strategy. In this article, Fred Heller, VP of Nuance, Corporate Development and Integration at Microsoft, shares his experience on how to transform a company through strategic acquisitions.

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Integration

Tom Hearn

Uncovering Technical Debt For Better Technology Integration

In the world of M&A, understanding and managing technical debt is crucial for seamless technology integration. In this episode, we’ll explore the concept of technical debt, its impact on IT infrastructure, and strategies for better integration with Tom Hearn, VP, Architecture at Insight.

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General

Pablo von Siebenthal

How to Handle Global M&A

The global landscape offers exciting growth opportunities that make business expansion a strategic move. M&A can be a powerful tool for this, but global deals often come with cultural complexities and regulatory intricacies that require a strategic approach. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pablo von Siebenthal, Global Head of M&A at Swissport, talks about how to handle global M&A.

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General

Wolfgang Schenk

The Art of Executing Programmatic M&A

Opportunistic M&A can lead to bad acquisitions that don’t align with the company’s overall strategic goals. This creates a disjointed portfolio and integration challenges that could cause massive value leaks. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Wolfgang Schenk, VP of M&A at Belden, discusses the art of executing programmatic M&A to increase chances of M&A success.

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Integration

Tobias Gwisdalla

Executing Transformative M&A to Change Business Models

Transformative M&A is becoming increasingly critical in today's business landscape, especially for industries facing significant regulatory and market pressures. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to execute transformative M&A to change business models, featuring Tobias Gwisdalla, Head of Group M&A at GEA Group.

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General

Frank Tepper-Sawicki

How to Do M&A Deals in Germany

M&A processes can vary from country to country, making cross-border deals extremely challenging. Understanding the cultural differences is crucial for a smooth transaction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we focus on how to do M&A deals in Germany, featuring Frank Tepper-Sawicki, Partner, Corporate M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital at Dentons.

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General

Michael Bachman

Chris Cappetta

How to Make AI Practical in M&A

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we discuss how to make AI practical in M&A, featuring two AI specialists: Michael Bachman, Head of Research, Architecture, and AI Strategy at Boomi, and Chris Cappetta, Principal Solutions Architect at Boomi.

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Sourcing

Integration

Steve Lucas

M&A Deal Sourcing in the Tech Space

The technology industry is currently experiencing significant growth, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence. This trend has not only attracted significant investments but has also intensified the competition among tech companies striving to lead the market. This has made the tech space a prime area for M&A. Boomi is one of those companies who have recently made a significant move via acquisitions. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to source deals in the tech space with Steve Lucas, CEO of Boomi.

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Integration

Michael Frankel

Top 10 Things That Make M&A Successful

Here at M&A Science, our goal is to bring the best and most effective techniques to M&A practitioners and improve their practice. In light of our 300th podcast episode, we have compiled the top 10 things that make M&A successful, together with Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital.

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Strategy

Diligence

Jeremy Segal

How to Close Deals in 30 Days

When it comes to M&A, time is of the essence. As a buyer, it’s best to identify whether to pursue the deal or not as soon as possible to avoid wasting money and time. Also, if the seller is a good target company, procrastinating could lead to more competition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Progress, shares their strategy on how to close deals in 30 days.

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Strategy

Steven Freidkin

Christopher Vollmond-Carstens

Executing the Roll Up Strategy in the Tech Industry

In a highly fragmented industry, roll ups are a great strategy for growth. But integrating multiple entities can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a proven framework. Ntiva has been successful in their M&A strategy, and has completed 15 acquisitions as of today. In this article, Steven Freidkin, CEO and Founder of Ntiva, Inc. and Christopher Vollmond-Carstens, Chief M&A Officer at Ntiva, Inc., share their strategy on how to execute the roll up strategy in the tech industry.

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Strategy

Kyle Price

Building Corporate Development Muscle

Creating a dedicated M&A function can be daunting for non-acquisitive companies. It’s a big commitment that could take away valuable time and resources from top-level management. However, when done right, corporate development muscle can be built slowly and organically. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kyle Price, Chief of Staff & Corporate Development at Roblox, shares his experience on how to start an M&A function slowly and successfully from scratch.

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Strategy

Ivan Golubic

How to Start Executing the Roll Up Strategy in M&A

Roll ups are a great strategy for highly fragmented industries. It allows the platform company to increase its size, capabilities, and market presence through the acquisition and integration of other businesses. However, it can be challenging without a proper framework. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ivan Golubic, CFO, Corporate Development M&A at FastLap Group, shares his experience on how to start executing roll up strategy in M&A from scratch.

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Integration

Jim Buckley

How to Create an Executable Integration Plan During Due Diligence

Integration planning is one of the most important aspects of M&A pre-close. Planning after the fact will cause massive delays and value leaks for the entire deal. It is why the integration team must be involved during the due diligence phase. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will talk about how to create an executable integration plan during the diligence, featuring Jim Buckley, former Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware.

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Valuation

Keith Levy

Uncovering Capital Allocation Strategies

Every company must have a strong capital allocation strategy to maximize its potential. Without it, the company may end up missing opportunities and spending money on things that won't help it grow or become more profitable. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Keith Levy, Operating Partner at Sonoma Brands, shares his experience on successful and unsuccessful capital allocation strategies.

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Strategy

Gerry Williams

Roll Up Strategy in Private Equity

Private equity firms are established for the sole purpose of generating substantial financial returns for its investors. And one of the most effective ways of maximizing investment returns is the roll up strategy. This involves buying small-sized businesses in a highly fragmented industry and combining them into a larger platform. The goal is to improve efficiency and be sold later for a higher price. In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, we will discuss roll up strategy in private equity with Gerry Williams, Partner at DLA Piper US LLP.

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Strategy

Tyler Rodewald

Corporate Diversification Through M&A

In a world where change is the only constant, businesses are continually seeking innovative ways to stay ahead of the curve. One such method that has gained prominence is the corporate diversification strategy, a multifaceted approach that can lead to new growth avenues and enhanced resilience. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Tyler Rodewald, VP, M&A at EIS Holdings, discusses corporate diversification through M&A.

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Diligence

Andrey Galiuk

Performing Strategic Due Diligence in M&A

Before doing M&A, it is crucial for acquirers to target the right business, in the right market. Otherwise, it could potentially be a costly mistake that would waste the company’s time and money. To prevent this, Andrey Galiuk, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations, shares his expertise on how to perform strategic due diligence in M&A.

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Strategy

George Kellerman

Alexander Baum

How to Stand Up a Venture Capital Arm

In the ever-evolving business world, staying ahead isn't just about what a company does today, but how it prepares for tomorrow. This is where a venture capital arm comes into play. It is a specialized division within a larger company that focuses on investing in emerging startups and innovative projects. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, George Kellerman, VP, Head of Investments & Acquisitions at Woven by Toyota and Alexander Baum, Corporate Development Lead at Woven by Toyota, share their experience on how to stand up a venture capital arm.

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Integration

Camilo Franco

How to Achieve Strategic Alignment From Top to Bottom

There is an intimate tie between M&A strategy and corporate strategy. To be truly effective, acquisitions must directly support the overarching goal of the company. But beyond that, there needs to be a strategic alignment with everyone involved. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf, shares their secrets on how to achieve strategic alignment from top to bottom.

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Diligence

Ken Bond

Performing Cultural Due Diligence to Better Understand the Target Company

Most of the biggest M&A failures of all time are caused by culture clashes. Both companies cannot simply co-exist with each other, and instead of creating more value, they destroyed both of their businesses. This is why cultural due diligence is crucial in M&A. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, shares his expertise on how to perform cultural due diligence to better understand the target company.

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Strategy

Baljit Singh

Strategic Alignment Between M&A and Corporate Strategy

Engaging in M&A activities just for the sake of doing them is one of the biggest reasons for failed deals. Without a well-defined purpose, these transactions can distract the business and waste massive amounts of resources. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Baljit Singh, Corporate Development Leader, discusses the importance of strategic alignment between M&A and corporate strategy.

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General

Douglas Barnard

Overcoming M&A Challenges

Problems don’t usually surface at the early stages because it's the honeymoon phase. Both the buyer and the seller would like to see the deal happen, so they work together to build momentum. And often that means postponing dealing with some of the more difficult and contentious issues. However, these M&A challenges are inevitable and will arise as the deal progresses. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Douglas Barnard, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor at CF Industries, discusses effective strategies to overcome M&A challenges.

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Valuation

Allan Marks

How Business Cycles Affect M&A Valuation

M&A valuation isn’t just about looking at the numbers. There are a lot of different factors that affect and contribute to the volatility of the M&A market. In this episode, Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank, discusses how business cycles affect M&A valuation.

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Strategy

Adam Harris

Validating the Acquisition Plan

When executing M&A, having a structured approach to validating the acquisition plan is crucial. The worst thing any acquirer can do is to buy a business that doesn’t bring value to the parent company. Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, shared his insights on the M&A Science Podcast, outlining a meticulous 6-step process his company uses. Here’s a breakdown of these steps to help professionals streamline their M&A strategy.

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Integration

Seema Nimmagadda

Mastering M&A Integration

A lot of times, M&A integration is considered only after closing the deal. It is often treated as an afterthought, and this approach is where many deal failures stem from. If we want to improve our M&A process and get better results from deals, we have to start updating our practices to the most efficient way of doing things. In this episode, Seema Nimmagadda, Head of M&A Integration for North America at Woven by Toyota, discusses how to master M&A integration.

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General

Brent Baxter

Jeff Giles

Using M&A Best Practices to Get Better Deals

In a highly competitive market, speed is crucial for companies wanting to do M&A. Especially with all the economic and market changes that’s happening, professionals must use M&A best practices to get better deals. In this episode, Brent Baxter, Chief Executive Officer at Association for Corporate Growth, and Jeff Giles, VP, Corporate Development at Core & Main, share their strategies and experiences when executing successful M&A.

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Integration

Amy M. Weck

Connecting Diligence and Integration in M&A

It's common to see due diligence and integration as separate stages in M&A, but combining them can make the M&A process much smoother and more effective. But how exactly can we weave these two critical phases together effectively? In this episode, Amy M Weck, VP, M&A and Integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, offers practical strategies in connecting diligence and integration in M&A for optimal outcomes.

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Valuation

John Blair

How to Bridge Valuation Gaps in M&A

In M&A, it’s very common for buyers and sellers to disagree on the value of the business. If both parties cannot agree on the price, the deal could fall apart. However, there are certain strategies and tools that both parties can use to compromise and be happy during closing. In this interview, John Blair, Partner M&A Attorney at K&L Gates, shares best practices on how to bridge valuation gaps in M&A.

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Integration

Birgitta Elfversson

Transforming Existing Staff into M&A Experts

In the dynamic world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), creating an effective team is crucial for success. This process can be complex and demanding, but also immensely rewarding. After all, having an internal team means having the capability of acquiring companies in the future, rather than treating M&A as one-time event. In this episode, Birgitta Elfversson, Non-Executive Director at Netlight, shares her experience in transforming existing staff into M&A experts.

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Strategy

Jake Lin

Negotiating Cross Border M&A

Navigating cross border M&A is one of the most challenging tasks for deal makers. There are a lot of intricacies involved that are unique to each country, and must be handled delicately. In this article, Jake Lin, Head of Corporate Development at Xendit, shares his best practices when executing cross border M&A, particularly in South East Asia.

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Strategy

Yoav Zeif

Achieving Business Growth Through Strategic M&A

In today’s competitive global market, organizations need to leverage every tool in their arsenal to stay ahead of the curve. One of the best ways to do this is strategic M&A. With the right approach, M&A can drive significant growth, unlock fresh opportunities, and expedite the achievement of strategic business goals. In this episode, Yoav Zeif, CEO at Stratasys, shares his experience on achieving business growth through strategic M&A.

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Divestiture

Russ Heddleston

The Challenges of Sell-Side M&A

Every owner loves their business. This makes selling their company even harder than it already is. But aside from the emotional turmoil that founders go through every exit, there are also a lot of intricacies included in the process. In this interview, Russ Heddleston, Co-founder & former CEO of DocSend, discusses the challenges of sell-side M&A and how to navigate them.

