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M&A Science

Kison Patelwww.mascience.com
M&A Science, hosted by Kison Patel (Founder & CEO of DealRoom), is your go-to podcast for mastering the art of mergers and acquisitions. Each week, Kison and his expert guests from leading brands like Xerox, FastLap, and Cisco dig deep into real-world M&A strategies, offering actionable insights to optimize your M&A practice. Whether you're an experienced practitioner or new to the field, M&A Science provides practical advice on key topics like sourcing, due diligence, integration, divestitures, and more. With over 300 episodes, this podcast is the premier thought leadership resource designed to streamline your deal-making process. Start listening today and visit mascience.com/podcast to access over 300 episodes. Brought to you by DealRoom, the leading M&A optimization platform used by the best M&A teams around the world

Episodes

How to Approach Deal Targets

Andrew Whitcomb , Sr. Director, Strategy, Corporate Development, M&A at Builders FirstSource NYSE: BLDR Proactive M&A is not easy. Proactive M&A requires keeping tabs on multiple companies, reaching out to them directly, and convincing owners to sell their businesses to strangers. Yet, the ability to tackle all of these actions are what make a great corporate development team. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andrew Whitcomb , Sr. Director, Strategy, Corporate Development, M&A at Buil...

Oct 20, 202246 minEp. 190

Introducing M&A to a Larger Company

Jeff Hennig , Vice President, Corporate Development at AMD (NASDAQ) Dan Menge , Head of M&A Integration at AMD (NASDAQ) When two companies merge together, there will be overlaps that result in winding down functions. But what happens when there are two functions that perfectly complement each other? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jeff Hennig , Vice President, Corporate Development at AMD, and Dan Menge , Head of M&A Integration at AMD , will talk about how AMD acquired Xilinx and ho...

Oct 17, 202248 minEp. 189

Carving Out A Competitor

Liz Lockhart , Sr. Director, PMO, Training and Business Applications Carve-outs are incredibly complex. Buying a small part of a target company brings many challenges and can be even more complicated if the acquirer is carving out a public company. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Liz Lockhart , Sr. Director, PMO, Training and Business Applications , shares her first experience and lessons learned in carving out a competitor. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 60 courses taught by top...

Oct 13, 202246 minEp. 188

Formulating M&A Strategy for Proactive Sourcing

Mike Kryza , Head of Corporate Development at The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America Private- F500 Mergers and acquisitions are a critical part of any business, yet they can be very risky. Therefore, a clear strategy is necessary for deal success. A well-planned deal strategy enables companies to proactively source deals rather than be reactive. Without the right target, what is the point of M&A? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Mike Kryza , Head of Corporate Development at Th...

Oct 10, 202247 minEp. 187

Realizing Go-To-Market Synergies

Karen Ashley , Vice President, Corporate Development Integration at Cisco CSCO (NASDAQ) M&A doesn't end when a deal closes. The deal's success relies heavily on how well the acquirer can integrate the target company. Revenue synergies are one of the most important, but also one of the hardest, things to achieve during integration. When two companies come together, their products and services often overlap, and it can be challenging to figure out how to market them as one company. In this episode...

Oct 06, 202247 minEp. 186

How to Convince People to Sell their Business

Willy Walker , Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop, Inc (NYSE: WD) M&A is one of the fastest ways to grow a company. Many of the largest companies in the world turn to M&A for inorganic growth. However, first-time acquirers often find it difficult to buy companies due to a lack of experience and reputation. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Willy Walker , Chairman, and CEO of Walker & Dunlop, Inc , discusses how to convince people to sell their business. Liked today's episode? Unlock o...

Oct 03, 202252 minEp. 185

Proactive Deal Sourcing

Lisa Marchese , Head of Corporate Development at American Express AXP (NYSE) Culture is one of the biggest M&A killers. Some of the biggest deal failures in history are due to culture clashes that resulted in value leaks and destroyed companies. Bringing culture to the forefront of transactions can help increase deal success. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Lisa Marchese , Head of Corporate Development at American Express , discusses proactive deal sourcing with culture in mind. Like...

Sep 29, 202247 minEp. 184

How to Improve the Sales Function During Integration

Richard Dunkel , Global Head of Field Enablement at Celonis The sales operation is the cornerstone of every business. Without it, companies would not have revenue. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Richard Dunkel , Global Head of Field Enablement at Celonis , discusses how to improve the sales function during integration. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 60 courses taught by top-tier M&A practitioners by joining the M&A Science Academy. Use code “academy20%” on the sign-up page for a...

Sep 26, 202250 minEp. 183

Lessons Learned from Leadership Onboarding

Kim Jones , HR Director M&A at Microsoft ( NASDAQ: MSFT) An effective M&A onboarding process post-close can dictate employee retention. But what's even more important is retaining the acquired company's leadership. Leadership has massive influence inside the business, and helping them transition properly will positively impact the overall transaction. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kim Jones , HR Director M&A at Microsoft , discusses lessons learned from leadership onboarding. Liked...

