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	Titre	Date	Durée
	Why Integrations Break: TSAs, Carve-Outs, and the Hidden Dependencies That Derail M&A Deals with Donara Jaghinyan	05 Jan 2026	00:45:14
Donara Jaghinyan – Transformation and Integration Leader Donara joins us to pull back the curtain on why integrations break—and what it actually takes to make them work. With deep experience across healthcare, SaaS, professional services, and financial services in both public and PE-backed environments, Donara has led diligence, post-close integration, TSA execution, and enterprise system implementations. This episode tackles the hard truths about carve-outs, TSA management, day-one readiness, and the cross-functional dependencies that most teams miss until it's too late. If you've ever wondered why integration timelines slip or costs balloon, this conversation delivers the answers. Things you will learn: Why TSAs aren't contracts, they're projects with hard deadlines, cost escalations, and integration dependencies that functional teams consistently underestimate The hidden complexity of carve-outs and how scope, vendor negotiations, and people gaps create surprises even with solid diligence How Integration Management Offices (IMOs) orchestrate cross-functional dependencies that functional leads can't see _____________ 💡 Tired of spending weeks organizing seller documents and building diligence checklists from scratch? DealRoom helps M&A teams cut manual review time and move faster through diligence. Automatically organize messy data rooms, surface risks earlier, and generate tailored diligence requests in seconds—so your team can focus on analysis, not admin work. 👉 See how AI can streamline your next deal: dealroom.net/ai __________________ Episode Timestamps [00:02:30] From International Relations to M&A Integration – Donara's unconventional path from Armenia to becoming a full-time integration leader in Boston [00:04:00] The Dependency Problem No One Sees Coming – Why integration isn't just about systems or people—it's about understanding what breaks when you miss upstream and downstream connections [00:06:00] Why You Can't Just Promote a PM to IMO – The critical difference between project management and integration program leadership [00:07:00] What Gets Underestimated in Carve-Outs – Scope creep, vendor negotiations, and people gaps that blindside even experienced teams [00:09:00] TSAs Are Projects, Not Contracts – Why treating TSAs as temporary extensions instead of hard deadlines creates integration debt and cost overruns [00:13:00] Managing Two Carve-Outs Simultaneously – The story of integrating two business units with heavy TSAs, cross-border complexity, and mismatched organizational structures [00:19:00] Getting IMO Involved Before LOI – How early integration involvement during diligence creates smoother execution and realistic timelines [00:30:00] Day One Readiness and the 30/60/90 Framework – What actually happens from day one through the first 90 days, including controls, discovery, and execution milestones [00:37:00] Integration Governance That Actually Works – Structuring steering committees, functional cadences, and escalation paths that keep deals on track [00:40:00] The Integration Kickoff That Sets the Tone – What to cover, who to involve, and how to align teams on why the deal matters Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	Building Your M&A Reputation: Why Relationships Beat Transactions Every Time with Andrew Cohen	22 Dec 2025	01:08:16
Andy Cohen, Vice President of Corporate Development at F5 Andy has built a career that proves M&A is fundamentally about relationships, not just transactions. With 30 years of experience and 60 deals closed across high-growth tech companies including Citrix, Acquia, and F5, Andy has cultivated the kind of reputation where every CEO he's worked with will take his call tomorrow. In this conversation, he reveals why zero-sum thinking kills deals, how to convince people to sell without convincing them to sell, and why walking away on principle matters more than closing at any cost. Things you will learn: Why reputation is your most valuable M&A asset The shift from zero-sum to win-enough thinking Learn Andy's approach to using due diligence as the foundation for integration strategy, cultural fit assessment, and long-term value creation. _____________ 💡 Tired of spending weeks organizing seller documents and building diligence checklists from scratch? DealRoom helps M&A teams cut manual review time and move faster through diligence. Automatically organize messy data rooms, surface risks earlier, and generate tailored diligence requests in seconds—so your team can focus on analysis, not admin work. 👉 See how AI can streamline your next deal: dealroom.net/ai __________________ This episode is brought to you by S&P Global. Today's episode of M&A Science is brought to you by S&P Global Market Intelligence. If you're in corp dev or PE, you know the pain — good private company data is hard to come by. Everyone's still chasing clean, reliable, up-to-date data. I started out using CapIQ Pro for public comps, but didn't realize until recently how deep their private company coverage has gotten. Over 58 million private companies, global reach, and actually usable for real deal work. This isn't surface-level. You get real metrics — ownership, financials, funding rounds, even asset-level insights. So if you're still toggling between a dozen tools trying to piece together the picture, maybe it's time to stop guessing and start sourcing better. Learn More Here: https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/solutions/products/private-company-data?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=MAScienceH225 _____________ Episode Timestamps [00:02:30] The Empathy Advantage – Why sitting in every seat at the M&A table gives you the perspective to close better deals. [00:04:00] Zero-Sum Thinking Will Kill Your Deals – The mindset shift from "winning" to ensuring everyone gets enough of what they want. [00:07:30] Building Relationships That Actually Drive Deals – How a 30-year network of bankers, VCs, and former CEOs creates proprietary deal flow. [00:10:30] Why Proactive Beats Auctions Every Time – Why almost all of Andy's deals are proactive and how strategic focus enables targeted outreach. [00:14:00] Getting to the Story Behind the Company [00:21:00] How to collaboratively build the acquisition narrative without being pushy or transactional. [00:25:00] Trust Through Reputation and References [00:32:00] Due Diligence Is Integration Planning [00:42:00] Navigating the hardest negotiations—convincing product teams that buying beats building [00:53:00] Walking Away on Principle – The deal Andy killed because the other side wanted to hurt employee shareholders Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	When Integration Beats Roll-Ups with Tim Hall	20 Oct 2025	01:12:42
Tim Hall - Managing Partner and Founder, Brenton Point Capital Tim brings 29 years of private equity experience to this conversation about what actually works in buy-and-build strategies. After launching Brenton Point in 2024 following a 20-year run at CI Capital Partners, where he completed 200+ acquisitions across 12 platforms, Tim breaks down the independent sponsor model and why integration—not just aggregation—is the real value driver. He walks through building platforms from scratch, the executive-first strategy for fragmented markets, and how standardized integration playbooks turn acquired companies into cohesive, high-performing businesses. Things You'll Learn Why independent sponsors can outperform traditional PE funds through concentrated investments, longer hold periods, and direct alignment with management teams earning 15% equity upside versus the typical 10% The difference between roll-ups and consolidation and why integration excellence separates winning platforms from aggregated disasters How to build platforms from scratch ____________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back. The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who've built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ Today's episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Grata! Grata is the leading private market dealmaking platform. With its best-in-class AI workflows and investment-grade data, Grata helps investors, advisors, and strategic acquirers effortlessly discover, research, and connect with potential targets — all in one sleek, user-friendly interface. Visit grata.com to learn more. __________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:00] The GE Capital Training Ground – How Tim's early experience with expert networks shaped his approach to