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Strategy

Jason Mironov

Pros and Cons for a Growth Company to Take PE Capital

Partnering with PE firms is a great way to exponentially grow a business and reach new heights. However, there are considerations that must be taken into account, before taking PE capital. Fully understanding them will increase chances of success, in the attempt to unlock the full potential of the business. In this interview, Jason Mironov, Managing Director at TA Associates, discusses the pros and cons of taking PE capital.

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Divestiture

Michael Frankel

How to Sell a Small Business Without a Broker

When times are good, big companies tend to ignore their smaller business units, as they operate smoothly on their own. It is only when the economy gets tough that these little businesses get more attention, and often seen as off-strategy or a distraction. That's when the company's leaders decide it's time to sell them, which is not ideal, as the business is no longer in their prime, making it harder to sell. In this episode of M&A Science podcast, Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital, joins us to share his best practices on how to sell a small business without a broker.

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Divestiture

Swapnil Shinde

How to Create a Positive Sell Side M&A Experience

Selling your business is never easy. Aside from the emotional stress that it provides, it can also be detrimental to the business if it's sold to the wrong company. Oftentimes, during the process, it can also serve as a massive distraction to the operations, harming the business in the process. In this episode, we will discuss how to create a positive sell side M&A experience with Swapnil Shinde, CEO at Zeni.

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Integration

Christian von Bogdandy

Realizing Revenue Synergies in M&A

Revenue synergies are often the reason for companies doing acquisitions. However, unlike cost synergies that happen instantly, they are more difficult to achieve and often go unrealized. One of the biggest problems in M&A is that when a company pursues a deal, different departments have varying perspectives on what's essential. This results in massive value leaks in the deal rationale. In this episode M&A Science Podcast, Chris Von Bogdandy, Global Lead M&A Solutions at Slalom, discusses his framework for realizing revenue synergies in M&A.

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General

Casey Nault

Focusing on ESG in M&A

While ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a fairly new term, it represents a range of critical issues and priorities that companies have long considered. And despite common beliefs, it doesn’t just apply to non-profit organizations. ESG elements are essential for risk management and maintaining company value even for for-profit organizations. In this episode, we will discuss focusing on ESG in M&A, featuring Casey Nault, SVP, General Counsel, and Chief ESG Officer at Coeur Mining, Inc.

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General

Brock Blake

M&A Best Practices

M&A is a never-ending web of complexities and challenges. While the potential for growth and transformation is promising, the chances of failure are extremely high. To increase chances of success, acquirers must learn how to be adaptable and work with the target company for alignment. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Brock Blake, Co-Founder and CEO of Lendio, shares his techniques on M&A best practices.

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Integration

Aaron Whiting

The Basics of M&A Integration Execution

Value creation in any acquisition relies heavily on how well the integration goes. By focusing on integration, buyers can increase their chances of success in obtaining and realizing their intended synergies. But how well can it go if the company’s integration lead is a first-timer? Learn the basics of M&A integration execution, as Aaron Whiting, Chief of Staff at Crownpeak, explains how to train a first-time M&A integration lead.

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General

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ChatGPT Interview: AI's Impact on M&A

This past year, AI has revolutionized the way we do things, and ChatGPT has been a big part of that. Created by OpenAI, ChatGPT can understand and use language like a human, making it extremely useful in a lot of different areas. And now, we can actually talk to it. This article is based on our first-ever ChatGPT interview. We are going to learn its insights on AI’s impact on the world of M&A.

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General

Dr. Karl-Michael Popp

Automation in M&A

In today's digital era, the pervasive influence of technology is felt in every facet of business, and Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are no different. The arrival of innovation and automation will soon make their way to the industry, streamlining processes that could bolster productivity and facilitate smoother post-merger integration. In this interview, Dr. Karl Michael Popp, Senior Director, Corporate Development at SAP, discusses automation in M&A.

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General

Anthony Krueger

Executing Smaller Deals and Negotiating Key Legal Provisions

M&A comes in varying sizes. However, there’s a common misconception that smaller deals are easier to execute than larger ones. The truth is, that smaller deals come with their own unique set of challenges that could possibly make them even harder to do. In this episode, Anthony Krueger, Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, debunks this myth and discusses how to execute smaller deals and negotiate key legal provisions.

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General

Rajive Dhar

The Intricacies of M&A from Start to Finish

For first-time acquirers, M&A can be challenging, as it comes with strenuous processes with many complexities that can turn the dream into a nightmare. However, with proper guidance, acquirers can have a smooth transaction and an amicable negotiation. To help us navigate our first deal, Rajive Dhar, VP and Head of Corporate Development at NetApp, discusses the intricacies of M&A from start to finish.

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General

Jim Ackerman

Steve Coghlan

M&A Surprises and Horror Stories

Every deal is different, which means each and everyone will present unique challenges that teams have to overcome. Especially when dealing with smaller companies. There is no such thing as a perfect deal. However, with the right mindset and approach, deals can still close and bring value to both parties involved. In this interview, Jim Ackerman, recent Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex, and Steve Coghlan, Semi-recent Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex, discuss their experiences on M&A surprises and horror stories.

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Integration

Nicole Markowski

How Positive Relationships Can Drive Success in M&A

More than the numbers, relationships can make or break a deal. Regardless of the deal rationale, strong, trusting connections between parties can lead to smoother negotiations, clearer communication, and a greater likelihood of mutual satisfaction in the end result. In this interview, Nicole Markowski, Manager and Corporate Development at Wipfli LLP, delves into the importance of cultivating positive relationships to drive M&A success.

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General

Samuel Wilson

M&A from a CFO’s Perspective Session 2

In the grand scheme of things, every M&A must make financial sense. Whether it’s cutting cost, increasing revenue, or achieving operational efficiencies, it all boils down to the numbers. After all, every company’s main goal is to grow and increase profit for its shareholders. It is why the Chief Financial Officers play an integral role in M&A. In this interview, we will explore M&A from a CFO’s perspective, featuring Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8.

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General

David Barnes

M&A from a CFO’s Perspective Session 1

Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of strategic ventures. Beyond their traditional financial responsibilities, these financial architects hold the key to unlocking the full potential of mergers and acquisitions. In this article, we will explore M&A from a CFO’s perspective with David Barnes, Chief Financial Officer at Trimble Inc.

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General

Joe Metzger

The Big Shift from Corporate Development to Private Equity

Too often, corporate development practitioners want to change their scenery and end up switching to private equity. It’s a place where they can use their existing skills, and enjoy what they do, without certain restrictions present in a corporate setting. But what are the differences between the two industries? In this interview, Joe Metzger, Managing Director at 777 Partners, shares his amazing journey shifting from corporate development to private equity.

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Integration

Chris Evans

Scott Boyd

Integration Strategies in M&A Part 2

Change management is one of the most crucial aspects of M&A. While integration involves multiple facets, from supply chains to customers, change management is solely focused on the employees. This can make or break a deal, as employee retention is one of the main ingredients to achieving synergies in a timely manner. In this interview, Chris Evans, ex-Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon, and Scott Boyd, former Head of Integration for AWS, discuss integration strategies, particularly the nuisances of change management.

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Integration

Chris Evans

Scott Boyd

Integration Strategies in M&A Part 1

In the complex world of M&A, the difference between a successful deal and a failed one often hinges on integration. Proper integration, driven by a harmonious fusion of strategy and execution, ensures that the merging entities can effectively combine their strengths and navigate potential pitfalls. In this interview, we dive deep into the heart of integration strategies and underscore the pivotal role of the integration team during the due diligence process, featuring Chris Evans, ex-Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon, and Scott Boyd, former Head of Integration for AWS.

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General

Roy Schoenberg

Executing M&A in Healthcare

The healthcare industry is a complex and rigid space where change is often rejected. Any evolution in this sector not only signifies business decisions but also influences the overall quality and accessibility of patient care. In this episode, Roy Schoenberg, President & Co-CEO at Amwell, delves into the intricacies of navigating M&A in the healthcare industry.

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Integration

Mark Rayfield

How to Balance Culture During an Integration

Integration is not just about combining processes and systems. It is also about bridging the cultures of the companies and creating a shared identity. However, integrating two organizations can be complex, especially when it comes to managing major cultural differences. In this episode, we explore key strategies for effectively balancing culture during an integration, featuring Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America, and CertainTeed.

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Divestiture

Dr. Irit Yaniv

Planning and Executing Your Exit as an Investor

While most investors have a passive role in their portfolio company, some investors are active in shaping and contributing to its success. For venture capitalists, one of the best scenarios is for the portfolio company to be acquired to maximize investment returns. In this interview, Dr. Irit Yaniv, Founding Partner and CEO at Almeda Ventures discusses what investors can do when planning and executing the exit.

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General

Barak Routhenstein

How PE Should Support Portfolio Company Acquisitions

The collaboration between a Private Equity (PE) firm and a portfolio company during an acquisition is a powerful partnership. Together, they create a synergistic environment where growth and value thrive. In this episode, we will explore insights from Barak Routhenstein, Vice President of Corporate Development at Profile Products, on how PE firms can provide invaluable support to portfolio companies during the acquisition process, setting the stage for success and maximizing value creation.

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Integration

Glenn Sanford

The Art of M&A: Striking the Right Balance Between Integration and Autonomy

For high-growth companies, M&A is almost inevitable. If done right, it could speed up growth and open new opportunities for the acquiring entity. However, it’s not without challenges, as it can also be destructive and destroy both companies involved. In this episode, Glenn Sanford, CEO of eXp World Holdings, Inc., discusses the art of M&A, and striking the right balance between integration and autonomy.

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Integration

Andrew Bilbao

Ensuring Alignment for Deal Success

M&A is a massive undertaking that calls for collaboration among numerous individuals. Ensuring alignment with everyone involved is essential for the success of a deal. Yet, with a variety of opinions and personalities at play, achieving alignment can be quite a challenge. In this episode, Andrew Bilbao, CFO of Noble Education Acquisition Corp, shares valuable insights on how to guarantee alignment for deal success, paving the way for a smooth and fruitful M&A process.

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General

Greg Stein

How a Public Equity Analyst Evolves to Executing M&A

For public equity analysts, M&A is nothing new. One of their main jobs is to conduct financial analyses of companies and other potential investments. However, M&A execution is another story. Let’s explore how a public equity analyst evolves to executing M&A, featuring Greg Stein, Vice President of M&A and Ventures at Xerox, as he shares his experiences.

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General

Clifford Felig

The Challenges of Cross-Border Deals

International business transactions often present unique challenges that are vastly different from local ones. The complexity increases exponentially when these transactions involve mergers and acquisitions (M&A). In this article, Clifford Felig, Partner at Meitar Law Offices, will discuss the challenges of cross-border deals, particularly in Israel, where he had most of his experiences.

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General

Lesley Adamo

Tax Considerations in M&A

The intricacies of tax considerations in a merger or acquisition (M&A) transaction cannot be overstated. These considerations play a crucial role in shaping the overall economics and structure of the deal, and can significantly impact the outcome for all parties involved. With expert tax planning and structuring, it is possible to mitigate the tax burden and maximize the benefits of the transaction. In this exclusive interview, Lesley Adamo, Vice Chair of the Tax Group at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, delves into the importance of tax considerations in M&A and provides valuable insights on navigating this complex landscape.

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General

Juan Guillermo Castaneda

How to do Deals in Latin America

International deals are one of the most challenging transactions to execute. Aside from the complexities of M&A, there are additional hurdles that acquirers must overcome to successfully acquire companies overseas. In this interview, we will focus on how to do deals in Latin America and all the challenges that come along with it, featuring Juan Guillermo Castaneda, former Senior Advisor to SKG CEO.

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Strategy

Scott Crofton

The Path to Successful Equal Mergers

Too often, M&A involves a larger entity acquiring a smaller business. Only a few believe that a merger of equal can be possible, especially considering the power struggle between the two companies. However, a merger of equals can be a powerful strategy that could unlock tremendous value and opportunities for growth if done right. This episode explores the path to successful equal mergers featuring Scott Crofton, Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

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Strategy

Brian Matthews

How to Create a Value Chain Ecosystem

In today's highly competitive business landscape, companies are constantly looking for ways to enhance their capabilities and maintain their edge. With so many competitors in the market, how can a company stand out and reduce customer churn? In this episode, Brian Matthews, CEO at ITEL, discusses his value chain ecosystem approach that can drive business stability and growth.