Sep 22, 202245 minEp. 182

Building an Exit Path

Touraj Parang , President & COO of Serve Robotics Selling a business is a difficult task that requires a lot of planning and preparation. However, most entrepreneurs refuse to entertain the idea of a sale until it is too late. The best time to plan an exit is when times are good, not in a desperate situation. The longer the prep time, the higher chances of success. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Touraj Parang , President & COO of Serve Robotics , discusses how to build an exit strat...

Sep 19, 202248 minEp. 181

Developing an M&A Thesis

Siran Tanielyan , SVP, Corporate Development at Paramount (NYSE: PGRE) Every company wants to evolve and grow its business, and M&A is one of the fastest and most powerful ways to grow. If done correctly, M&A can transform an organization overnight but there must be a sound M&A thesis. Without an M&A thesis, acquirers might end up wasting time, money, and opportunities. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Siran Tanielyan , SVP, Corporate Development at Paramount , talks about developing ...

Sep 15, 202250 minEp. 180

Leadership Alignment and GTM Strategy for Successful Deals

Cole Breidenbach , VP, M&A Integration & Strategic Initiatives at Okta ( NASDAQ: OKTA) Leadership alignment is one of the most underrated aspects of M&A. But without leadership alignment, there will be confusion regarding what the company will represent post-close and what needs to be integrated. The company will be left with an inconsistent narrative and messaging, which leads to retention issues. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Cole Breidenbach , VP, M&A Integration & Strategic Ini...

Sep 12, 202245 minEp. 179

Growing Beyond M&A

Christina Ungaro , VP, Head of Corporate Development at Wind River Corporate development is more than just doing M&A. Sometimes, acquiring a company isn't the best way to achieve the organization's growth strategy. There are a variety of approaches to accelerating a business that require extra analysis and planning. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Christina Ungaro , VP, Head of Corporate Development at Wind River , talks about growing beyond M&A. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50...

Sep 08, 202242 minEp. 178

How to Stand Up an IMO Function

Joshua Zatkin-Steres , Head of M&A Integration at Zuora NYSE: ZUO Integration is one of the most challenging and crucial parts of M&A. It requires a complete understanding of the parent company and the newly acquired business. If done right, it will allow acquirers to capture intended synergies and maximize the value of their transaction. It is why having a dedicated integration function can be extremely valuable to an organization. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Joshua Zatkin-Stere...

Sep 05, 202244 minEp. 177

Secrets to Building an M&A Function

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

Sep 01, 202246 minEp. 176

Financial Diligence in M&A

Amr Abdelaziz , Senior Director, M&A Finance at Equinix (NASDAQ: EQIX) Finance is arguably the most critical part of the due diligence process. Almost every transaction comes down to the numbers unless it's a pure IP deal. Conducting effective financial diligence in M&A is crucial to every acquisition's success. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Amr Abdelaziz , Senior Director, M&A Finance at Equinix , talks about financial diligence in M&A. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 course...

Aug 29, 202248 minEp. 175

Developing Strategy with Business Leaders

Michael McDonald , Director, Strategy at Koch Engineered Solutions Strategy is a crucial part of an M&A. Without it, acquirers may end up purchasing companies that compromise their time and resources. A good strategy shapes how to approach a target company, the questions to ask during diligence, and how to integrate the newly acquired business. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael McDonald , Director, Strategy at Koch Engineered Solutions , talks about developing strategies with b...

Aug 25, 202234 minEp. 174

How to Compete in a Competitive M&A Market

Tyler Rodewald , Vice President, M&A at EIS Holdings In M&A, most acquirers don't like a competitive process. Auctions can drive higher prices, shorten the diligence process, and increase uncertainty. However, competitive processes are almost inevitable as sellers are looking to maximize the value of their company. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Tyler Rodewald , VP, M&A at EIS Holdings , talks about how to compete in a competitive M&A process. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 c...

Aug 22, 202238 minEp. 173

Capturing Revenue Synergies

Joe Heel , Chief Revenue Officer at Zebra Technologies Revenue synergies are one of the most challenging metrics to achieve during integration, but are also the primary reason companies buy businesses. It's safe to say that many transactions fail to realize their intended value. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Joe Heel , Chief Revenue Officer at Zebra Technologies , talks about capturing revenue synergies. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 courses taught by top-tier M&A practitio...

Aug 18, 202243 minEp. 172

Architecting Communications for Successful Integration

Emma Barton , Director, Alliance and Integration Management at AstraZeneca AZN (NASDAQ) Deal failure can often be tied back to a lack of communication and collaboration. Teams often work in silos which results in inefficiencies and a poor employee experience. However, smooth transaction workflows are possible, and with increased deal success, with the proper framework. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Emma Barton , Director, Alliance and Integration Management at AstraZeneca , discuss...