surrounding deals with industry advisors who invest alongside him [00:04:30] Starting companies with zero revenue by hiring CEOs first, then building deal pipelines in fragmented industries like funeral services [00:06:00] Why deal-by-deal capital raising enables longer hold periods, eliminates fund-driven decisions, and captures more value creation in the back half [00:11:30] Finding and Aligning Operators – Sourcing executives through recruiting firms willing to co-invest, and structuring 15% management equity pools for maximum alignment [00:22:00] Using buy-side search firms to validate thesis and create deal flow before platform acquisition, touching 2,000+ companies to close 200 deals [00:27:00] Why acquiring is easy but integrating is hard, and how culture assessment, facility tours, and team retention determine success [00:49:00] Hub, Spoke, and Route Strategy – Three acquisition types for platform building: regional hubs with management depth, spoke deals for synergies, and route buys for pure customer acquisition [00:52:00] The 150-Point Integration Playbook [00:58:30] One-Page Strategic Plans – Keeping teams aligned on priorities from monthly goals to five-year vision with a single dense but powerful reference document [01:04:00] The Herd Mentality Warning – How quickly industries go from undiscovered to overcrowded, and why being the 30th platform in a space means you're already too late Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	How to Start Executing the Roll Up Strategy in M&A	06 May 2024	01:02:23
Ivan Golubic, CFO \| Corporate Development M&A at FastLap Group 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. Things you will learn: • Setting up the roll up strategy • Valuation on roll up strategy • Building the operating strategy • Dealing with capital providers • Biggest lessons learned doing roll up strategy This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 03:01 Transitioning from Corporate Development to CFO 07:39 Setting up the roll up strategy 12:26 Importance of industry expertise 14:10 Proactive approach to expanding industry expertise 16:11 Valuation on roll up strategy 22:10 Building the operating strategy 24:54 Dealing with capital providers 28:37 Building your pipeline 30:45 Pitching to the PE firm 35:48 Explaining your M&A process to investors 38:46 Building your M&A team 40:42 Monitoring Cost 42:05Success metrics 49:25 Utilizing Technology 50:45 Importance of a unified platform 52:58 Biggest lessons learned doing roll up strategy 56:39 Future trends in the roll up space 57:33 Craziest thing in M&A
	How to Create an Executable Integration Plan During Due Diligence	29 Apr 2024	00:59:45
Jim Buckley, Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware 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, Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Integration at VMware. Things you will learn in this episode: • How to work as an integration leader • Building an integration plan • Pre-LOI integration planning • Connecting diligence with integration planning • Defining 'done' in M&A integration This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to https://firmroom.com ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:41 Navigating corporate transitions 08:31 Aligning the integration leader with the north star 10:02 How to work as an integration leader 11:25 The role of an integration lead 13:31 Building an integration plan 16:25 Focus on revenue and integration 18:51 Pre-LOI integration planning 25:08 M&A due diligence 27:37 Employee integration and customer satisfaction 29:56 Connecting diligence with integration planning 36:20 Approach to team collaboration 39:06 The details of integration plan 41:11 Complexities of M&A integration planning 44:57 Aligning with the target company 46:46 Defining 'done' in M&A integration 49:12 Integration teams leading due diligence 51:38 Leveraging diligence data for effective planning 53:13 Advice for M&A practitioners 55:45 Craziest thing in M&A
	Uncovering Capital Allocation Strategies	22 Apr 2024	01:09:07
Keith Levy, Operating Partner at Sonoma Brands 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. Things you will learn in this episode: • Strategy vs IRR • Venture capital vs recapitalization strategy • Minority vs majority recapitalization • Evaluating exit strategy This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 11:27 Focusing on organic growth 16:37 Post-merger integration execution 25:01 Strategy vs IRR 26:59 Handling projections 28:07 Integration with Mars 36:20 Role of an operating partner 42:07 Big company vs Small company in M&A 43:39 Venture capital vs recapitalization strategy 48:44 Cashing out from an owner's perspective 50:42 Minority vs majority recapitalization 54:03 Impact of valuations and interest rates on investment decisions 59:07 Timing on investments 1:01:25 Evaluating exit strategy 1:03:46 Advice for practitioners 1:05:41 Craziest thing in M&A
	Roll Up Strategy in Private Equity	15 Apr 2024	00:58:30
Gerry Williams, Partner at DLA Piper US LLP and a member of their management committee. 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. Things you will learn this episode: • Industries susceptible to roll up strategy • Challenges of executing roll up strategy • Negotiating the LOI in roll up strategy • Typical deal structure in roll up strategy • Employing Earnouts in roll up strategy This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to firmroom.com ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:06 Industries susceptible to roll up strategy 06:22 The trend of roll up strategy in private equity 10:42 Complexities of Roll up strategy 15:52 Challenges of executing roll up strategy 20:32 How to mitigate risks 24:19 Managing multiple roll up businesses 26:49 Negotiating the LOI in roll up strategy 33:00 Breakup fees on private deals 35:57 Typical deal structure in roll up strategy 43:24 Employing Earnouts in roll up strategy 48:07 Unique negotiations during LOI 49:31 Do's and Don'ts of executing roll up strategy 52:57 Craziest thing in M&A
	Corporate Diversification Through M&A	08 Apr 2024	00:51:09
Tyler Rodewald, VP, M&A at EIS Holdings 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. Things you will learn: • Corporate diversification strategy • Drivers of corporate diversification • People involved in corporate diversification • Projecting revenue synergies • Closing deals with competition This episode is brought to you by the M&A Science Spring Summit 2024 happening on April 10th at 10AM ET. It's your chance to join leading M&A experts as they share innovative and the latest trends from their own deals. Save your spot here. ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 02:55 Corporate diversification strategy 03:32 Drivers of corporate diversification 05:22 People involved in corporate diversification 08:00 Communicating the diversification strategy - The number one step 08:51 Customer overlaps on deals 11:17 Capital Allocation 13:41 Proprietary deal vs Bank Deal 15:22 Deal Sourcing 17:57 Closing deals with competition 19:22 Cultural integration 22:03 Handling resistance 23:21 Measuring Success 24:31 Projecting revenue synergies 26:09 Earnouts 30:31 Letter on intent exclusivity 32:10 Combining diligence with integration using DealRoom 36:42 Using DealRoom with Sellers 40:02 Advice for practitioners doing corporate diversification 40:30 AI in M&A 46:34 Craziest thing in M&A
	Performing Strategic Due Diligence in M&A	01 Apr 2024	00:54:11
Andrey Galiuk, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations 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. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andrey Galiuk, Vice President of Corporate Development and Investor Relations, shares his expertise on how to perform strategic due diligence in M&A. Things you will learn: • What is strategic due diligence • How to perform strategic due diligence in M&A • Entering the right market • Finding the right target company • Biggest challenge when performing strategic diligence This episode is brought to you by the M&A Science Spring Summit 2024 happening on April 10th at 10AM ET. It's your chance to join leading M&A experts as they share innovative and the latest trends from their own deals. Save your spot here. ****************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 11:17 What is strategic due diligence 16:25 How to perform strategic due diligence in M&A 25:00 Entering the right market 38:05 Finding the right target company 41:25 When to perform strategic due diligence 42:38 Proactive vs. Reactive deal sourcing 44:33 Importance of culture 47:05 When to start integration planning 49:11 Red flags during strategic diligence 50:33 Assessing incoming people 51:20 Biggest challenge when performing strategic diligence