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Strategy

Divestiture

Joe Covey

Matthew Davidge

Buying Carve-Outs for Future Exits

In big companies, some business units may not perform well and might be overlooked. It can be helpful for the company to find a more suitable owner for these units. At the same time, buyers can take advantage of these opportunities to improve their businesses and maximize their potential. In this episode, we will explore the experiences of Joe Covey, a successful CEO, acquirer, and investor, and Matthew Davidge, co-owner of NBC Affiliate WVNC, as they buy and develop these businesses with the goal of exiting in the future.

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Integration

Andrew Morbitzer

How to Execute Product-Based Acquisitions

There are many different reasons why companies buy other entities. Traditionally, acquirers have focused more on the financial aspect of the target company. However, experience has shown that not all acquisitions are the same and must be executed properly against their strategy. In this episode, we discuss how to execute product-based acquisitions featuring Andrew Morbitzer, VP/Head of Corporate Development at Typeform.

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General

Nate Lemmerman

Building your M&A Muscle

To perform M&A at the highest level, an ever-evolving M&A function is necessary. Organizations must focus on refining their strategies, processes, and team dynamics to ensure they can effectively navigate the complexities of each deal. In this episode, Nate Lemmerman, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Cast & Crew, shares his experience and tips on how to build your M&A muscle.

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Diligence

Ritika Butani

How to Overcome M&A Hurdles

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a long and tedious process filled with challenges and surprises that could harm the acquiring company or destroy the deal altogether. To ensure a successful transaction, it's crucial to identify and overcome these hurdles. In this episode, we'll discuss the most common M&A challenges and the best approach to overcome them, featuring Ritika Butani, Head of Corporate Development at Toast.

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Strategy

Finn Haley

Build-to-Buy and Option Structures

M&A is inherently risky, but the rewards of a successful deal can exponentially grow a company overnight. There are many things to consider before closing a transaction, and big companies are finding new deal structures to minimize risks when doing acquisitions. In this episode, Finn Haley, SVP of Corporate Development at Edwards Lifesciences, discusses the build-to-buy option structure they use in the healthcare industry.

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General

Mark Legaspi

Key Regulatory Considerations for M&A in the Current Market

M&A activity has definitely slowed down. Due to economic uncertainty and high-interest rates, companies are hesitant to expand during these times. In addition, executing deals has also become more difficult due to regulatory changes, especially in the tech industry. In this episode, Mark Legaspi, Director, Legal - Corporate at LinkedIn, discusses key regulatory considerations for M&A in the current market.

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General

David Hindley

The Evolution of M&A Functions

Acquiring companies can be extremely rewarding if done right. To be proficient in M&A, a dedicated function must be established for continuous improvement. As the M&A function evolves, it increases the chances of deal success and value creation. In this episode, David Hindley, VP of Corp Dev at Autodesk, shares his journey on how he evolved an M&A function from scratch.

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Integration

Staci van Schagen

Thriving in Times of Change With Flexibility in Your Integration Planning

M&A integration is usually made up of checklists that outline the step-by-step agendas and milestones to successfully integrate the acquired company. But during integration, things don’t always go as planned, and teams must be able to pivot and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the project. In this interview, Staci van Schagen, Head of M&A Integration & Disentanglement at Philips, shares her ways on how to thrive in times of change with flexibility in integration planning.

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Strategy

Jeff Wald

Best Practices When Selling a Business

In this episode, we'll outline some valuable insights from Jeff Wald, Co-founder of Bento Engine, on how to maximize the potential of a business during the exit process, engage investors effectively, and conduct confirmatory due diligence. By following these guidelines, entrepreneurs and business owners can be better prepared to navigate the challenges of selling a business.

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Integration

Brent Campbell

How to Focus on Integration as a Corporate Development Professional

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Brent Campbell, Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy at Alight Solutions, discusses how to focus on integration as a corporate development professional.

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Integration

Klint Kendrick

The HR Practitioner’s Guide to Cultural Integration in M&A

Cultural fit has become increasingly, as more companies are embracing diversity and inclusion, and acquirers must mitigate cultural differences early on during post-close integration. When two companies fit together, people are more likely to be productive and satisfied with their work. In this interview, Klint Kendrick, HR and M&A Leader, Chair of the HR M&A Roundtable, gives us a view on the HR practitioner’s guide to cultural integration in M&A.

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Valuation

PJ Patel

Valuation Principles and Working with Earnouts

In this episode, PJ Patel, Co-CEO & Senior Managing Director at Valuation Research Corporation (VRC), discusses current valuation trends and working with earnouts.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Sam Youssef

Growing through Multiple Roll-ups

A roll-up is a powerful deal type that involves acquiring multiple smaller companies to combine them into a large entity. When properly carried out, these strategic actions can significantly increase shareholder value and set up companies for record-breaking development. In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing from Sam Youssef, Founder, and CEO at Valsoft Corporation, a company that has experienced explosive growth through multiple roll-ups.

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Integration

Marilyne H. O'Hara

People-Focused Integration

Losing key people is one of the most significant value leaks post-close. Acquirers must focus on the employee experience to retain as many employees as possible. This episode will discuss how to execute a people-focused integration featuring Marilyne H. O'Hara, Global Head of M&A Integration at Block.

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Strategy

Nadia Gil

Preserving Startups During Acquisitions

Acquiring startups is a common strategy employed by large companies to drive growth and innovation. However, preserving the unique qualities and strengths of startups within the framework of a larger corporation can prove challenging. In this interview, Nadia Gil, Chief of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development at Brady Corporation, offers insight into how to effectively preserve startups during the acquisition process.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Michael Farlekas

Executing M&A Without Corporate Development

Corporate development teams are responsible for finding attractive targets. However, companies can execute successful mergers and acquisitions without corporate development. In this episode, we explore insights provided by Michael Farlekas, the CEO at E2open, who has executed 14 deals without a dedicated corporate development team.

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Integration

Chris Evans

Setting up M&A Integration Day One for Success

Day one in M&A is a critical juncture for both the acquiring company and the target company. This is the day when the deal is officially closed and the two companies become one entity. Day one involves a lot of planning and coordination between the two companies to ensure a smooth transition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Chris Evans, former Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon, discusses setting up M&A integration day one for success.

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Diligence

Sarah Thuo

How to Perform M&A Due Diligence on Sustainability

As the business world shifts towards a more environmentally and socially conscious approach, the significance of sustainability in M&A has become increasingly prominent. In light of this, companies are now considering the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives of their target companies before making any acquisitions. In this article, we explore how to perform M&A due diligence on sustainability, with insights from Sarah Thuo, Chief Operating Officer of IBM Sustainability Services.

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Strategy

Michael Nov

Setting up M&A for Hyper-Growth Companies

M&A is a game-changing tool that can propel a company's growth several years ahead of schedule. However, for hyper-growth companies, M&A can also be a double-edged sword that leads to attrition and detracts from the core business objectives. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael Nov, Head of Corporate Development & Chief of Staff to the CTO at OwnBackup, discusses setting up M&A for hyper-growth companies.

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Integration

Pat Belotti

The Evolution of M&A Integration Part 2: GTM Integration

The go-to-market (GTM) integration strategy has a large impact on revenue generation and overall deal success. Integration can be very disruptive to the customers, but if done right, it can enhance the customer experience and acquisition results. In this 2 part episode of the M&A Science podcast, Pat Belotti, VP Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, continues to discuss the evolution of M&A integration and delves into the intricacies of GTM integration and offers valuable insights on how to approach it.

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Integration

Pat Belotti

The Evolution of M&A Integration Part 1

M&A integration in tech has changed quite a bit over the last twenty years. Integration has evolved from integration volunteers, to large teams with detailed tracking, to dedicated teams and Agile approaches. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pat Belotti, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Zendesk, delves into the evolution of M&A integration.

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Integration

Windy Nicholson

Improving IMO For Efficiency

Acquisitions present unique challenges, but deal lifecycle processes can still be optimized for efficiency. Timeliness is a crucial factor in M&A, and the quicker a deal closes and integration is completed, the faster deal synergies can be achieved. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Windy Nicholson, the Technology Leader for Mergers and Acquisitions at Salesforce, discusses how to improve an IMO for efficiency.

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Integration

Strategy

Andy Wijaya

Managing the Entire M&A Process from Start to Finish Part 2

Managing a deal from start to finish requires a strategic approach and the ability to navigate the nuances of each phase. In this 2-part episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director, M&A at KLA, talks about managing the entire M&A process from start to finish, and dives deep into key stages of acquisition.

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Integration

Strategy

Andy Wijaya

Managing the Entire M&A Process from Start to Finish Part 1

Managing the multi-faceted process of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be a daunting task, especially for those in charge of overseeing the entire process. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andy Wijaya, Senior Director of M&A at KLA, discusses how to manage deals from strategy to closing.

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Strategy

Yvanna Perez-Morel

Strategic Alternatives to M&A

Acquisitions are not the only way companies can achieve growth. Partnerships are a great way for organizations to grow their organic growth capabilities. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Yvanna Perez-Morel, former Sr. Director of Corporate Development at Ulta Beauty

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Sourcing

Michael Frankel

First Conversation to LOI Session 3

Establishing strong connections with a target company is essential in M&A. Securing deals can be challenging, but a strategic approach can result in mutually beneficial outcomes. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital, shares his approach to deal-making from first conversations to LOI.

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General

Guy Fisher

Setting Up M&A Governance for Efficiency

In order for an M&A process to be successful, there must be effective governance in place. Governance is used to manage risks, and ensure that key stakeholders are well-informed and able to provide appropriate oversight throughout a transaction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Guy Fisher, Head of Corporate Development at Suncorp Group, shares his expertise in setting M&A governance up for efficiency.

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Strategy

Thomas Gorman

Mark Khavkin

Executing Acquihires

Acquiring a company is complex and challenging, and in some instances, unnecessary. If buyers only need the people inside of a target company, they can do an acquihire instead of a traditional acquisition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Thomas Gorman, former Strategy & Corporate Development at Pantheon Platform, and Mark Khavkin, former CFO at Pantheon Platform, discusses executing acquihires.

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Sourcing

Ken Bond

First Convo to LOI in M&A Session 2

Before buyers and sellers agree to an LOI, there are many informal conversations that happen in the background. Buyers must carefully approach any informal conversations to avoid turning a buyer off while still securing the deal. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ken Bond, former Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, discusses the key things to consider from first conversations to LOI in M&A.

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Diligence

Gitanjali Pundir

Reps and Warranties Insurance from a Business Perspective

Today, more than 20 reps and warranty insurance companies exist. And unlike before, they are now willing to cover the entire suite of reps and warranties to replace the indemnification provisions in a traditional purchase agreement. So are they worth it? Should buyers consider reps and warranty insurance on all their deals? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gitanjali Pundir, Vice President, Global Corporate Development and M&A at Visa, discusses reps and warranties insurance from a business perspective.

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General

Josh Holleman

How to Approach Reps and Warranties Insurance

In recent years, there has been a surge in using reps & warranty insurance in M&A, especially in private deals. This episode will discuss how to approach reps and warranties insurance, featuring Josh Holleman, Partner at Cooley LLP.

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Sourcing

Diligence

Jeremy Segal

First Convo to LOI in M&A Session 1

Deal origination requires a well-planned strategy, and starts with informal conversations with a potential target. In this episode, Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, discusses what happens behind the scenes between the first conversation to LOI in M&A.

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General

Veena Ramaswamy

Starting Up Your Corporate Development Function

Executing acquisitions without a dedicated function is highly inefficient and results in failed deals. Companies should not purely rely on inbound opportunities, and need strategic teams dedicated to sourcing deals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Veena Ramaswamy, former Head of Corporate Development at Lemonade, discusses how to create a corporate development function.

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Strategy

Rohit Dave

Executing Various M&A Strategies and How to Get Buy in From Leadership

M&A is an excellent tool for growing a company. Still, acquirers should consider a variety of strategies before committing to a transaction. Choosing the right growth approach also dictates any integration plans. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Rohit Dave, Head of Corporate Development at Block, discusses executing various M&A strategies and how to get buy-in from leadership.