Aug 15, 202245 minEp. 171

Risk Allocation Between Signing and Closing an M&A Deal

Brett Shawn , Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Warburg Pincus LLC In M&A, time is the enemy. The longer a deal takes to close, the more risks it poses for both parties. Both the buyer and the seller need to understand the deal risks and how to mitigate them. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Brett Shawn , Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Warburg Pincus LLC , talks about risk allocation between signing and closing an M&A deal. Liked today's episode?...

Aug 11, 202246 minEp. 170

Working with Legal to Dial in Your M&A Strategy

Felipe Heiderich , Senior Counsel at Moderna NASDAQ: MRNA We all know it's impossible to do M&A without lawyers. But the question is, how early should lawyers be involved in a transaction? Understanding what lawyers do is crucial to answering this question. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Felipe Heiderich , Senior Counsel at Moderna , discusses the importance of lawyers in M&A and their role throughout the deal lifecycle. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 courses taught by top-ti...

Aug 08, 202246 minEp. 169

Challenges of Go-To-Market Integration

Massimo Malizia , Director of Corporate Development Integration at Cisco Systems More often than not, M&A involves go-to-market integration. After all, companies are bought to achieve revenue synergies in new markets. Getting the GTM integration just right should be a top priority. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Massimo Malizia , Director of Corporate Development Integration at Cisco Systems , talks about the challenges of go-to-market integration and how to make it more successful....

Aug 04, 202242 minEp. 168

How to Scale Your Corporate Development Function

Saurabh Tejwani , Vice President, Corporate Development and Business Operations at GoPuff . The corporate development function is crucial to a company's growth, and is primarily focused on strategic decisions to achieve inorganic growth. The more activity, the bigger the function should be. But scaling is not always easy, especially the first time around. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Saurabh Tejwani , Vice President, Corporate Development and Business Operations at GoPuff , talks ...

Aug 01, 202250 minEp. 167

Buying Public Companies

Pranjal Gambhir, and Doretta Mistras, Managing Director - Global Investment Banking, Healthcare at Citi The M&A process varies when dealing with a public vs private company. To many, acquiring a public company is more ideal. First-time acquirers need to be aware of the differences between acquiring a public company and acquiring a private company. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pranjal Gambhir and Doretta Mistras , both Managing Directors, Global Investment Banking, Healthcare at Ci...

Jul 26, 202233 minEp. 166

How to Execute an Integration Plan (Day1)

Gene Hugh , Chief Financial Officer at Procure Analytics , and John Morada , COO at M&A Science + DealRoom . Day one is a monumental day for acquirers. All cuffs are off, and the target company has an official new owner. How well the acquired business is integrated will determine the transaction's success and the realized value. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Gene Hugh , Chief Financial Officer at Procure Analytics , and John Morada , COO at M&A Science + DealRoom , will discuss how...

Jul 18, 202241 minEp. 165

The Process of Change Management in M&A

Michael DeVita , Business Value Advisor at Salesforce Change management is one of the most crucial parts of M&A. When you don't plan for it; value creation is in jeopardy.. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Michael DeVita , Business Value Advisor at Salesforce , talks about the change management process in M&A. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 courses taught by top-tier M&A practitioners by joining the M&A Science Academy. Use code “podcast” on the sign-up page for a 20% discount,...

Jul 11, 202242 minEp. 164

Divestitures from a Legal Perspective

Andrew Gratz , Chief Privacy Officer and Associate General Counsel at LyondellBasell Divesting a business is never easy. And while corporate development plays a huge role in the preparation, the legal team also plays a crucial role. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Andrew Gratz , Chief Privacy Officer, and Associate General Counsel at LyondellBasell , talks about what a divestiture looks like from a legal perspective. Liked today's episode? Unlock over 50 courses taught by top-tier M&...

Jul 04, 202247 minEp. 163

Sourcing Companies that are Not for Sale

Rishabh Mishra , Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Infostretch . Traditionally, corporate development sources deals by looking for willing sellers. While that is an excellent way to find initiate M&A, there are alternative options. Companies that are looking for buyers have been dressed up for sale and are under-invested for profit maximization and growth. Buying growth companies in their raw state can end up being a more lucrative acquisition. In this episode of the M&A Scienc...

Jun 27, 202244 minEp. 162

Effective Deal Sourcing Through Market Mapping

Sabeeh Khan , Director of Corporate Development at Infoblox NYSE (BLOX) Reactive M&A is a great way to become distracted, go after unproductive deals, and tie up internal resources. If you want to do effective M&A, you have to be proactive. M&A is a great tool to have and should be a part of your growth strategy. So, how do you find target companies? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Sabeeh Khan , Director of Corporate Development at Infoblox , talks about how to effectively source dea...

Jun 20, 202244 minEp. 161