	How to Stand Up a Venture Capital Arm	25 Mar 2024	00:54:31
George Kellerman, VP, Head of Investments & Acquisitions at Woven by Toyota and Alexander Baum, Corporate Development Lead at Woven by Toyota In the ever-evolving world of business, 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. Things you will learn: • How did Woven by Toyota got started • Successfully start a venture capital arm • Leadership in managing people • Biggest Lessons Learned • Dealing with cultural difference This episode is brought to you by the M&A Science Spring Summit 2024 happening on April 10th at 10AM ET. It's your chance to join leading M&A experts as they share innovative and the latest trends from their own deals. Save your spot here. ****************** Episode Bookmarks George Kellerman 00:00 Intro 06:15 From firefighter to M&A 09:49 How did Woven by Toyota got started 11:19 Project Kate 12:58 Pitching the shift in strategy 14:31 Woven Capital's strategy 16:48 How to successfully start a venture capital arm 19:45 Leadership in managing people 22:03 Biggest lessons learned 26:00 A change in strategy 27:04 The Woven City Project 31:11 Dealing with cultural difference 35:40 Craziest thing in M&A Alex Baum 39:34 Noticing cultural differences in Japan 42:11 Relocating to Tokyo 44:07 New York vs Japan culture 45:28 Work culture in Japan 48:32 Rubber stamp approval in Japan 49:51 Balancing American and Japanese culture 51:27 Maintaining alignment 52:09 Craziest thing in M&A
	How to Achieve Strategic Alignment From Top to Bottom	18 Mar 2024	00:55:07
Camilo Franco, Director, M&A Integration and Operations at Jamf 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. Things you will learn: • How to achieve strategic alignment • Strategies for effectively communicating M&A plans • Tools used to maintain alignment • Connecting diligence and Integration • Advice for integration practitioners **************** This episode is brought to you by the M&A Science Spring Summit 2024 happening on April 10th at 10AM ET. It's your chance to join leading M&A experts as they share innovative and the latest trends from their own deals. Save your spot here. **************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 08:45 Definition of strategic alignment 10:31 How to achieve strategic alignment 12:51 Relaying M&A strategy against corporate strategy 13:54 Getting buy-in from team members 15:37 Overcoming anti-M&A culture 18:44 Strategies for effectively communicating M&A plans 21:21 Alignment with the integration team 23:51 Formulating the integration thesis 26:37 Role of steering committee 28:04 Communicating decisions with the broader organization 29:30 Managing integration without IMO 32:09 Ensuring company readiness for integration 34:11 Gauging M&A readiness 36:06 Side effects of burnout people 37:25 Defining the end of integration 39:30 Tools used to maintain alignment 43:32 Agile M&A 44:46 Connecting diligence and integration 48:13 Using integration templates 50:36 Advice for integration p
	Performing Cultural Due Diligence to Better Understand the Target Company	13 Mar 2024	00:41:57
Ken Bond, Head of Corporate Development at Cetera Financial Group. 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. Things you will learn: • The person responsible for cultural due diligence • Executing cultural due diligence • Using Playbooks • Successful partnership between Corporate Development and Integration • Advice for practitioners **************** This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. **************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:11 Person responsible for cultural due diligence 05:54 Importance of cultural due diligence 08:08 Executing cultural due diligence 10:29 Killing the deal due to cultural conflict 14:54 Using Playbooks 17:31 Cultural due diligence during early conversations 20:12 Understanding how the target company makes decisions 22:40 Things to look for during due diligence 25:09 Using questionnaires for cultural due diligence 27:08 Bilateral deal vs. Auction process 30:10 Hardest part of cultural due diligence 32:27 Successful partnership between Corporate Development and Integration 35:33 Subculture due diligence 37:07 Advice for practitioners 38:31 Craziest thing in M&A
	Strategic Alignment Between M&A and Corporate Strategy	11 Mar 2024	01:07:21
Baljit Singh, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures 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, Former SVP, Global Head of Corporate Development at Nielsen Ventures, discusses the importance of strategic alignment between M&A and corporate strategy. Things you will learn: • Corporate strategy vs M&A strategy • Getting the strategy right • Capital allocation • Measuring business unit's success • Deal structure to preserve cash **************** This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to firmroom.com **************** Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:10 Corporate strategy vs M&A strategy 09:25 Getting the strategy right 11:17 Best ways to pitch deals 13:09 Pillars of corporate strategy 15:50 Capital allocation 21:06 Measuring business unit's success 24:52 Holding business units accountable 27:20 Why take a public company private 33:51 Steps to take a public company to private 38:11 Real life examples 48:29 Deal structure to preserve cash 54:45 Dealing with reluctant seller 59:30 Craziest thing in M&A
	Buyer-Led M&A™ Strategy at Snowflake with Stefan WIlliams	06 Oct 2025	00:55:46
Stefan Williams - Vice President of Corporate Development and Snowflake Ventures at Snowflake Stefan Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development and Snowflake Ventures at Snowflake, leads the company's acquisition strategy, corporate venture capital, and startup accelerator programs. In this episode, Stefan takes us inside Snowflake's disciplined, culture-first approach to M&A—from building the corporate development function from scratch to executing 20+ acquisitions while maintaining breakneck organic growth. He shares hard-won lessons on integration accountability, why relationships matter more than auctions, and how to balance proactive deal-making with the realities of a fast-moving AI landscape. Things You'll Learn Start small and build M&A muscle – Why Snowflake began with sub-50 person acquisitions to prove integration capabilities before scaling to larger, more complex deals Integration accountability drives success – The critical importance of assigning DRIs (Directly Responsible Individuals) with clear timelines at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days post-close Buyer-led beats reactive – How investing time in proactive CEO relationships and strategic alignment dramatically improves deal outcomes versus responding to banker processes ___________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back. The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who've built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ Join us for the 3rd M&A Science Fair IN PERSON Get pure, off-the-record collaboration between corporate development, private equity, and integration leaders. Instead of passive listening, you'll be sharing real frameworks, trading ideas, and testing what actually works in modern deal execution. Everything's practitioner-led, and every topic is surfaced by the attendees themselves. October 16th — NYC 8AM-7:30PM Request an invite here: https://luma.com/khkuh6yw ____________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:30] From Banking to Building – Stefan's journey from investment banking to building corporate development teams at ServiceNow and Snowflake [00:04:30] How the "amp it up" mentality shapes every aspect of operations, including M&A strategy [00:07:00] Why high-growth companies must begin with digestible acquisitions to develop integration capabilities [00:10:00] Week One Playbook – How to build a corporate development function from scratch by interviewing product leaders and aligning on strategy [00:14:00] Managing internal relationships across product, engineering, and go-to-market to maintain strategic clarity [00:21:00] Strategic Ventures, Not Financial Bets [00:27:00] Integration DRIs and the Marriage Analogy [00:37:30] Managing Three Concurrent Deals [00:42:00] Why nearly all 20 Snowflake acquisitions involved prior relationships and how buyer-led strategy wins [00:48:30] Navigating the AI Explosion – Staying current in a landscape where companies scale from zero to $100M in years, not decades Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	Overcoming M&A Challenges	06 Mar 2024	00:56:33