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Integration

Cara Bibbiani

How to Perform Better M&A Integration

The integration stage of the deal lifecycle is when teams can achieve a transaction's desired synergies. In this episode, Cara Bibbiani, Senior Director, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, discusses how to efficiently execute M&A Integration.

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Strategy

Kevin Barnes

Creating Your M&A Team Structure

Standing up a corporate development function from scratch is a challenging, yet exciting task. And one of the pillars of a successful M&A function is a solid team who can effectively run deals. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kevin Barnes, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Premier, discusses how to create an M&A team structure

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General

Kerry Perez

M&A Career Path: Transitioning Roles In M&A

Corporate development and integration roles consist of different responsibilities. Yet, understanding both roles can help practitioners become more effective at deal execution. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kerry Perez, Head of Enterprise Strategy at AMN Healthcare, discusses her M&A career path and how to transition roles in M&A, during which she experienced a variety of roles.

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Integration

Strategy

Darrell Heaps

Tying up M&A Strategy and Integration

A strong deal strategy doesn't guarantee success. Integration is where value is created and must be prioritized from the very beginning of a deal. In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Darrell Heaps, CEO at Q4 Inc, discusses how to tie M&A strategy and integration together.

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Integration

Caroline Jones

Accelerating M&A Integration

Integrating an acquired company is always challenging. Acquirers must execute quickly and efficiently, navigate changes, and preserve the target company's value. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Caroline Jones, Senior Director - Acquisition Success at Cisco, discusses how to accelerate M&A integration.

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Integration

Don Yakulis

How to Get Strategic Alignment During M&A Integration

There needs to be alignment from both sides of a deal in order to have a smooth integration process. In this interview, Don Yakulis, Global Head of M&A Integration at Light and Wonder, discusses the importance of achieving alignment from both teams during M&A integration.

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Integration

James Harris

GTM Integration Planning Part 2

Achieving revenue synergies should always be a transaction’s top priority. By leveraging the combined customer base of both companies, and combining the marketing and sales efforts, companies can become a much more powerful force in the marketplace. In this two-part M&A Science Podcast episode, James Harris, Principal, Corporate Development Integration at Google, discusses GTM integration planning.

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Integration

James Harris

GTM Integration Planning Part 1

When two businesses merge, the new company's success often depends on how well the go-to-market plan is executed. The combined company inherits the two businesses’ customers, products, and respective sales and marketing channels. If not planned properly, the combined efforts can lead to customer confusion and lost sales. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, James Harris, Principal, of Corporate Development Integration at Google, discusses GTM integration planning.

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Strategy

Larry Forman

The Corporate Venture Capital Strategy

There are different ways to create and grow a business: build up from scratch, acquire another company, or gain strategic alignment with other companies through partnerships. Through a partnership, a business can leverage someone else's technology for faster growth. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Larry Forman, Senior Manager and Head of the Ecosystem for Deloitte's New Venture Accelerator, discusses corporate venture capital strategy.

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Kirti Gavri

How to Run an Accelerated M&A Process

Auction processes in M&A are very challenging for strategic buyers, and corporate development teams need more than a compelling offer to compete in an auction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kirti Gavri, former Head of Corporate Development for Wizeline, discusses how to run an accelerated deal process.

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Tim Wentworth

Strategizing and Executing your Exit for the Greater Good of your Team

Selling a business has risks, but with the right approach, continued success is achievable. In this interview, Tim Wentworth, Retired CEO of Cigna, formerly known as Express Scripts, discusses how to strategize and execute an exit for a team's greater good.

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Integration

Strategy

Hannah Elsakr

Successful End-to-End M&A

Teams need to understand how strategy can impact the entire process in order to be successful in M&A. In this interview, Hannah Elsakr, Vice President, Corporate Development, M&A Integration at Adobe, discusses executing successful end-to-end M&A.

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Sourcing

Benjamin Orthlieb

Bottoms Up Deal Origination Model

Strategy is arguably the most important aspect of M&A, and strategy alignment across the board is vital. In this interview, Benjamin Orthlieb, Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Linkedin, discusses Linkedin’s bottoms-up deal origination model.

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Integration

Strategy

Keith Crawford

How to Execute an Effective M&A Integration Handoff

Integration is where value is created regardless of what happened during negotiations and diligence. However, an acquirer can destroy a target company if integration is poorly executed. Therefore, ensuring the acquired business is in good hands is imperative. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Keith Crawford, Global Head of Corporate Development / M&A - State Street, discusses how to execute an effective M&A integration handoff.

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Strategy

Daniel Gittsovich

How to Create an Agile M&A Strategy

Having an Agile M&A strategy is a key component of being a proactive acquirer and rapidly growing companies. In this interview, Daniel Gittsovich, Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Development at L3Harris Technologies, discusses how to create an Agile M&A strategy.

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Diligence

Frederic Lebourg

Sell-Side Behind-the-Scenes Part 2: Preparing a Company For an Acquisition

This interview is part two of our M&A Science podcast interview with Frederic Lebourg, CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Inc. During this interview, he discusses what happens after the deal preparation stage.

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Diligence

Frederic Lebourg

Sell-Side Behind-the-Scenes Part 1: Preparing a Company For an Acquisition

Where do you start when selling a business? This is the first of two interviews with Frederic Lebourg, CEO & Managing Director at Redlands Farm Holding, Inc. During part 1, Frederic discusses how to prepare a company for an acquisition.

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Sourcing

Atul Tiwary

Reverse Auction in M&A

Have you ever heard of a reverse auction process in M&A? In this interview, Atul Tiwary, former Vice President of Corporate Development at Barracuda, talks about the reverse auction process in M&A including how the process works and why should acquirers consider it.

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General

Evelyn De la Cruz

How to Properly Lay Off People During an Acquisition

When acquiring another company, there is always the potential that layoffs will need to take place to streamline the new organization. Of course, letting people go is never easy, but there are ways to do it properly to minimize damage to the individuals and the company's reputation. In this episode, Evelyn De la Cruz, Head of North America Administrative Operations at Spencer Stuart, discusses how to properly lay off people during an acquisition.

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Diligence

Sourcing

Andrew Whitcomb

How to Approach Deal Targets

Are you trying to become a proactive acquirer? One of the most crucial aspects of success is managing the pipeline and approaching companies. In this interview, Andrew Whitcomb, Sr Director, Strategy, Corporate Development, M&A at Builders FirstSource, shares how to approach deal targets.

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Integration

Dan Menge

Jeff Hennig

Introducing M&A to a Larger Company

Ever wonder what happens when a first-time acquirer merges with a serial acquirer? In this interview, Jeff Hennig, Vice President, Corporate Development at AMD, and Dan Menge, Head of M&A Integration at AMD discuss how to introduce M&A to a larger company.

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Divestiture

Liz Lockhart

Carving Out A Competitor

Carve-outs are incredibly complex. Buying a small part of a target company brings many challenges and can be even more complicated if the acquirer is carving out a public company. In this interview, Liz Lockhart, Sr. Director, PMO, Training and Business Applications, shares her experience in carving out a public company competitor.

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Sourcing

Strategy

Mike Kryza

Formulating M&A Strategy for Proactive Sourcing

When companies do reactive M&A there is a much lower chance of achieving the intended post-close deal value. In this interview, Mike Kryza, former Head of Corporate Development at the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, discusses formulating an M&A strategy for proactive sourcing.

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Integration

Karen Ashley

Realizing Go-To-Market Synergies

Revenue synergies are one of the hardest things to achieve during integration. In this interview, Karen Ashley, Vice President, Corporate Development Integration at Cisco, discusses their best practices to realize go-to-market synergies.

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Strategy

Willy Walker

How to Convince People to Sell their Business

M&A is one of the fastest ways to grow a company. Many of the largest companies in the world turn to M&A for inorganic growth. However, first-time acquirers often find it difficult to buy companies due to a lack of experience and reputation. In this episode, Willy Walker, Chairman, and CEO of Walker & Dunlop, Inc, discusses how to convince people to sell their business.

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Sourcing

Lisa Marchese

Proactive Deal Sourcing

It’s been proven time and again that culture should not be ignored during acquisitions. In this interview, Lisa Marchese, Head of Corporate Development at American Express, discusses proactive deal sourcing with culture in mind.

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Strategy

Richard Dunkel

How to Improve the Sales Function During Integration

Having trouble building a sales function? In this interview, Richard Dunkel, Global Head of Field Enablement at Celonis, discusses how to improve the sales function during integration.

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Integration

Kim Jones

Lessons Learned from Leadership Onboarding

An effective M&A onboarding process post-close can dictate employee retention. But what's even more important is retaining the acquired company's leadership. Leadership has massive influence inside the business, and helping them transition properly will positively impact the overall transaction. This interview will discuss lessons learned from leadership onboarding with Kim Jones, HR Director M&A at Microsoft.

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Strategy

Touraj Parang

Building an Exit Path

Selling a business is a difficult task that requires a lot of planning and preparation. However, most entrepreneurs refuse to entertain the idea of a sale until it is too late. The best time to plan an exit is when times are good, not in a desperate situation. The longer the prep time, the higher chances of success. This interview talks about how to build an exit strategy featuring Touraj Parang, President & COO of Serve Robotics.

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Siran Tanielyan

Developing an M&A Thesis

A good M&A thesis is fundamental to a successful transaction. Learn the steps and challenges of developing an M&A thesis, featuring Siran Tanielyan, SVP, Corporate Development at Paramount.

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Strategy

Cole Breidenbach

Leadership Alignment and GTM Strategy for Successful Deals

Leadership is often overlooked but extremely important in M&A. Getting alignment early from all leaders will help increase deal success. In this interview, Cole Breidenbach, former VP, M&A Integration & Strategic Initiatives at Okta, discusses leadership alignment and GTM strategy for successful deals.

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Christina Ungaro

Growing Beyond M&A

Corporate development is more than just doing M&A. Sometimes, acquiring a company isn't the best way to achieve the organization's growth strategy. This episode will discuss growing beyond M&A with Christina Ungaro, former VP, Head of Corporate Development at Wind River.

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Integration

Joshua Zatkin-Steres

How to Build and Grow an IMO Function

Integration is one of the most challenging and crucial parts of M&A, and having a dedicated integration function can be extremely valuable to an organization. Let's all learn how to stand up an IMO function with Joshua Zatkin-Steres, Head of M&A Integration at Zuora.

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Bani Bedi

Secrets to Building an M&A Function

M&A is one of the most powerful tools to transform your business instantly. If done right, your organization will reach new heights that otherwise would not have been possible. Before you can reap its benefits, you must build a good M&A function. In this episode, Bani Bedi, SVP, Head of Corporate Development, Strategy, and Monetization at Smartsheet, shares the secrets to building an M&A function.

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Diligence

Amr Abdelaziz

Financial Diligence in M&A

Finance is arguably the most critical part of the due diligence process. Almost every transaction comes down to the numbers unless it's a pure IP deal. Conducting effective financial diligence in M&A is crucial to every acquisition's success. This interview tackles the basics of financial diligence featuring Amr Abdelaziz, Senior Director, M&A Finance at Equinix.

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Strategy

Michael McDonald

Developing Strategy with Business Leaders

Strategy is a crucial part of a M&A. Without it, acquirers may end up purchasing companies that compromise their time and resources. This episode will discuss developing strategy with business leaders, featuring Michael McDonald, former Director, Strategy at Koch Engineered Solutions.

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Strategy

Tyler Rodewald

How to Compete in a Competitive M&A Market

No buyer desires an auction process, but if you are ever involved in one, it’s important to know how to handle the process effectively. In this interview, Tyler Rodewald, VP, M&A at EIS Holdings, talks about how to engage in a competitive M&A process.

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Joachim Heel

Capturing Revenue Synergies

Revenue synergies are one of the most challenging metrics to achieve during integration, but are also the primary reason companies buy businesses. In this episode, Joe Heel, Chief Revenue Officer at Zebra Technologies, talks about capturing revenue synergies.

