The M&A Science Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.