Douglas Barnard, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Legal Advisor at CF Industries (NYSE: CF) 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. Things you will learn: • Mindset to prepare for M&A • Overcoming M&A Challenges Between Signing and Closing • Mitigating Post-Merger Integration Risks • Biggest Challenges in M&A • Advice for First-time Acquirers *************** This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com. ************** Episode Timestamps** 00:00 Intro 05:26 Mindset to prepare for M&A 10:26 Strategic Negotiation Tactics 13:03 Having a Foundation of Trust and Honesty 17:31 Assessing Buyer Transparency in Deal Negotiations 20:17 Mastering Valuation and Identifying Synergies 22:43 Identifying and Overcoming Obstacles in the M&A Process 24:40 Uncovering Surprises in Due Diligence 28:53 Utilizing a Private Investigator (PI) in a Deal 29:57 Navigating Complex Negotiation Stages 33:54 Zero-Sum Scenarios in M&A Auctions 35:51 Valuation and Auction Bidding Strategies 37:57 Overcoming M&A Challenges Between Signing and Closing 41:29 Mitigating Post-Merger Integration Risks 46:16 Biggest Challenges in M&A 50:24 Advice for First-time Acquirers 52:51 Craziest thing in M&A
	How Business Cycles Affect M&A Valuation	04 Mar 2024	00:54:21
Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, Allan Marks, Global Project, Energy & Infrastructure Partner at Milbank, discusses how business cycles affect M&A valuation. Things you will learn: • What is a business cycle • What is a credit cycle • How business cycle impact M&A valuation • Common Mistake during M&A valuation • Importance of culture in M&A This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at dealroom.net. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 11:00 What is a business cycle 12:41 What is a credit cycle 16:59 Cycle's impact on energy sector 19:09 How business cycle impact M&A valuation 22:36 Industries most affected by the cycles 26:43 M&A valuation for first-timers 31:47 Importance of culture in M&A 34:23 When to pull of a deal 37:37 Example of failed deals 41:59 Example of good deals 45:43 Common Mistake during M&A valuation 46:43 M&A function maturity 48:02 Other early M&A considerations 49:15 Craziest thing in M&A
	Validating the Acquisition Plan	28 Feb 2024	00:47:20
Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds 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. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Adam Harris, CEO of Cloudbeds, shares the meticulous 6-step process his company uses to validate their acquisition plan. Things you will learn: • Surveying Customers • Industry Trend Analysis • Partner vs Build Analysis • Formulating the strategic rationale • In-depth Company Analysis and Product Demos • Drafting a detailed memo This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://www.dealroom.net Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 08:45 Approaching M&A 18:20 Surveying Customers 23:47 Industry Trend Analysis 28:13 Partner vs Build Analysis 34:12 Formulating the strategic rationale 36:50 In-depth Company Analysis and Product Demos 41:18 Drafting a detailed memo 44:15 Pitching M&A to the board 44:54 Craziest thing in M&A
	Mastering M&A Integration	26 Feb 2024	00:49:55
Seema Nimmagadda, Head of M&A Integration for North America at Woven by Toyota. 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 of the M&A Science podcast, Seema Nimmagadda, Head of M&A Integration for North America at Woven by Toyota, discusses how to master M&A integration. Things you will learn in this episode: • The Ideal Integration Process • M&A Integration planning pre-LOI • Setting up an early version of the IMO • Detailing the M&A Integration Strategy • Aligning deal goals with integration strategy This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to https://firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:00 Toyota's Woven Business Unit 05:00 The Ideal Integration Process 06:53 The Importance of Integration Capabilities 08:52 Integration planning pre-LOI 11:50 Ensuring Adequate Resources and Capabilities during M&A Integrations 13:27 Avoiding early pitfalls for integration 14:40 Key integration milestones from LOI to Close 18:53 Aligning the IMO and Corporate Development 21:49 Adapting mature M&A teams to change 23:28 Setting up an early version of the IMO 25:04 Key people in forming an early IMO 26:16 Detailing the Integration Strategy 29:09 Balancing team autonomy in integration planning 31:56 Maintaining collaboration and progress in integration 34:24 Managing cross-functional dependencies 35:16 Tech stack diversity 36:41 M&A execution checkpoints 38:04 Information gathering challenges pre-close 39:08 Managing vendor dependencies and ensuring transparency 40:12 Balancing functional plans with the master integration strategy 42:04 Securing stakeholder buy-in 43:04 Risks of overlooking integration 44:03 Aligning deal goals with integration strategy 44:36 Identifying when an M&A integration is complete 46:25 Best practices for smooth post-close integrations 46:59 Craziest thing in M&A
	Using M&A Best Practices to Get Better Deals	21 Feb 2024	00:50:34
Brent Baxter, Chief Executive Officer at Association for Corporate Growth, and Jeff Giles, VP, Corporate Development at Core & Main (NYSE: CNM) 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, 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. Things you will learn: • Target outreach • Best practices when building relationships • Challenges of working with private sellers • Executing agile and efficient Diligence • Role of technology in the M&A process This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 07:12 Getting deals faster 10:35 Target outreach 15:54 Best practices when building relationships 19:47 How to best optimize ACG 22:46 M&A challenges 25:20 Challenges of working with private sellers 29:39 Executing agile and efficient Diligence 34:53 Executing deals during COVID 39:59 Role of technology in the M&A process 42:06 Role of technology in the future 46:47 Craziest thing in M&A
	Connecting Diligence and Integration in M&A	19 Feb 2024	01:03:50
Amy M. Weck, VP, M&A and integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, LLC It's common to see due diligence and integration as separate stages, 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, Amy M. Weck, VP, M&A and integrations at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, offers practical strategies to align integration and diligence for optimal outcomes. Things you will learn in the episode: • Merging separate integration departments • How to connect diligence and integration • Fostering a 'One Team' Mindset • Maintaining Team Rhythm in High-Volume Acquisitions This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to https://firmroom.com. Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:26 Getting into M&A 06:12 Evolving into integration 07:55 Transitioning from deal team to integration team 09:26 Pre-LOI considerations in M&A 10:40 Merging Corp Dev and Integration Team 13:26 The impact of mindset during transition 15:26 Connecting the two functions 18:42 Keeping teams and workflows aligned 22:14 Biggest challenge in the transition 24:05 The challenge of change management 26:11 Managing new hires in key roles 27:29 Key advice for managing the end-to-end M&A process 34:37 Optimizing the M&A function for a roll-up 36:21 Practical Tips for Learning from Past Due Diligence 38:16 Maintaining Team Rhythm in High-Volume Acquisitions 40:05 Key Strategies to Avoid Failing in Your Integrations 42:02 Key Questions to Ask Before the LOI 43:17 Evaluating Cultural Fit and Red Flags 48:15 Ideal candidate for an M&A role 59:44 Advice to first-time M&A practitioners 1:01:02 Craziest thing in M&A
	How to Bridge Valuation Gaps in M&A	14 Feb 2024	00:55:16
John Blair, Partner M&A Attorney at K&L Gates 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, John Blair, Partner M&A Attorney at K&L Gates, shares best practices on how to bridge valuation gaps in M&A. Things you will learn in this episode: •Bridging gaps in M&A Valuation •Earnouts •Seller Financing •Equity structure •Market's impact on Bridging M&A Valuation Gaps Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:13 When to get involved in the M&A Process 07:50 Negotiations during LOI 09:42 Bridging gaps in M&A Valuation 11:09 Using Holdbacks to Bridge M&A Valuation Gaps 13:20 Seller Financing 15:00 Earnouts 16:43 Earnouts on Intellectual Property 18:45 Key Variables in an Earnout 23:14 Earnout payment structure 25:53 Making Earnouts Successful 29:08 Structures of Seller Financing 36:24 Traditional terms of seller financing 38:20 Equity structure 41:04 Stock options 43:52 Minimizing the cash upfront during a sale 46:34 Contents of Letter of Intent 49:14 Advice for first timers 50:01 Craziest Thing in M&A