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Integration

Emma Barton

Architecting Communications for Successful Integration

Deal failure can often be tied back to a lack of communication and collaboration. Let's discuss architecting communications for successful integration featuring Emma Barton, Director, Alliance and Integration Management at AstraZeneca.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Brett Shawn

Risk Allocation Between Signing and Closing an M&A Deal

In M&A, time is the enemy. The longer a deal takes to close, the more risks it poses for both parties. This episode talks about risk allocation between signing and closing an M&A deal with the help of Brett Shawn, Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Warburg Pincus LLC.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Felipe Heiderich

Working with Legal to Dial in Your M&A Strategy

How early should M&A lawyers become involved in a transaction? Understanding what they do is crucial to answering this question. In this interview, Felipe Heiderich, Senior Counsel at Moderna, discusses the importance of lawyers in M&A and their role throughout the deal lifecycle.

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Integration

Dustin Delewski

Dissecting GTM for Successful Integration

Go-to-market integration is more than just combining the sales and marketing teams. In this interview, Dustin Delewski, Director of M&A Integration Management at Cardinal Health, gives a comprehensive view of how you can dissect your GTM for successful integration.

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Integration

Massimo Malizia

Challenges of Go-To-Market Integration

More often than not, M&A involves go-to-market integration. After all, companies are bought to achieve revenue synergies in new markets. In this interview, Massimo Malizia, Director of Corporate Development Integration at Cisco Systems, talks about overcoming the challenges of go-to-market integration.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Saurabh Tejwani

How to Scale Your Corporate Development Function

The more activity, the bigger the corporate development function should be. In this interview, learn how to scale a corporate development function. Saurabh Tejwani, Vice President, Corporate Development and Business Operations at GoPuff.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Pranjal Gambhir

Doretta Mistras

Buying Public Companies

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pranjal Gambhir and Doretta Mistras, both Managing Directors, Global Investment Banking, Healthcare at Citi, talk about how to buy public companies.

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Integration

Gene Hugh

How to Execute an Integration Plan (Day1)

How well an acquired business is integrated will determine the transaction's success. In this interview, Gene Hugh, Chief Financial Officer at Procure Analytics, and John Morada, COO at M&A Science + DealRoom, will discuss how to successfully execute an integration plan.

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Integration

Michael DeVita

The Process of Change Management in M&A

Change management is one of the most crucial parts of M&A. When you don't plan for it; value creation is in jeopardy. Helping us understand how to deliver effective change management in M&A is Michael Devita, Business Value Advisor at Salesforce.

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Divestiture

Andrew Gratz

Divestitures from a Legal Perspective

Corp dev plays a huge role in selling a business, but the legal team also plays a crucial role. In this episode, Andrew Gratz, Chief Privacy Officer, and Associate General Counsel at LyondellBasell, talks about what a divestiture looks like from a legal perspective.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Rishabh Mishra

Sourcing Companies That Are Not For Sale

Companies have been dressed up for sale and are under-invested for profit maximization and growth. According to Rishabh Mishra, former Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Infostretch, buying companies that are not for sale is the most lucrative acquisition you can do.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Sabeeh Khan

Effective Deal Sourcing Through Market Mapping

In order for M&A to be effective, you have to be proactive. It is a great tool and should be a part of your growth strategy. Sabeeh Khan, Director of Corporate Development at Infoblox, talks about effective deal sourcing through market mapping.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Adam Coffey

The Basics of Sell-Side M&A

Selling your business may very well be the most significant transaction of your life, and it is vital to know what you're doing before putting a company up for sale. Proper preparation is key to selling a business. In this podcast, Adam Coffey, Founding Partner of CEO Advisory Guru LLC, discusses the basics of sell-side M&A.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Jeremy Segal

How to Source Deals and Build Your Pipeline

M&A deals don’t just fall from the sky. Proactively sourcing deals is the best way to approach M&A, and in this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Jeremy Segal, EVP, Corporate Development at Progress, teaches us how to source deals and build a pipeline.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Tom Horton

How M&A Strategy Evolves in Education Technology

Online education is not new. But because of the pandemic, the entire educational sector was forced to shift in this direction, increasing competition. In this article, Tom Horton, SVP of Corporate Development at Kaplan, Inc., will talk about how M&A strategy evolves in education technology.

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Strategy

Kayla Davis

From Accounting to an M&A Career

M&A is a fascinating industry with no clear blueprint on how to get in. Kayla Davis, Vice President, Head of M&A at ABM Industries, came from accounting to an M&A Career, and in this article, she will share her journey and key lessons learned along the way.

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Strategy

Caleb Shafer

Career Development in M&A

Traditionally, corporate development professionals come from banking roles. And while nothing is wrong with that, it is always fascinating to hear other ways that professionals start M&A careers. Sharing his career development in M&A is Caleb Shafer, Corporate Development Associate at RS Group plc.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Hannah Leung

Implementing an Actionable GTM Strategy

Implementing your GTM Strategy is one of the most crucial parts of integration. Learn all the challenges of implementation featuring Hannah Leung, Senior Manager, M&A at Salesforce.

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Integration

Jim Buckley

How to Run an Integration Led Confirmatory Diligence Process

While some companies bring the integration team in the diligence process, some take it even further. In this interview, Jim Buckley, former Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware, talks about how to run an integration-led confirmatory diligence process.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Matt Arsenault

How to Formulate Your M&A Strategy

Too many times, we've seen M&A used as a strategy to grow businesses. But in fact, M&A is not a strategy, and it's a tool that organizations use to achieve their corporate strategy. Let's all learn how to formulate an M&A strategy with Matt Arsenault, VP of corporate development at Jamf.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Ian Burk

How to Stand Up an IMO

The importance of integration has never been more prevalent. And standing up a dedicated function to oversee integration is becoming more of a necessity as your company grows bigger. Learn from Ian Burk, EVP of integration at Upland Software, as he talks about how to stand up an IMO.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Scott Hile

How to Tie Deal Origination to Strategy Development

With so many companies out there, how do you know who to approach as your M&A targets? Helping us learn how to tie deal origination to strategy development is Scott Hile, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy & Development at Enviva.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Sreepathy Viswanathan

How to Define your M&A Strategy for Increased Deal Success

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Sreepathy Viswanathan, Chief Corporate Development Officer, HGS Healthcare, who has 25 years of experience in Corp Dev, talks about how to build a great M&A strategy.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Austin Woody

How to Grow Purely on Acquisitions

From zero revenue to a billion-dollar market capitalization, Upland Software has been able to grow its business through M&A acquisitions exponentially. Learn from Austin Woody, Senior Vice President of M&A and Corporate Development at Upland Software.

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Integration

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How To Pivot to an M&A Integration Career

Are you looking to pivot into an M&A integration career? Over the past decade, the importance of integration has become more prevalent. Practitioners have realized that integration is where you make or break value.

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Strategy

Larry Forman

How to Approach M&A Negotiations

It's no secret that M&A transactions require negotiations. But what most people don't realize is that how you approach negotiations can determine the success of the overall transaction and your future relationship with the other party.

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Integration

Naomi O’Brien

How to Modernize a Process-Based Company

Is your company’s M&A process out of date? M&A has dramatically changed over the past few years, and practitioners have realized that there are better ways to do acquisitions. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Naomi O'Brien, Head of M&A Integration at Honeywell, talks about how to modernize a process-based company.

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Diligence

Integration

Kerry Perez

Standing up a Diligence and Integration Management Office

The majority of Corporate Development involves their integration team a couple of weeks before closing the deal. And while this is good practice, it’s not the best. According to Kerry Perez, former Head of M&A at AMN Healthcare, there is a real benefit in involving your integration team earlier than that.

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Strategy

Sourcing

Daniel Burseth

Automation Roll-ups & Growing Technical Leadership Talent

In a highly fragmented industry, roll-ups are one of the most effective ways to grow a business. Daniel Burseth, Vice President at Eckhart, Inc., has bought and integrated six companies in the last few years. In this interview, he will be sharing how they roll-up small manufacturing companies.

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Strategy

Henry Schuck

How to Acquire for Capabilities

Acquiring additional capabilities is one of the best ways to do M&A. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Henry Schuck, co-founder and CEO of Zoominfo, shares his experience on how to acquire capabilities.

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General

Tomer Stavitsky

Creating the Right Governance Structure in an M&A Deal

Kison speaks with Tomer Stavitsky, former Corporate Development, Partnerships, and M&A Lead at Intuitive about building a steering committee that doesn't slow down the deal and what the M&A process looks like.

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Tim Wentworth

Successful Acquisitions Through Leadership and Culture

Let’s learn how great leadership and focus on culture made one of the biggest M&A deals possible. In this episode Tim Wentworth, CEO of Evernorth, shares the story of the deal between Cigna and Express Scripts, and what made it a success.

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Divestiture

Noah Waisberg

The Complexities of Sell-Side M&A

The decision to pull the trigger and sell your business could come with many complexities. Sharing his experience and the complexities of sell-side M&A is Noah Waisberg, Co-Founder & CEO of Zuva. In this episode, he talks about his learnings as his company Kira Systems got acquired by Litera.

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Charles Breed

Hiring A Head Of Corp Dev That Fits Your M&A Strategy

M&A is a tool to achieve your strategy, and your strategy should dictate how you hire your head of corporate development. In this episode, Charles Breed, former VP of Corporate Development at Corel Corporation, talks about the skills and roles of a great corporate development leader.

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Klint Kendrick

Creating a Better People Experience in M&A

The biggest value leak in an M&A deal is people leaving your company after the deal is done. In this interview, Klint Kendrick, Chair of the HR M&A Roundtable, talks about how empathy, strategy, and integration can all contribute to a better people experience in M&A.

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Strategy

Strategy

Kunal Jain

M&A Market Trends from a Banker’s Perspective

The markets change all the time, and the M&A industry is no exception. Especially with COVID-19, changes in the market have been crazy these past years. Helping us understand the M&A market trends from a banker's perspective is Kunal Jain, Director, at William Blair Health Care Investment Banking.

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Integration

Jim Buckley

Why You Should Update Your M&A Management Approach

M&A practitioners love to go into details. And while that could be beneficial, it doesn’t often help with team alignment. According to Jim Buckley, former Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware, keeping integration simple is the real key to success.

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Harry Kraemer Jr.

Leadership Lessons to Overcome Change Management

Change management is the tilting point of every M&A deal. Preserving the value that you just acquired is dependent on how you retain key employees. In this episode of the M&A science podcast, Harry Kraemer, Jr, Professor of Management and Strategy at Kellogg School of Management, talks about how effective leadership helps overcome change management challenges.

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Jim Buckley

How to Succeed in M&A Integration and Measure Success

We all know that integration can make or break the deal. In this interview, Jim Buckley, former Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware, talks about how to succeed in M&A integration and measure that success.

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Diligence

Ken Bond

How to Structure Teams Approaching M&A Diligence

In this interview, Ken Bond, former Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group, talks about how to structure your M&A team as you approach diligence, look for a project manager, and source deals.

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Gwen Pope

Making M&A GTM Successful

A go-to-market plan should be a top priority during an acquisition. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gwen Pope, Head of Global Product M&A at eBay, talks about how to make our M&A GTM successful.

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Aaron Whiting

Sabeeh Khan

Managing M&A Sourcing, Diligence and Integration

In this interview, we are going to talk about managing sourcing, diligence and integration from a project manager's perspective featuring Sabeeh Khan, Director, Corporate Strategy & Development at Syniti and Aaron Whiting, M&A Integration and Strategic Programs at ContinuumCloud

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Trish Mosconi

Staying True to Culture in M&A

Culture is one of the most controversial and hot topics in the world of M&A. Most people say that Culture isn’t a deal killer. But not for Trish Mosconi, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer & Corporate Development at Synchrony. In our interview, she talks about how they walked away from an almost perfect deal due to cultural differences.

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Integration

Strategy

Karen Ashley

How to Commit to Integration from Start to Finish

Fully committing to integration starts with a deep partnership between corp dev and integration. Learn all about it featuring Karen Ashley, Vice President of Corporate Development Integration at Cisco.

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Russ Hartz

Execute a Divestiture Without Using a Bank

Bankers have a massive role in the M&A industry, and often, they help buyers and sellers connect and close deals. But regardless of popular belief, with the right amount of dedication and resources, a company can execute divestitures without a bank.

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Integration

Christina Amiry

Evolving Your M&A Integration Function

Executing an entire M&A deal can be done remotely. Catch this interview as Christina Amiry, Head of M&A Strategic Operations, Integration at Atlassian, shares with us how to work in a fully remote environment, the tools that they use, and how they engage with people all over the world.

