The M&A Science Podcast

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.