	Transforming Existing Staff into M&A Experts	12 Feb 2024	01:02:07
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 a one-time event. In this episode, Birgitta Elfversson, Non-Executive Director at Netlight, shares her experience in transforming existing staff into M&A experts. Things you will learn from this episode: • Shaping the M&A strategy • Building an M&A team • Scaling the M&A Team • Recruiting competent people • Managing burnout Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 10:54 Shaping the M&A strategy 12:46 Key elements of the strategy 14:58 Strategy approval 16:10 Challenges on the first acquisition 18:30 Building an M&A team 22:05 Scaling the M&A Team 25:10 Recruiting competent people 26:44 M&A Aptitude test 32:48 Working with consulting firms during M&A 37:17 Setting the external team up for success 39:08 M&A Team structure 39:48 Managing burnout 43:18 Programmatic M&A 49:09 Start up doing M&A 51:47 Integration execution 53:19 Smart collaboration in the future 55:51 Setting integration up for success 58:20 Craziest thing in M&A
	Negotiating Cross Border M&A	07 Feb 2024	00:33:44
Jake Lin, Head of Corporate Development at Xendit 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jake Lin, Head of Corporate Development at Xendit, shares his best practices when executing cross border M&A, particularly in South East Asia. Things you will learn: Biggest challenge in Cross Border M&A Language barrier during Cross border M&A Managing Cultural Differences during negotiations Cross border M&A best practices Integration approach to cross border M&A This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://dealroom.net. Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:44 Biggest challenge in Cross Border M&A 08:18 Cross Border M&A without Bankers 09:04 Working with Local Bankers 09:55 Language barrier during Cross border M&A 12:05 Managing Cultural Differences during negotiations 16:01 Managing the Speed of Cross border M&A 17:20 Cultural Differences almost killing the deal 18:48 Countries easiest to work with 21:06 Cross border M&A best practices 22:32 Strategic tips when dealing with Cross border M&A 23:49 Integration approach to cross border M&A 25:37 Negotiating Payment terms 28:59 Computation for stock payments 30:06 Advice for first-timers 30:29 Craziest thing in M&A
	Achieving Business Growth Through Strategic M&A	05 Feb 2024	00:45:58
Yoav Zeif, CEO at Stratasys 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 article, Yoav Zeif, CEO at Stratasys, shares his experience on achieving business growth through strategic M&A. Things you will learn in this episode: •The Start of their M&A Journey •Strategic M&A framework •Evolution of Strategy •Working with the corporate development team •How to ensure positive business outcomes during integration This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to https://firmroom.com/ Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 07:04 Start of M&A Journey 11:56 M&A strategy framework 18:58 Real-life acquisition scenario 20:20 Evolution of Strategy 23:59 Working with the corporate development team 26:29 Corporate development teams pitching deals 30:22 How to ensure positive business outcomes during integration 31:57 Big lessons learned 39:18 Retaining key people 40:26 Other lessons 42:42 Craziest Thing in M&A This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to https://firmroom.com/
	Corporate Development Strategy: Notion's M&A Approach with Hilary Shirazi	30 Sep 2025	01:02:21
Hilary Shirazi - Head of Corporate Development at Notion Hilary Shirazi, Head of Corporate Development at Notion, brings over a decade of M&A experience from LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Zendesk to discuss building corporate development strategy at high-growth tech companies. She shares her proven deal thesis methodology, the "Four T's" framework for categorizing acquisitions, and why integration without an IMO might be the better approach for agile teams. Things you will learn: The Deal Thesis Framework – How to crystallize strategy before identifying targets using Hilary's proven document template The Four T's of M&A – Talent, Tech, Traction, and Terrain categories that determine your acquisition approach and integration strategy Integration Without IMO – Why embedding integration throughout the process beats traditional handoff models for most deals ___________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back. The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who've built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ Join us for the 3rd M&A Science Fair IN PERSON Get pure, off-the-record collaboration between corporate development, private equity, and integration leaders. Instead of passive listening, you'll be sharing real frameworks, trading ideas, and testing what actually works in modern deal execution. Everything's practitioner-led, and every topic is surfaced by the attendees themselves. October 16th — NYC 8AM-7:30PM Request an invite here: https://luma.com/khkuh6yw ____________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:00] Hilary's career evolution and why in-house M&A beats advisory work [00:05:00] Building M&A Best Practices – Why starting at a mature organization teaches critical fundamentals before going solo [00:08:30] Getting to know executives' M&A fears and biases before sourcing deals [00:11:00] The Deal Thesis Methodology – Creating strategy documents before naming targets to avoid "solution shopping" [00:16:00] Deal Sponsor Selection [00:20:00] Front-Loading Vision Alignment [00:30:00] The Four T's Framework – Categorizing acquisitions as Talent, Tech, Traction, or Terrain deals [00:35:00] Integration Without IMO – Why Corp Dev should own integration instead of handing off to separate teams [00:42:00] Using Notion for M&A [00:51:00] AI in Corporate Development Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	The Challenges of Sell-Side M&A	31 Jan 2024	00:56:18
Russ Heddleston, Co-founder & former CEO, DocSend 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Russ Heddleston, Co-founder & former CEO of DocSend, discusses the challenges of sell-side M&A. Things you will also learn in this episode: Considerations in Potentially Selling a Startup Challenges of sell-side M&A Key Factors for a Successful Exit How to manage diligence in sell-side M&A Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:10 Starting DocSend 06:08 Identifying the Inflection Point to sell 09:01 Selling a Startup 10:46 Considerations in Potentially Selling a Startup 14:28 Best Time for an Exit 16:00 Balancing Stakeholder Interests in an Acquisition 17:50 Relationship Management in an Acquisition 19:46 How Relationships Influence Negotiations 20:41 Relationships with Bankers 23:14 Reaching out to DropBox 26:16 Key Factors for a Successful Exit 28:04 Impact of Market Conditions on M&A 28:45 The Unknowns of Selling a Business 30:53 Post-Acquisition Challenges and Unknowns 32:34 Enhancing Preparation for Post-Close Integration 34:05 Tips for Buyers for Smoother Integration 35:18 Challenges of Sell-side M&A 37:15 Efficiently Managing Diligence 38:46 People involved from pre-LOI to Close 41:36 Post-Acquisition Team Dynamics 43:01 Evaluating Alternatives to Selling 48:28 Fundraising Strategies to Minimize Dilution 49:44 Advice for Acquirers Seeking Successful Acquisitions 51:29 Effective Strategies for Corporate Leaders to Engage with Founders 53:14 Craziest thing in M&A This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to https://firmroom.com/
	Pros and Cons for a Growth Company to Take PE Capital	29 Jan 2024	01:24:51
Jason Mironov, Managing Director at TA Associates 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 episode of the M&A Science podcast, Jason Mironov, Managing Director at TA Associates, discusses the pros and cons of taking PE capital. Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:29 The Lack of Operating Experience 07:03 Pros of taking money from a private equity firm 11:01 Other factors to take money from PE firms 12:49 Cons of taking money from private equity 17:16 Focusing on IRR 22:10 Culture of focusing on numbers 26:54 Working with Unhappy CEO 30:06 Board control 35:33 Expectation for the Board Structure 38:30 Dilution for founders 42:53 How to build and preserve wealth 47:20 Approach on partnership 51:03 Handling Inbound Contacts 56:51 Creating value before partnership starts 01:03:15 Working with the founder 01:05:38 Pushing M&A to portcos 01:08:51 Founder Exit 01:16:01 Timeline of investment 01:20:26 Craziest thing in M&A This episode is sponsored by DealRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net.