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Adam Coffey

Buy and Build Strategy

PE firms have a very short-term holding period and need to grow businesses fast. Adam Coffey, former CEO at CoolSys, Refrigeration and HVAC Systems, is an expert on growing these companies using the buy and build strategy. In this article, he will share what it is and how to create sustainable success.

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Pragnya Kashinath

Making GTM a Success

A GTM strategy is one of the most important parts of an integration plan. In this episode, Pragnya Kashinath, M&A Consultant at Deloitte, talks about creating a successful GTM strategy from the very beginning of the transaction and the challenges that go with it.

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Strategy

Cameron Weiner

Buy or Build Considerations in M&A

Before you start any acquisition, you should always consider whether to buy it or build it yourself. In this episode of the M&A science podcast, Cameron Weiner, VP of Strategic Development, Head of M&A at Shopko Optical, shares how they source deals and determine whether they should buy or build.

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Punit Minocha

Engineering Deals for Success

M&A deals are never easy, and requires rigorous planning. In this interview, Punit Micocha, Executive Vice President, Business and Corporate Development at Zscaler, is going to help us execute successful deals by planning the end game.

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Peter Linas

Managing Infrequent Acquisitions

In this episode, Peter Linas, CPO & EVP Corporate Development at Bullhorn, talks about how his corporate development team looks like in an infrequent acquisition environment, and how they hire external consultants to make their deals successful.

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Strategy

Alexi Venneri

Conducting Effective M&A Without a Dedicated Team

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a dedicated M&A team to execute successful transactions. With proper team alignment and motivation, getting deals done is very much possible.

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Strategy

Divestiture

General

Duncan Painter

How To Make Transformational M&A Successful

We all know that M&A can transform a business overnight if the deal is done correctly. However, not everyone knows how to make transformative M&A successful. In this interview, Duncan Painter, former CEO at Ascential Plc, talks about transformational deals for their company and how they make it successful.

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General

Jay Dettling

How to Preserve Value in M&A

In this episode, Jay Dettling, former CEO of Ansira, talks about preserving value in M&A. Learn how Jay creates value during integration, retains value when being acquired, and the importance of communication. Jay shares his experience being on both sides of the deal, the best tips for communicating, how you can manage FUD, and what CEOs going through acquisition should expect and prepare for.

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Michael DeVita

Assessing Value Realization

Kison interviews Mike DeVita, Business Value Advisor at Salesforce, about how to assess value realization, what is it, how it works, the steps, and the common challenges. Mike has an impressive career history, previously serving as Salesforce's Success Strategy Lead and prior to that as Director of M&A Integration at Walgreens.

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Strategy

Strategy

Darshan Mehta

How to use Multiple Deal Structures to Make Partnerships Successful in India

Reliance Retail is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world. Learn how they manage multiple deal structures to make their partnerships successful directly from their President and CEO, Darshan Mehta.

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Rhonda Rein

Executing Divestitures

Divestiture is not the reverse of an acquisition, and it certainly takes more work and more preparation. In this episode, Rhonda Rein, former Director, Corporate Development at Thomson Reuters, helps us understand where divestiture starts, how TSA work and what happens after close.

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Jason Lippert

How To Successfully Execute Deals With A Small Team

Do you need a team of dedicated M&A professionals to successfully execute M&A deals? Jason Lippert, CEO of LCI Industries (NYSE : LCII) shares how they were able to conduct M&A deals with a tiny team.

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Randy Tinsley

Managing Internal Dynamics

Randy Tinsley, Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Synopsys, talks about how to manage the internal dynamics of your organization. Learn how to assemble your team, steps to take to ensure internal alignment, and how Randy tracks deals 3 years out post-close.

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Jay Jester

Deal Origination from a PE Investor's Perspective

Jay Jester, Partner at Plexus Capital, LLC, talks about the key differences between how corporate development, private equity, and investment bankers source deals. Learn about how investment bankers' perceptions are changing, the banker selection process, and how private equity employees source deals.

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Mladen Kresic

How to Negotiate Like a Pro

Most of us are always negotiating in our everyday lives but do you want to learn how to negotiate like a pro? Mladen Kresic, Founder and CEO of K&R Negotiation Associates LLC, shared a lot when it comes to negotiating effectively in this episode.

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William Stone

How SS&C Conducts Acquisitions

William (Bill) Stone, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SS&C Technologies, a global provider of software and investment/financial services. Bill shares how their strategies have changed and the key lessons he has learned from conducting over 50 acquisitions.

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Darren Lampert

From Private to Public Company

In this episode, Darren Lampert, CEO at GrowGeneration Corp, talks about what it's like going from a private to a public company. Darren lived through this transition and discusses how M&A has changed from private to public, how life as a CEO changed, and the benefits of becoming a public company.

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Ailene Holderness

How to Build an M&A Team That Can Support Multi-Vertical Strategies

Managing a multi-vertical M&A strategy requires a high-performing team, full of perpetual learners and with a strong appetite for risk-taking. In this episode, Ailene Holderness, former Head of M&A at IAC, talks about how they manage their multi-vertical strategy and how to build a high-performing M&A team.

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Jeff Bender

Managing M&A on a High Scale

What does it take to manage M&A on a high scale? Jeff Bender, CEO at Harris, shares what their entire process looks like and how they are able to manage massive volumes on M&A deals in their organization

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Dustin Intihar

Hunting Deals in M&A

Kison talks to Dustin Intihar, former Director of M&A and Strategic Alliances at The Lubrizol Corporation, about how to hunt for deals in M&A. Learn how to get a target to take your call, what that first conversation should look like, and how Dustin coaches business leaders on strategy development and target identification.

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Philip Soar

How to Prepare a Business for Private Equity Acquisition

In this episode, Philip Soar shares his approach to sourcing opportunities, what does he look for in a company, and the different techniques to cultivate relationships with PE firms.

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Martin Richenhagen

How To Prevent International Deals From Failing

Join this discussion as Kison and Martin talk about best practices when conducting international deals.

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General

Scott Hile

Developing Leadership in M&A

Often, leadership is overlooked in M&A. But make no mistake, a successful deal is largely attributed to leadership, much as it is when the deal fails

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Allen Gilmer

The Role of A Board Member in M&A

Kison speaks with Allen Gilmer, Founder of Enverus (formerly Drillinginfo) who has an interesting story of starting an M&A function from scratch and hiring a COO so he can step back but still retain control as a board member.

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Jeff Hennig

Managing M&A Communication Workstream

Jeff Hennig, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Xilinx, shares about how to put an effective workflow in place to manage communication. Learn when to start planning your communication strategy, common challenges, and why having a communication strategy is so important.

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General

Brett Shawn

M&A Deals From a Legal Perspective

Kison will be talking to Brett Shawn, Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Warburg Pincus LLC to discuss how M&A is executed from the legal perspective. They'll be covering minority deals, the different types of risks you are looking for in a deal-and how to mitigate them including COVID-19 related risks.

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General

Andrew Gratz

The Legal Team’s Role in M&A

In this episode, Andrew shares why the legal team's involvement early in the deal process is important and the different key milestones in a deal they are responsible for. He also talks about the dangers of deal fever, working with corporate development teams, and more.

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Strategy

Clayton Stanley

Joint Ventures at Scale

Clayton Stanley, Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at AmeriVet Veterinary Partners, talks about how to make the JV model work on scale and figuring out the right size of the M&A team. Learn about how you can create a joint venture model that is scalable and the prioritization of tasks.

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Strategy

Kimberly Baird

Ashley Rice

Evolving To Agile M&A at Scale

This episode of the M&A Science podcast features our friends over at Cisco. In this interview, we talked about evolving to Agile M&A at scale, with Ashley Rice, Sr. Consultant HR M&A at Cisco, and Kimberly Baird, Corporate Development Integration Lead at Cisco.

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Integration

Javid Moosaji

Transforming M&A to Improve Integration

This week's episode of the M&A Science podcast is unique. We recorded it almost a year ago but it got lost in the production process. Javid Moosaji, former M&A Sales Integration Strategy at PayPal. It's too good not to share with the M&A community - listen to it and you'll know why.

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Strategy

Matt Arsenault

Career Paths in M&A

Kison interviews Matt Arsenault, Vice President of Corporate Development at Jamf, about the many career paths you can take in M&A. Learn how to shift career path gears, roles to look for when transitioning, and what the future of a corporate development role may look like.

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Strategy

Emma Barton

Conversations From The Frontlines

This episode is a session from our Holiday Summit last December with Emma Barton, Director, Alliance and Integration Management at AstraZeneca. We're talking about the spectrum of deals corporate development manages approaching partnerships and alliances and how those relationships may progress into M&A.

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Integration

Carlos Cesta

Agile Value Capture from Initial Deal Prospecting to Integration

This episode of M&A Science is a session from the M&A Science Holiday Summit last year. The interview featured Carlos Cesta, Vice President of Corp Dev at Presidio discussed the best practices to capture value from initial deal prospecting to integration.

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Strategy

John Orbe

Structuring Corporate Venture Capital Deals

Kison sits down with John Orbe, Associate General Counsel - M&A at Emerson to talk about corporate VC deals, what the process looks like, and how to navigate challenges you may encounter.

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Strategy

Jerry Will

Managing a Multi-Vertical M&A Strategy

Join Kison on this interview with Jerry Will, former Vice President of Corporate Development at 3M. We'll be learning about managing a multi-vertical M&A strategy through continuous improvement and leadership development.

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Strategy

Elena Sidelnikova

Identifying Risks in Software M&A

Join Kison and Elena Sidelnikova, former Head of Finance and Corporate Development/M&A, CFO at Always Compassionate Home Care, for an interview about how to identify risks in software M&A.

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Strategy

Michael Palumbo

Evolving Your Corporate Development Function

How do you start building your corp dev function from scratch? Where would you start when you are the very first person in your department?

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Strategy

Gina Sandon

How to Evolve Your M&A Workflow Using Agile Principles

Kison interviews Gina Sandon, Director, Corporate Development, Merger & Acquisitions Synergy, Integration and Transition at IBM, about how to evolve your M&A workflow using Agile principles.

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Sean Alford

Building a Partnership Between the Investment Sponsor and Operating Sponsor

The partnership between the investment sponsor and the operating sponsor needs to be symbiotic to fully align both sides and help each other make the right decisions on deals. Learn how do these sponsors support each other through a transaction in this episode.

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Integration

Johanna Tseng

How Proactive Integration Engagement Can Differentiate Value in Deals

In this episode of M&A Science, Kison speaks with Johanna Tseng, former M&A Integration Leader at Coinbase. Learn how early your integration team should get involved in a transaction and how you can optimize integration planning.

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Integration

Carlos Cesta

Aligning People in M&A for a Better Outcome

In this episode, Kison speaks with Carlos Cesta, Vice President of Corporate Development at Presidio, about aligning leadership for greater deal success. Together they discuss leveraging employees to ensure deal success, when to start thinking about integration, and developing a joint integration plan.

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General

Philip Pratt

How to Build an M&A Center of Excellence from Scratch

Building an M&A center of excellence comes with both challenges and benefits. Hear from an industry professional at Corning what steps you should take to build one, challenges you may encounter, and how to gain buy-in from leadership.

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Strategy

Jeff Baker

Navigating International Deals

Kison speaks with Jeff Baker, EVP, Mergers, and Acquisitions at InComm to discuss the complex world of international deals. Jeff talks about how to handle culture clash, why asking questions goes a long way, making sure you watch out for illegal activities, and more.

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Diligence

Christina Ungaro

Structuring Talent Focused Acquisitions

On this episode of M&A Science, Kison interviews Christina Ungaro, former Head of Corporate Development at JLL. Together they discuss how companies should structure talent-focused acquisitions, breaking down exactly what that kind of transaction requires and entails, the necessary diligence, and how to make these deals successful.

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Strategy

Jeremy Segal

Building a Corporate Development Team with Contingencies

Building a corporate development team is hard. Building one to include joint ventures and strategic partnerships is even harder. Learn from an industry professional how you can align your team with multiple mandates to ensure success.

