M&A Science
Kison Patel
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
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
Mentioned books
Sep 1, 2025 • 59min
Strategic M&A at Scale: Insight Partners' Buyer-Led Approach with Byron Lichtenstein
Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners and a veteran in scaling M&A operations, shares his insights on buyer-led M&A strategies. He discusses the importance of strategic positioning and how to align acquisitions with customer needs. Byron also outlines types of M&A deals and emphasizes the need for dedicated integration efforts. He highlights the significance of transparent communication in navigating the emotional landscape of M&A, ensuring successful partnerships across Insight's extensive portfolio.
38 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 54min
Think Like a Buyer: Valuation & Deal Structuring with Javier Enrile
In this discussion, Javier Enrile, Managing Director of M&A at TIAA, shares his expertise in corporate M&A and private equity. He highlights the importance of relationship-building over aggressive auction processes for creating competitive advantages. Javier dives into sophisticated valuation techniques, separating intrinsic value from market noise, and addresses the essentials of deal structuring to safeguard against risks. Listeners gain insights into dynamic negotiation strategies and the critical integration of valuation, diligence, and deal structuring for M&A success.
Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 6min
Founder Exit Strategy: Xavier Gury on M&A Deal Terms vs Valuation
Xavier Gury, a founding partner at Wind and a serial entrepreneur with three successful exits, shares his M&A insights. He highlights why deal terms often outweigh valuation, revealing a transformative earnout structure where only 10% was paid upfront. Xavier discusses the critical 'yin yang' principle for balanced transactions, strategies for incentivizing employees during earnouts, and the common pitfalls buyers face with founder-led companies. His practical advice offers invaluable frameworks for aligning teams and ensuring post-close success.
30 snips
Aug 11, 2025 • 39min
M&A Execution: Strategy from Skadden Expert Arash Attar
Arash Attar-Rezvani, an M&A Partner at Skadden with over 20 years of experience, dives deep into execution strategies in M&A. He demystifies French labor laws and offers savvy ways to structure workforce reductions. With a spotlight on cross-cultural negotiation, he emphasizes that listening trumps dominating discussions. Arash also discusses the revolutionary role of AI in legal services, advocating for a shift to success fees instead of traditional hourly billing, ensuring clients get better value.
28 snips
Aug 4, 2025 • 42min
Cross-Border M&A Strategy: Navigating Complex International Deals with Arash Attar-Rezvani
Arash Attar-Rezvani, an M&A Partner at Skadden based in Paris, shares over two decades of expertise in cross-border deals. He explains the unique challenges posed by international regulations, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in smaller transactions. Trust emerges as key in cross-border negotiations, often outweighing rigid contracts. Arash also highlights navigating evolving legal landscapes, including data laws and antitrust issues, showcasing the deep complexities that M&A professionals must master for success in diverse jurisdictions.
27 snips
Jul 28, 2025 • 59min
Building Successful Buy-and-Build Platforms: Alpine's Blueprint for Strategic M&A with Haley Van Cleve
Haley Van Cleve, a Partner at Alpine Investors, shares her expertise in building successful buy-and-build platforms. She reveals how Alpine transforms small businesses into huge platforms through strategic M&A and operational tactics. Key insights include a unique talent model, an integration-first approach, and aligning management for long-term success. Haley also discusses their priorities in selecting businesses with scaling potential and the importance of early team alignment to ensure smooth acquisitions. It's a must-listen for anyone involved in corporate development and private equity!
6 snips
Jul 21, 2025 • 57min
M&A in Healthcare with John Palusci
John Palusci, the former VP of Transformation and Strategic Finance at BAYADA, shares his remarkable journey from IT to M&A leadership in healthcare. He discusses building a repeatable, buyer-led M&A engine in a nonprofit setup, focusing on mission alignment and long-term value. Key insights include strategies for managing integration risk, refining deal sourcing, and navigating cashless acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, effective communication, and due diligence in successfully merging organizations in a highly regulated industry.
99 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 2min
The Secrets to Sourcing Proprietary Deals in Private Equity with Ryan Gable
Ryan Gable, Managing Partner at BW Forsyth Partners, shares his insightful journey in private equity, focusing on a people-first approach to acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of building trust with founders to secure proprietary deals, contrasting it with traditional methods like over-leveraging. Gable discusses the innovative hybrid equity model that allows for flexible rollover equity, enhancing seller incentives and creating lasting value. His perspective challenges conventional norms, advocating for long-term relationships over quick exits.
Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 3min
Why Pendo Buys Startups (And It’s Not for Revenue) with Todd Olson
In this engaging discussion, Todd Olson, CEO and Co-founder of Pendo, reveals why his company strategically avoids buying for revenue. He shares insights on speeding up roadmap execution and the importance of preserving founder autonomy post-acquisition. Todd stresses the need for product alignment and discusses the pitfalls of delayed integration, drawing from his experiences. The conversation highlights keeping culture and people at the forefront of acquisitions, ensuring that energy and innovation continue to flourish long after the deal is sealed.
Jul 10, 2025 • 44min
Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A—and What They’re Testing Next (Part 2) with Harrison Thomas
Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, Inc., discusses innovations in mergers and acquisitions within the healthcare sector. He reveals how they shrank their diligence requests by over 65% using a centralized DealRoom. Harrison explains the importance of starting integration planning pre-close and the complexities of acquiring non-profit organizations. He also touches on the transformative role of AI in enhancing productivity while navigating regulatory challenges, providing a fascinating look at modern M&A strategies.