	Selling a Small Business Unit	24 Jan 2024	00:53:03
Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital 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 of selling a small business unit. Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 03:35 The decision to sell a business 05:01 Reasons to sell the business 06:43 Steps in selling a small business unit 09:59 Finding buyers 11:53 Avoid using bankers 13:30 Pitching the deal 14:50 Avoiding non-serious buyers 16:42 Important factors other than price 23:01 Real life example 27:54 Valuation gap 30:29 Evaluating the business 34:45 Hardest part of selling a small business unit 37:03 Advice for first time buyers 41:48 Proactively approaching a seller 47:25 Earnouts on small deals 48:44 Craziest Thing in M&A This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to https://firmroom.com/
	How to Create a Positive Exit Experience in M&A	22 Jan 2024	00:53:32
Swapnil Shinde, CEO at Zeni 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to create a positive exit experience in M&A with Swapnil Shinde, CEO at Zeni. Things you will learn: • Reasons for the first exit • Reacting vs Proactive Exits • Hardest part of selling a business • Role of sellers in Integration Planning • Do's and Don'ts of Buying a company Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:31 Reasons for the first exit 09:19 Venture Exit 12:19 Build to sell 14:03 Reacting vs Proactive Exits 16:28 Using Bankers during Exits 19:09 Hardest part of selling a business 21:30 Managing Diligence 24:28 Lessons Learned on Diligence 28:03 Keeping and building relationships 29:29 Role of sellers in Integration Planning 32:29 Reasons why Integration fails 34:49 Worst exit experience 36:31 Making integration successful 38:25 Do's and Don'ts of Buying a company 39:41 Identifying Cultural Fit This episode is sponsored by our products DealRoom and FirmRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to https://www.firmroom.com
	Realizing Revenue Synergies in M&A	15 Jan 2024	00:51:28
Chris Von Bogdandy, Global Lead M&A Solutions at Slalom Revenue synergies are why you're doing the deal in the first place. But unlike cost synergies that happen instantly, revenue synergies 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. So how do you maintain the deal thesis as a central focus? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Chris Von Bogdandy, Global Lead M&A Solutions at Slalom, discusses his framework for realizing revenue synergies in M&A. Things you will learn: •Importance of Revenue Synergies •Correlation between M&A strategy and Revenue Synergies •Understanding Customer Journey •Planning for Revenue Synergies Pre-LOI •Agile M&A Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:17 Importance of Revenue Synergies 09:58 Correlation between M&A strategy and Revenue Synergies 16:42 Timeline of Revenue Synergies 18:49 Realistic Revenue Synergies 21:14 Understanding Customer Journey 24:44 Planning for Revenue Synergies Pre-LOI 27:38 Capturing Revenue Synergies Post-LOI 31:04 Executing the Plan 34:21 Cross-Functional Work Streams 36:29 New product introduction process 40:15 Agile M&A 43:31 Disbanding team and workstreams 46:57 Top three principles to success 48:48 Advice for next generation of young leaders in M&A This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit https://www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at https://www.dealroom.net . FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to https://www.firmroom.com
	Focusing on ESG in M&A	08 Jan 2024	00:48:55
Casey Nault, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief ESG Officer at Coeur Mining, Inc. (NYSE: CDE) ESG in M&A is very real. And while it is a fairly new term, it represents a range of critical issues and priorities that companies have long considered. In many ways, ESG has always been important and is essential for risk management and maintaining company value, even for for-profit organizations. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to focus on ESG in M&A, featuring Casey Nault, SVP, General Counsel, and Chief ESG Officer at Coeur Mining, Inc. Things you will learn: •Importance of ESG in M&A •Balancing ESG and profit •ESG diligence •Red flags during ESG diligence •ESG on cross-border deals ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 07:31 M&A in the Mining Industry 09:26 Valuation and Deal Structures in the Mining Industry 13:51 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 15:57 Importance of ESG 20:13 Disaggregating ESG 21:49 Sustainability in today's market 24:04 Balancing ESG and profit 26:52 ESG considerations during M&A 30:58 Evolution of ESG approach 32:41 ESG diligence 33:35 Red flags during ESG diligence 35:31 Deal Stoppers 36:36 Designated person sustainability 37:17 Diligence Execution during M&A 39:19 ESG on cross-border deals 40:55 Negotiations on cross border deals 42:47 Advice for practitioners 43:18 Craziest thing in M&A
	How Not to Bomb Your First M&A Deal	01 Jan 2024	00:45:14
Brock Blake, Co-Founder and CEO at Lendio 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 their approach on how not to bomb your first M&A deal. You will learn: • How to drive your first deal • Understanding the cultural aspect of M&A • Strategizing acquisitions • Validating assumptions before acquisition commitment • Budget allocation for an earnout ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by our products DealRoom and FirmRoom Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at dealroom.net. FirmRoom is the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 06:02 Getting into M&A 07:14 First deals and their drivers 10:43 Second Acquisition 14:49 Third Acquisition 18:43 Understanding the cultural aspect 25:17 The new deal approach 29:10 Strategizing acquisitions 32:07 Validating assumptions before acquisition commitment 38:14 Budget allocation for an earnout 41:37 Craziest thing in M&A
	The Basics of M&A Integration Execution	25 Dec 2023	01:13:48
Aaron Whiting, Chief of Staff at Crownpeak Value creation in any acquisition relies heavily on how well the M&A 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? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Learn the basics of M&A integration execution, with Aaron Whiting, Chief of Staff at Crownpeak. You will learn: How to coach a first-time integration leader Getting ready for day one Kickoff meeting strategies Challenges during integration Setting alignment for kickoff meetings ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Bookmark 00:00 Intro 05:09 Coaching an integration lead 06:33 Involving the Integration Lead 12:42 Integration on Day one 17:49 Getting ready for Day one 22:31 M&A teams to pull in for integration 25:41 Kickoff meeting strategies 31:12 Maintaining regular cadence for good progress 35:53 Umbrella track 37:47 How to track integration activities 42:38 Challenges during integration 47:55 Mechanical things that could go wrong during integration 52:59 Setting alignment for kickoff meetings 56:26 What success looks like through stories 01:01:50 How to know when the integration is complete 01:03:42 Advice for first timers 01:07:48 Craziest thing in M&A
	ChatGPT Interview: AI's Impact on M&A	20 Dec 2023	00:47:15
ChatGPT Voice, powered by OpenAI. 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. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we are introducing our first-ever ChatGPT interview. We are going to learn its insights on AI's impact on the world of M&A. You will learn more about: AI's role in deal sourcing Streamlining due diligence using AI Future of M&A Limitations of AI ChatGPT's advice on integrating AI into M&A ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:06 Revolutionizing M&A with AI 03:53 AI's role in Deal sourcing 08:08 AI's role in deal valuation process 12:41 Limitations of ChatGPT 14:05 Streamlining due diligence 18:00 AI's impact on M&A integration 22:10 Case Study: Daimler Chrysler merger 25:15 Case Study: Amazon acquiring Whole Foods 28:14 Future of M&A 30:23 DealRoom 32:40 How to incorporate AI into DealRoom 35:57 Positive business outcomes using DealRoom 37:41 Ethical Considerations Using AI 39:28 Limitations of AI 41:04 Advice on integrating AI into M&A 43:10 Craziest thing in M&A
	Automation in M&A	18 Dec 2023	00:44:25
Dr. Karl-Michael Popp, Senior Director, Corporate Development at SAP (FRA: SAP) 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Dr. Karl Michael Popp, Senior Director, Corporate Development at SAP, discusses in detail automation in M&A. Things you will learn: Measuring Strategy during automation Strategic Fit Analysis Identifying Targets Quantifying culture in M&A Impact of new emerging technologies in M&A ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 07:10 Measuring Strategy 10:00 Structuring Strategies 13:53 Quantifying Metadata 16:24 Breaking it down into details to complete the strategy 18:49 Strategic Fit Analysis 20:06 Identifying Targets 22:40 Cascading of Strategy 25:33 Changing the strategy 27:11 Learning from the target company 31:18 Quantifying culture in M&A 32:47 Impact of new emerging technologies in M&A 34:50 Automation in M&A 39:27 The late evolution of M&A 40:51 Craziest thing in M&A
	How Corporate Venture Capital 2.0 is Reshaping M&A with Jennifer Miller	23 Sep 2025	00:50:41