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Diligence

Klint Kendrick

The HR Practitioner’s Guide to M&A Due Diligence

On this episode of M&A Science, Kison Patel speaks with Dr. Klint Kendrick, Chair of HR, M&A roundtable. Together they discuss the HR practitioner's guide to M&A and due diligence, covering topics such as when to bring HR in, major HR risks, and how to weigh risks.

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Strategy

James Harris

How to Implement an Agile Approach into M&A

In this podcast, James Harris explores the ways in which deal practitioners can implement a more Agile approach to each step of M&A, from due diligence to integration.

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Divestiture

Ajit Sane

What You Need to Wind Down Your Business

This episode of M&A Science is an interview with Ajit Sane, Director IT M&A at Agilent Technologies. The topic of discussion is how to wind a business down with minimal customer and people disruption.

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Divestiture

Isaac Lund

Working with Private Sellers

On this episode on M&A Science, Kison speaks with Isaac Lund, VP Corporate Development and M&A at National Express LLC. The topic is all about learning how to work with a private seller to get the best outcome.

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Divestiture

Neal McNamara

How To Plan a Divestiture From an Accounting Perspective

Joining Kison in this interview is Neal McNamara, Co-founder of Virtas Partners, an advisory firm specializing in preparing companies financially and operationally for M&A.

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Valuation

Anirvan Sen

Focusing Less on Cost Synergies to Increase Value Creation

Kison speaks with Anirvan Sen, the Founder and Managing Director of Fifth Chrome, a professional advisory firm that specializes in M&A integration and operational growth. In this podcast, they discuss creating deal value by focusing more on growth capabilities and revenue synergies than cost synergies.

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Strategy

Jordan Lampos

How to Prepare a Company for an Acquisition

In this episode, Kison speaks with Jordan Lampos, a director in investment banking at Duff & Phelps, about how to best prepare a company for an acquisition and the ways in which project management can improve the complex process.

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Divestiture

Kelly Haggerty

Perspectives on Modern M&A Consultancy and Divestitures

Kison speaks with Kelly Haggerty, who founded her own advisory firm, Nearco Transaction Advisors, after 15 years of leading integrations and divestitures for top consulting firms and Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, Kison talks with Kelly about her experience as an M&A advisor and the lessons she's learned regarding what makes a strong, efficient, and successful deal.

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General

Paul Koenig

Creating Solutions for Industry-Wide Challenges

Kison speaks with Paul Koenig, Founder and CEO of SRS Acquiom, a platform that manages escrows, payments, risks, and claims for complex M&A transactions.

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Diligence

Jai Sundararaman

The Art of Protecting Value Drivers

Jai Sundararaman, the Vice President of Business Transformation at IPG, the best strategies for identifying, extracting and protecting value drivers during the due diligence process and most importantly, while conducting integration post-close.

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Strategy

Mark Goulston

The Power of Empathy in M&A

Kison speaks with Dr. Mark Goulston on the benefits of practicing empathy for more successful M&A, specifically to improve value creation and productivity post-close.

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Valuation

Dawn White

The Importance of Conducting Cultural Assessments

Dawn explains the importance of conducting cultural assessments during M&A transactions and explores how these assessments can lead to stronger deal outcomes, increased value creation and an overall happier and more productive workforce.

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Integration

Nitin Kumar

Integration Strategies Suited for Modern Business Landscapes

Nitin Kumar, a seasoned C-level operating executive and management consultant in the technology, media and telecom (TMT) sector, discusses how to create integration strategies better suited to modern business environments.

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Diligence

Joseph Feldman

Creating Corporate Development Acquisition Strategies

In this episode, Kison speaks with Joseph Feldman, a corporate development, acquisitions, and growth strategies consultant. Joseph discusses acquisition strategies, diligence checklists, company inconsistencies, and post-close surprises.

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Diligence

Judah Karkowsky

Best Ways to Approach Cultural Integration

In this episode, Kison interviews Judah Karkowsky. They discuss the best ways to approach cultural integration, handling ownership issues, the surprises you can find during preliminary due diligence, international entities’ approach on diligence, being transparent with employees during integration, and confidential data protection.

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Integration

Paul Weiskopf

M&A In the Technology Industry

In this episode, Kison asks Paul Weiskopf, a professional who has worked over 25 years with companies in the technology industry such as Hewlett Packard, Adobe Systems and smaller companies, about his professional experience on M&A. Weiskopf shares his knowledge about strategy common errors that lead companies to failure and about the best ways to build integration plans for acquisition teams.

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Integration

Nitin Kumar

Wargaming for M&A Integration Leaders

This special episode of M&A Science is an audiobook written by Nitin Kumar, a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, on the strategy of wargaming. In an era of disruption and uncertainty, developing and executing successful M&A transactions require new strategic approaches.

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Diligence

John DeRusso

How Empathy Makes Mergers and Acquisitions Successful

John Derusso, Director of Corporate Development Integration with Cisco Systems, discusses the importance of practicing empathy during M&A integration for more successful and productive outcomes.

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Diligence

Jeff Desroches

How to Identify and Deal with Issues During Diligence in M&A

Together, Jeff and Kison discuss approaches to take for deal negotiations, how to present an offer and prepare yourself for any responses you may get, and what the main priorities of diligence are.

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Strategy

Ivan Golubic

Making Joint Ventures Successful - Top Secrets Revealed

This interview was with Ivan Golubic, former VP Corporate Development at Goodyear. The topic of discussion is how to make joint ventures more successful. Kison and Ivan discuss the three reasons JVs fail and the keys to making them more successful.

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Strategy

Justin Goldman

Michael Frankel

Working with the Business Leader to Build an M&A Strategy

Keeping business leaders motivated and accountable for the deal post-close can be a difficult task. Ensure you have very realistic expectations around financial performance and operational goals so that they take the business case seriously. Hear from two industry experts on how you can incentivize business leaders to stay focused and retaining deal value.

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Strategy

Michael Frankel

Bruce Bowden

How to Cultivate Relationships with Deal Targets

Relationships with deal targets are extremely important as they can help shape the entire deal process. Learn how you can form those relationships and avoid common pitfalls along the way to increase your chances of getting the deal done.

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Strategy

Diligence

Dawn White

How to Plan a Successful Cultural Assessment in M&A

Kison speaks with Dawn White, an M&A Integration Manager at Corning. She describes how to best conduct and approach cultural assessments as well as common missteps she’s seen in the process and how to overcome them.

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Diligence

Valuation

Erik Levy

How Successful Diligence and Integration Planning Frames Successful M&A and Valuation

Kison Patel sits down with Erik Levy, Group Head Corporate Development and M&A at DMGT plc, to discuss how the approach to valuation sets the precedent for integration and diligence. He has completed over 150 acquisitions, minority and venture investments and strategic partnerships.

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Integration

Kim Jones

Assimilating Unique Cultures in M&A

Kison speaks with Kim Jones, Senior HR M&A Manager at Microsoft. Together they discuss what company culture is, at what of the deal to consider it, and how to assess the company culture.

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Strategy

Toby Tester

How to Drive Transformational Change Through M&A

On this episode Kison speaks with Toby Tester, an M&A Consultant and Project Manager with over 20 years of experience driving strategic, financial and operational value through M&A. Toby discusses how organizations are increasingly turning to M&A in order to transform their business and remain competitive in the modern, digital marketplace.

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General

Ritch Schaafsma

How to Develop International Joint Ventures Successfully

On this episode, Kison and Ritch Schaafsma, VP of Corporate Development, Global Mergers and Acquisitions at General Motors, discuss the ins and outs of international joint ventures.

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Divestiture

Kelly Haggerty

Common Divestiture Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Kison speaks with Kelly Haggerty, who has over 15 years of experience managing acquisitions and divestitures. They talk about Kelly's experience as an M&A advisor and the lessons she’s learned regarding what makes a strong, efficient, and successful deal and how consultants can better prepare their clients for long-term success.

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Strategy

Sachin Kumar

What the rebadging process looks like and how to do it well

This interview features Sachin Kumar, Senior Director - M&A and Regional Lead for HR North America at Conduent. Our topic of discussion is the not so famous process of Rebadging.

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Strategy

Diligence

Joseph Feldman

M&A from a Business Consultant's Point of View

Kison interviews business consultant Joseph Feldman, who works with middle-companies on acquisitions. In this podcast, Feldman discusses acquisition strategies, diligence checklists, company inconsistencies, and post-close surprises.

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Diligence

Integration

Armando Biondi

The Importance of Communication, Due Diligence and Post-Closing Integration

In this episode, Armando Biondi, Co-founder, and COO of AdEspresso shares the communication and negotiation involved during Hootsuite's acquisition of AdEspresso.

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Strategy

Ken Marlin

How to Set Clear M&A Objectives: M&A Advice from a Former Marine

In this episode, Ken Marlin, author of The Marine Corps Way to Win on Wall Street and managing partner of the investment bank Marlin & Associates, ‍discusses advising buyers, business strategies, and setting clear business objectives.

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Strategy

Diligence

Scott Hile

Balancing Legal and Business Concerns in M&A Transactions

Kison speaks with Scott Hile, an experienced M&A professional as he shares his experiences from both sides of M&A, including common transaction concerns and challenges.

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Diligence

Integration

Matt Gambs

How to Sell A Bank: The True Story of Ups and Downs of M&A Banking

In this episode, Matt Gambs, ‎a Senior Vice President at Wintrust Financial, is very familiar with the community banking realm. In this podcast, Gambs gives advice on picking advisors and investments, and how to learn from failures in your career.

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Integration

Jeremie Bacon

Why Decisive Communication is Vital for a Successful Integration

On this episode, Jeremie Bacon, CEO, and co-founder of Chicago-based Synap Software Labs, discusses the importance of truly considering cultural synergy when conducting M&A deals.

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Strategy

Diligence

Mark Miller

Advice on Hiring Advisors

Mark Miller, a former Vice President at the private equity firm Huron Capital, shares his knowledge on selecting the best advisor for your deal. In this podcast, he answers the question: what should you look for when you pick an advisor for your deal team?

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Strategy

Paul Tennola

Bolt-on Acquisitions from an Expert's Point of View

Paul Tennola, CFO of Paynet and M&A corporate development professional of 29 years, shares his knowledge on bolt-on transactions as compared to new platforms.

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Strategy

Integration

Scott Kaeser

How Strong Relationships Lead to Successful M&A

Scott Kaeser, Vice President at United American Security, shares his experience regarding deal hurdles, disasters, and managing successful processes. In this podcast, Scott Kaesar discusses the importance of interpersonal relationships for deal success, post-close surprises, how to learn from a deal gone wrong, and when to just walk away.

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Integration

Diligence

Ben de Haldevang

David Boyd

Disrupting And Rethinking The Stagnant Approaches To Deal Management

Ben de Haldevang and David Boyd, Founding Partners of Agile Gorilla, discuss their modern, agile approach to deal and integration management. Through agile principles, such as backlogs and iterative learning cycles, Ben and David enable industry practitioners to conduct more successful, sustainable and equitable mergers and acquisitions.

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Diligence

Andrew Jordan

The Importance of Conducting a Quality of Earnings in M&A

On this episode Andrew Jordan, a Director at Cohen & Company, shares his knowledge on M&A and quality of earnings, and specifically, how they correlate with each other.

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Divestiture

Sean Peace

How You Survive an Unprofitable Business

On this episode Sean Peace, the founder of an auction marketplace for music royalty streams called Royalty Exchange, tells a captivating story about selling and exiting an unprofitable business in a unique niche.

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Diligence

Strategy

Abhik Jain

Buy and Sell-Side in a Corporate World & Strategies on Both Sides

In this episode, Abhik Jain, Vice President of International Strategy and Business Optimization at Hill-Rom, shares his knowledge of buy-side and sell-side M&A deals, as well as personal advice on handling negotiations and transactions.

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Strategy

Diligence

Greg DellaFranco

Key Private Equity Criteria for Prosperous M&A

Greg DellaFranco, a Senior Manager of Corporate Development at Deloitte Consulting, shares his knowledge on M&A in the private equity realm.

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Integration

Briana Elkington

Building an Effective Internal Communication Plan for M&A

On this episode, Kison speaks with Briana Elkington, Program Manager at VSP Global. Previously she was a Lead Project Manager at Oracle where she assembled a project management office responsible for the successful integration of acquired assets.

