The M&A Science Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.