Jennifer Miller - Senior Director of Corporate Development, Oshkosh Corporation 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. In this episode, she reveals how Oshkosh evolved their corporate venture capital approach from CVC 1.0's financial focus to CVC 2.0's strategic innovation partnerships. Jennifer shares practical insights on managing 400+ deal flow annually, structuring IP agreements, and balancing minority investments with traditional M&A within a single corporate development function. Things You'll Learn CVC 2.0 Framework: How to evolve from pure financial returns to strategic innovation partnerships that accelerate technology adoption Deal Flow Management: Systematic approach to evaluate 400+ companies annually using thematic prioritization and rapid technical diligence IP Structuring: Strategic methods for negotiating exclusivity, co-development agreements, and future acquisition rights without limiting startup growth ____________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back. The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who've built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ Today's episode of the M&A Science Podcast is brought to you by Grata! Grata is the leading private market dealmaking platform. With its best-in-class AI workflows and investment-grade data, Grata helps investors, advisors, and strategic acquirers effortlessly discover, research, and connect with potential targets — all in one sleek, user-friendly interface. Visit grata.com to learn more. __________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:30] Corporate Development Evolution – Jennifer's 24-year journey from investment banking to strategic partnerships [00:05:00] CVC 2.0 Philosophy – Shifting from financial investments to innovation-first partnerships [00:10:00] Balancing M&A and CVC – Managing traditional acquisitions alongside minority investments in one team [00:16:00] Proof of Concept Budget – How Oshkosh funds cross-business unit technology pilots [00:20:30] Deal Flow Sourcing – Processing 400+ companies annually through thematic prioritization [00:24:00] IP and Acquisition Rights – Structuring exclusivity and information rights without limiting startup exits [00:31:00] Strategic Value Proposition – What startups gain from corporate investors beyond capital [00:36:00] Integration Management – Preventing startup overwhelm while ensuring technology adoption [00:41:30] Startup Positioning Advice – How entrepreneurs should approach strategic versus financial investors Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	Executing Smaller Deals and Negotiating Key Legal Provisions	11 Dec 2023	00:48:09
Anthony Krueger, Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, Anthony Krueger, Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP, debunks this myth and discusses how to execute smaller deals and negotiate key legal provisions. You will learn: •The complexities of smaller deals •Executing earnouts •Reps and warranties insurance for smaller deals •Working capital adjustments and its effect on smaller deals ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy. If you're looking to improve your in-house training, we have corporate training plans provided. Give your team members access to the best-in-class courses, templates, and networking opportunities in the industry. It's also a great way to show your support for M&A Science. If you're interested in learning more about individual or team plans, visit this page. Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 04:36 Smaller deals vs bigger deals 06:35 Complexities of smaller deals 06:52 Other layers of complexities 10:10 Earnouts 18:03 Reps and warranties 24:08 Fundamental vs General Reps and Warranties 25:35 Indemnities 28:40 Disclosure schedules 32:34 Caps and Baskets 35:52 Carve-out 36:44 Working capital adjustments 40:47 Deferred revenue 42:01 Accrued bonuses and vacations 44:12 Advice to those doing small deals 45:12 Craziest thing in M&A
	The Intricacies of M&A from Start to Finish	04 Dec 2023	01:04:54
Rajive Dhar, VP, Head of Corporate Development at NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) 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. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast. We discuss the intricacies of M&A from start to finish with Rajive Dhar, VP, Head of Corporate Development at NetApp, to help us navigate our first deal. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:58 Different types of M&A 09:49 Corporate Strategy for M&A 12:37 Dealing with new customers 14:49 Acquiring competitors 17:13 Target screening 22:19 Opening up conversations with the target company 23:55 Initial Due Diligence 25:59 Diligence list 30:17 Sunsetting competitors product 33:02 Assessing culture 34:52 Putting an LOI together 39:58 Negotiating deal structure 46:41 Earnouts 55:44 Keeping relationships 1:00:13 Best advice for practitioners
	M&A Surprises and Horror Stories	27 Nov 2023	01:05:06
Jim Ackerman, recent Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex; Steve Coghlan, Semi-recent Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex. 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jim Ackerman, recent Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex, and Steve Coghlan, former Vice President of Corporate Development at Flex, discuss their experiences on M&A surprises and horror stories. This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. Leave the pay-per-page world behind by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 05:06 Sourcing deals 08:24 Key things to ask during the first meeting 11:49 How to get exclusivity 15:01 How the governance works 16:41 Due diligence red flags 17:21 Cultural integration 19:46 Working with the board 23:54 Best way to pitch a deal to the board 24:34 Stakeholder management in the board 25:40 Managing M&A surprises 29:30 Good M&A Surprises 34:37 Accounting surprises 36:30 Private deal surprises 40:39 IT surprises 42:33 Surprises between signing and closing 45:38 How to mitigate risks and surprises 46:13 What trap currency is 48:04 Integration surprises 50:40 Mitigating surprises from integration 54:25 Instilling clear and purposeful communication 55:23 Hardest step to do in M&A 56:10 Worst deal ever done 59:11 Best advice 1:00:12 Craziest thing in M&A
	How Positive Relationships Can Drive Success in M&A	20 Nov 2023	00:51:40
Nicole Markowski, Manager and Corporate Development at Wipfli LLP 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Nicole Markowski, Manager and Corporate Development at Wipfli LLP, delves into the importance of cultivating positive relationships to drive M&A success. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 07:04 The importance of relationships in M&A 09:25 Key people to build relationships with 15:55 How to foster and develop relationships 23:03 How to engage with key people 25:27 Approach to build relationships 28:30 People assignment for developing relationships 30:47 Delegating tasks in building relationships 34:22 Key acquired company people to build relationships with 36:31 Handling resistant groups 39:25 People problems and how to address them 45:57 Advice to first-time practitioners 47:45 Craziest thing in M&A
	M&A from a CFO's Perspective Session 2	13 Nov 2023	00:48:02
Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8 (NASDAQ: EGHT) 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will explore M&A from a CFO's perspective, featuring Samuel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at 8x8. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the DealRoom and FirmRoom. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 07:55 The Role of CFO 11:39 Risk Management 14:39 Integration aspect 15:54 Alignment on assumptions 18:14 Managing people 19:28 Best integration practices 21:25 Working with the CEO 22:52 Walking away from a deal 27:10 Getting involved in the deal 29:50 Tying the Strategy 33:36 Integration Budgeting 39:43 Working with corporate development 40:54 Advice for first time acquirers 44:04 Craziest thing in M&A
	M&A from a CFO's Perspective Session 1	06 Nov 2023	00:46:14
David Barnes, Chief Financial Officer at Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ:TRMB) 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we explore M&A from a CFO's perspective with David Barnes, Chief Financial Officer at Trimble Inc. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to firmroom.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:29 The Role of CFO 05:14 How the CFO's roles differs from the CEO 06:24 Decision-making process and approvals workflow 09:43 Communicating opportunities 11:15 Prioritization 14:18 Balancing the allocation of budgets 16:42 How equity compensation works 18:14 How aligned investment analysts are when evaluating a company 20:08 Forecasting deals 22:53 Priorities when looking at deals 26:49 Balancing priorities when structuring earnouts 28:31 Understanding a company's culture 31:08 Integration from a CFO's perspective 33:49 How the speed of integration impacts value realization 37:05 Biggest lessons learned as a CFO 39:23 How to pitch deals to the CFO 41:38 Craziest thing in M&A
	The Big Shift from Corporate Development to Private Equity	30 Oct 2023	00:39:51
Joe Metzger, Managing Director at 777 Partners Navigating a career shift can be a transformative experience, unlocking new opportunities and challenges. For Joe Metzger, Managing Director at 777 Partners, diving into the world of private equity was an exciting path to explore. It's a chance to grow expertise, collaborate with diverse entities, and embrace strategic growth. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Joe shares his amazing journey shifting from corporate development to private equity. ____________________________________________________________________________ Craving for fresh, actionable M&A insights? Dive into the M&A Science Fall Summit this Nov 8th! Unlock secrets on integration, valuations, talent retention, and more from top M&A minds. It's all the 'how-tos' you need, and it's FREE! Secure your spot at mascience.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:02 Transitioning from Corporate Development to Private Equity 08:59 Corporate Development role vs Private Equity role 12:10 Seeking employment opportunities 16:16 The efficient frontier concept 20:06 Are you happier in private equity than in corporate development? 24:17 How to negotiate employment offers 26:48 Other things to negotiate in employment agreements 30:47 How to land a PE role 33:34 Advice to those considering transitioning between Corp Dev and Private Equity 34:52 How to transition to a PE role from a VC and M&A role 36:03 Craziest thing in M&A
	Integration Strategies in M&A Part 2	23 Oct 2023	00:37:57