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Strategy

Diligence

Bruce Bowden

Michael Frankel

Cultivating Relationships with Deal Targets

Kison will be discussing how to foster and maintain good relationships with deal targets.

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General

Christian von Bogdandy

Creating Successful Deal Outcomes Using Innovation

In this webinar, Kison speaks with Christian Von Bogdandy, Practice Director at Slalom. You will learn about how decision making affects a deal outcome, how to use the agility model to improve practices, what maks a deal 'successful' and more.

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Diligence

Integration

Kimberly Baird

The Virtualization of M&A

On this episode, Kison speaks with Kimberly Baird, Corporate Development Integration Lead at Cisco. This discussion encompasses everything from tools to utilize when going virtual, how onboarding events shift during social distancing practices, to creating adjacent value drivers.

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Diligence

Integration

Keith Dunbar

The Role and Impact of Leadership in M&A

In this podcast, Kison Patel discusses the groundbreaking research done by Dr. Keith Dunbar. As a Managing Partner at JKD Talent Solutions, his team delivers actionable leadership intelligence.

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Divestiture

Jillian Kaebel-Sisk

How to Plan a Divestiture from HR's Perspective

Kison speaks with Jillian Kaebel-Sisk, an HR Global Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures Manager at Caterpillar. This podcast covers how HR practitioners plan for and executive divestitures.

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Valuation

PJ Patel

Navigating Intangible Asset Valuation

On this episode, Kison talks with PJ Patel, Co-CEO and Senior Managing Director at Valuation Research Corporation (VRC). VRC is a full-service, independent, global valuation firm that focuses exclusively on valuations that offer judgment beyond modeling.

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Diligence

Integration

Luke Fedlam

M&A, Due Diligence, and Integration from an Attorney's Point of View

Luke Fedlam, a mergers and acquisitions attorney, shares his knowledge on working with outside counsel, seller representation, LOIs, financial planning, and identifying showstoppers.‍‍

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Diligence

Integration

Karen Isely

The Impact of Leadership on Deal Outcomes

On this episode, Kison speaks with Karen Isely of Isely Associates International regarding the impact people experience has on the outcome of M&A deals.

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Divestiture

Jordan Lampos

Investment Banking: How to Best Prepare a Company for an Acquisition

Kison speaks with Jordan Lampos, a director in investment banking at Duff & Phelps, on how he prepares companies for acquisitions and how his team utilizes project management for stronger outcomes and processes.

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Strategy

Diligence

Vamsi Maddipatla

Important Sell Side M&A Process Lessons

Vamsi Maddipatla, the founder and president of LAXAI discusses his sell-side experience, how to wisely choose investments and post-deal integration.

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Divestiture

Sallie J. Cunningham

How to Plan a Divestiture from HR’s Perspective

On this episode, Kison speaks with Sallie Cunningham about how to plan a divestiture from HR’s perspective. Together they discuss the process of moving employees, how to approach ringfencing, and what Transition Service Agreements (TSAs) are.

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Strategy

Integration

John DeRusso

How Cisco Manages M&A Integration: Strategy & Process Explained

In this episode, John DeRusso, director of corporate development integration at Cisco, explains that it is vitally important for the employees of an acquired company to feel understood and comfortable.

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Diligence

Integration

Richard Kasperowski

How to Enable and Maintain High-Performance Deal Teams

On this episode Harvard instructor, author, and speaker, Richard Kasperowski, discusses how to build and maintain high-performing teams in any industry.

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Strategy

Ben Sutton

How to Best Protect a Business Case in an Acquisition

In this episode, Kison speaks with Ben Sutton, a senior manager of corporate development at NCR Corporation, about executing transactions and what a senior manager’s role looks like. Together they discuss how to measure the success of a transaction, the difference between revenue synergy and cost synergy, and how you can predict what a leader wants out of a transaction.

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General

Jill Harrison

Steve Siler

Evolving Technology in Mergers and Acquisitions

In this episode, Kison speaks with Jill Harrison and Steve Siler about which growing technology trends are addressing some of the largest challenges facing the M&A industry.

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Integration

Richard Harmon

Demystifying the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

In this podcast, Kison and Richard discuss how Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can harvest equity, enhance liquidity, and create tax advantages. They also discuss the future landscape for ESOPs.

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Divestiture

Toby Tester

How to Deliver Maximum Value from Divestitures

An M&A Science Interview with Toby Tester about how to deliver maximum value from a divestiture, as well as how divestitures, like acquisitions, can become a positive and transformational process.

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Strategy

Nichelle Maynard-Elliott

How to Successfully Build a Corporate Development Function

In this podcast, Kison and Nichelle Maynard-Elliot discuss how to build a corporate development function start to finish. Nichelle gives advice based on her decades of experience on what to expect when creating such a function.

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Strategy

Russ Hartz

Building a Corporate Development Function from Scratch

In this episode, Kison Patel speaks with Russ discusses the best practices he’s learned at SAP, how he was able to bring those best practices over to ANSYS, guiding principles he focuses on during a transaction, and how to begin building an integration process at a company that doesn’t have one.

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Integration

Stephanie Carty

Building a Communications Plan from Scratch

In this episode, Kison Patel speaks with Stephanie Carty, a corporate communications professional with more than 15 years of experience at GE, KPMG. Her expertise is in executive communications and ensuring top leaders communicate with honesty, clarity, and credibility. Currently, Stephanie is a strategic advisor, specializing in employee communications.

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Diligence

Integration

Toby Tester

Bringing M&A and Business Agility Together

On this episode, Toby Tester interviews Kison Patel about his newly published book, Agile M&A, and how Agile can transform the traditional M&A deal process. They discuss topics such as how companies can apply Agile techniques to the antiquated M&A process and take a deep dive into how Agile is a unique project framework that increases efficiency and closes deals faster.

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Strategy

Scott Kaeser

Behind the Scenes: Effective Deal Sourcing and Closing

On this episode, Scott shares his experience on sourcing advantageous deals, along with the strategies and best practices he utilizes. Scott walks through the steps of building a strong origination process, how to best cold call and break through gatekeepers at target companies, how to manage effective and strategic pipelines, and how to structure a competitive initial offer.

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Divestiture

Al Ansari

A Guide to Planning Successful Divestitures by M&A Advisor

Al Ansari, a veteran divestiture and integration advisor currently assisting Cisco with the development of their divestiture methodology, discusses the strategies, decisions and planning behind divestitures.

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Integration

Ben de Haldevang

David Boyd

Zoe Bogan

Why Everything You've Been Told About Integration is Wrong

When integration practices and past integrations are not closely examined and learned from, it can be easy to revert back to old ways and/or rely on standardized playbooks in the midst of the chaos of a deal. Integration is a delicate art that must value people and culture, and more and more practitioners are realizing this, yet still making mistakes and falling victim to common, incorrect assumptions. Today, we examine six incorrect approaches to integration and attempt to learn from them.

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Integration

Dawn White

Kimberly Baird

Virtualizing the People Experience During Integration

In this webinar, you will learn how to update the integration process by taking a people-first approach, even during a time of remote working. Learn vital lessons on how to adapt to a virtual work environment by utilizing tech and other communication tools available.

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Integration

Keith Dunbar

Sallie J. Cunningham

Klint Kendrick

Tone at the Top - Intersection of Leadership and Culture in M&A

70% of serial acquirers feel they do not do a good job of assessing leaders and culture - a staggering stat to say the least given that culture and poor leadership are often cited as the top two reasons deals fail to meet their thesis. Consequently, it is quite obvious if practitioners (especially on the buy-side) do not fully investigate culture and leadership during a deal’s lifecycle, they cannot build a plan to address potential differences and problem areas, which will ultimately have a negative impact on business.

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Strategy

Dr. Karl-Michael Popp

The Future of M&A

During this webinar, you will learn how M&A could be automated, specifically with machine learning in data rooms, the future of tech development, and about the importance of transparency in which tools already have advanced automation

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Integration

Toby Tester

Post Merger Innovation - don't just Integrate, Innovate!

In this webinar, learn the importance of innovation in M&A, specifically during integration. Toby Tester shares tactics and strategies you can apply to your own practice and breaks down how to adjust plays to fit the specific needs of each deal.

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Integration

Amy Gannaway

Cole Breidenbach

Josh Olson

Jill Harrison

Positive Employee Experience is Key to Successful M&A

During this webinar, you will learn about employee support, how to leverage the acquired company leaders in communication, what mechanisms/processes to use to avoid potential disconnects, and more.

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Integration

Christina Amiry

Steve Elliott

Making Integration Successful from Both Sides of the Deal

In this webinar, you will learn how to make sure both sides are happy at the end of a deal. Hear lessons learned from Atlassian team members and what practices they applied to integration that created an extremely successful outcome.

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Divestiture

Jillian Kaebel-Sisk

Nitin Kumar

Josh Beggs

Galina Wolinetz

Lessons Learned from Large Scale Divestitures

Divestiture, often seen as far less exciting and glamorous than traditional acquisition, has many nuances that make it complicated, but it is a powerful tool in gaining value. Here we pull advice from practitioners with 1,000 deals behind them so you know specifically what to do and what not to do when it comes to divesting.

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Integration

Javid Moosaji

Stacy Hendricks

Carlos Cesta

Leading M&A with Integration

This interview is a rewind from our M&A virtual summit, which was held in June. The topic of discussion is leading M&A with integration, featuring our guest speakers Carlos Cesta, former Corporate Development/M&A at Presidio and Javid Moosaji, former Global Head of Partner Channels, Platform Solutions and Transformation at Travelex, hosted by Stacy Hendricks, senior director at Alvarez and Marsal. In this webinar, you will hear a breakdown of the integration process and learn what to look for in an integration leader. Topics discussed range from when to go to market post close to how to hit synergy numbers.

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Integration

Jonathan Shiery

Bill Clarkin

How to Modernize IMO / Building a Synergy Plan that Actually Delivers

Teams are trying to figure out how to modernize IMO, and how to build a synergy plan that actually delivers. In this session, Jonathan and Bill discuss bench strength, creating the right IMO team, tips for modernizing, and more.

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Strategy

Diligence

Integration

Devorah Bertucci

Kim Jones

Summit Recap: Bridging the Gap Between Corporate Development and Integration

Kim Jones and Devorah Bertucci discuss the importance of corporate development and integration teams collaborating with each other. When teams aren't aligned, deals don't get done. This is why it's so important for the corporate development and integrations to collaborate with each other. Hear from Devorah Bertucci and Kim Jones on how to make sure both sides are aligned and what the common concerns from each side are.

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Valuation

Brian Buchert

PJ Patel

Avoiding Valuation Surprises and Accounting for M&A Transactions

Not every company uses the same method for valuation. In this session, Brian Buchert gives some insight to his team's valuation "secret sauce".

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Strategy

Scott Kaeser

Sean Corcoran

Ben Sutton

Aligning Strategy with Your M&A Process

M&A is not a strategy, rather a tool that can achieve a company's objectives. Learn how to differentiate between using M&A as a tool rather than a strategy, and upon doing that, how to create an appropriate strategy for your process.

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Integration

Jonathan Shiery

Valeria Strappa

21 Dimensions to Cultural Integration

This discussion talks about one of the hardest things in M&A practice- Cultural Integration. Discussing this topic is Jonathan Shiery, Director at Guidehouse, and Valeria Strappa, Director and Healthcare Integration Leader at JP Morgan, Chase.

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Integration

James Payne

Galina Wolinetz

Why is M&A Integration so Hard?

M&A deals are notorious for going belly up, particularly during the integration phase. Why is it that this phase of the process is the most difficult? Kison sits down with Galina Wolinetz from Virtas Partners and James Payne from Merger Integration Consulting to discuss.

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Strategy

Carlos Cesta

Jeff Desroches

Why Big Companies Destroy Small Ones

If you're a small company about to be acquired by a larger one, you may be wondering how you can protect yourself and your employees from being destroyed by the large acquirer. Hear from M&A pros about how to protect yourself during transactions and what red flags to look out for.

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Strategy

Toby Tester

Kevin Robbins

COVID-19's Impact on M&A

COVID-19 has made a significant impact on M&A. What are the actual views and responses from executives, dealmakers and board members?

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