Chris Evans, Experienced M&A Leader \| former Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon and Scott Boyd, Deputy Director, Strategy Implementation at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation \| former Head of Integration for AWS. (NASDAQ: AMZN) 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 episode of the M&A Science podcast, Chris Evans, former Head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon and Scott Boyd, former Head of Integration for AWS, discusses integration strategies change management person. particularly the nuisances of change management. ____________________________________________________________________________ Craving for fresh, actionable M&A insights? Dive into the M&A Science Fall Summit this Nov 8th! Unlock secrets on integration, valuations, talent retention, and more from top M&A minds. It's all the 'how-tos' you need, and it's FREE! Secure your spot at MAscience.com! Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 02:26 Integration Strategy vs Change Management 06:50 Definition of Change Management 09:55 Dedicated Person for Change Management 14:03 Change Management Planning 16:16 Most Effective Approach to Change Management 19:32 Common Challenges during Change Management 24:25 Practical Tips for Change Management 26:49 Hardest Step in M&A 33:38 Craziest Thing in M&A
	Integration Strategies in M&A Part 1	16 Oct 2023	00:52:10
Chris Evans, Experienced M&A Leader \| former head of CorpDev Integration at Amazon and Scott Boyd, Deputy Director, Strategy Implementation at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation \| former Head of Integration for AWS. (NASDAQ: AMZN) 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 two-part episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we dive deep into the heart of integration strategies and underscores 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. ____________________________________________________________________________ Craving for fresh, actionable M&A insights? Dive into the M&A Science Fall Summit this Nov 8th! Unlock secrets on integration, valuations, talent retention, and more from top M&A minds. It's all the 'how-tos' you need, and it's FREE! Secure your spot at mascience.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:11 Types of Integration Strategies 09:14 Transformative Integration 11:39 Deals Easy to Integrate 13:24 Most difficult thing to Integrate 15:40 Timeline of integration planning 20:26 Benefits of Integration teams running diligence 25:49 Integration Teams' Diligence Execution 28:46 Structuring the M&A Function 34:39 Consistency vs. agility 40:10 Understanding culture pre LOI 44:34 Working with inexperienced business leaders 46:59 Questions to ask pre-LOI as an Integration leader
	Executing M&A in Healthcare	09 Oct 2023	00:45:52
Roy Schoenberg, President & Co-CEO at Amwell - American Well Corporation (NYSE:AMWL) 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, Roy Schoenberg, President & Co-CEO at Amwell, delves into the intricacies of navigating M&A in the healthcare industry. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 04:26 Evolving from a medical background to M&A 07:27 What makes the healthcare space distinct 09:36 What drove Amwell to do acquisitions 13:03 Shaping the acquisition strategy 16:59 Amwell's first acquisition 22:29 Integrating the new company 24:50 Retaining key people 28:33 First acquisition lessons learned 31:03 Dealing with transaction surprises 34:03 Approaching deals as one of the main principal 38:01 Deal sourcing 39:49 Managing relationships with the counterparty 41:30 Communication during diligence 43:14 Craziest thing in M&A
	M&A Integration Reality: Deal Economics vs Human Dynamics with Nicole Markowski	16 Sep 2025	00:58:02
Nicole Markowski - Former Director of Business Integration and Operations, Wipfli Join Nicole as she shares unvarnished truths from managing 30+ transactions. Nicole reveals how integration-led diligence prevents value destruction, why traditional deal economics often miss critical human factors, and practical strategies for maintaining the human touch while scaling M&A programs from 3 to 16 concurrent deals. Things You'll Learn Why integration leaders must be involved in deal economics discussions to prevent value destruction How to scale M&A operations from 2-3 to 16+ concurrent deals without losing the human touch The critical difference between project managers and true integration leaders in M&A success ____________________ The Buyer-Led M&A™ Summit is back. The virtual event built for dealmakers who want to eliminate chaos and take control from sourcing through integration. 📅 October 30, 2025 🕚 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM ET 💻 Free & Virtual Learn from leaders who've built scalable, repeatable strategies that keep deals on track - Register now. ____________________ Join us for the 3rd M&A Science Fair IN PERSON Get pure, off-the-record collaboration between corporate development, private equity, and integration leaders. Instead of passive listening, you'll be sharing real frameworks, trading ideas, and testing what actually works in modern deal execution. Everything's practitioner-led, and every topic is surfaced by the attendees themselves. October 16th — NYC 8AM-7:30PM Request an invite here: https://luma.com/khkuh6yw ____________________ Episode Chapters [00:02:00] Engineering an M&A Career – From Accenture consultant to integration expert [00:04:00] Tale of Two Velocities – Contrasting measured vs high-volume M&A approaches [00:07:00] Why cost pool analysis can destroy deal value [00:17:00] When Sellers Walk Away – The Mac vs PC deal breaker story [00:22:00] Integration-Led Diligence – Why integration leaders should quarterback due diligence [00:32:00] Keeping It Human at Scale [00:37:00] Bridging cultural gaps in professional services [00:47:00] Beyond Project Management – What makes a true integration leader [00:53:00] When IT Walks Out – Crisis management Questions, comments, concerns? Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.
	How to Balance Culture During an Integration	02 Oct 2023	00:45:59
Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America (EPA: SGO) and CertainTeed Integration is not just about combining processes and systems. It is about bridging cultures and creating a shared identity. However, integrating two organizations can be complex, especially when it comes to managing major cultural differences. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we explore key strategies for effectively balancing culture during an integration, featuring Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by the M&A Science Academy, DealRoom, and FirmRoom. To join our growing online community of M&A practitioners, visit www.mascience.com/academy. Ready to take your M&A to the next level with software made to manage each stage of the deal process? See how DealRoom can facilitate your next deal at www.dealroom.net FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:50 Culture in M&A 09:59 Acquiring a competitor 11:18 Team Alignment 13:24 Understanding culture 15:45 Difficulties of Culture 16:52 Improving decision-making 18:55 Challenges for smaller companies 20:37 Lessons learned from acquisitions 24:58 Establishing strong communication 27:14 Advice on Integration 31:08 Retaining lessons learned 32:49 Ensuring deal value 34:40 Governance and M&A activities 37:20 Success metrics 38:59 Messaging with key investors 40:20 Non-core acquisitions 41:19 Cultural aspect of non-core acquisition 43:02 Craziest thing in M&A
	Planning and Executing Your Exit as an Investor	25 Sep 2023	00:46:24
Dr. Irit Yaniv, Founding Partner and CEO at Almeda Ventures (TLV: AMDA) 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 episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Dr. Irit Yaniv, Founding Partner and CEO at Almada Ventures, discusses what investors can do when planning and executing the exit. ____________________________________________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by FirmRoom, the fastest virtual data room used to get deals done. FirmRoom provides 80% cost savings over VDRs that bill by page and delivers a far better user experience to boot. Sign up in under 2 minutes by going to www.firmroom.com Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:26 M&A in the medical device industry 04:49 Minority position during Investment 05:35 When to think about an exit 06:59 Getting involved in the exit 09:57 Working with the CEO 12:03 Keeping track of potential acquisitions 14:34 Finding the right buyer 17:55 Managing exit planning disagreements 20:34 Who controls exit decisions 22:23 Negotiation 25:37 When to engage with a banker 36:51 Advice on planning an exit 38:11 Bad exits 40:29 Other takeaways 42:35 Craziest thing in M&A
	How PE Should Support Portfolio Company Acquisitions	18 Sep 2023	00:46:59
Barak Routhenstein, Vice President of Corporate Development at Profile Products 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 of the M&A Science Podcast, we will explore insights from Barak Routhenstein, Vice President 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. ____________________________________________________________________________ Join us on October 5th, 2023, in New York City for the M&A Science Fair 2023. Dive into a transformative M&A experience that not only emphasizes participant-driven topics but also offers an unparalleled opportunity to network with the industry's top minds. You can elevate your M&A practice with actionable insights and top-tier networking. The event is invitation-only to ensure a curated experience. Secure your invite today! Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 03:57 Changes in the M&A landscape 04:39 Changes in private equity acquisitions 08:14 Go-to-market 10:48 Deal origination 12:19 International deals 14:25 How PE firms look at acquisitions 15:48 Bad cultural fit 18:40 Relationship with PE firms 20:20 Ideal PE-sponsor relationship 21:45 Managing deal sourcing conflicts 22:38 Approval process 24:44 Sustaining support from PE firms 27:08 Reporting structure 29:54 Advice for PE firms in supporting portfolio companies 32:54 Staging productive meetings 35:01 Keys to pitching a deal 38:46 Approaching target company relationships 41:28 Managing underperforming acquired companies 42:18 PE firms buying other PE firms 43:26 Craziest thing in M&A

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