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
18 snips
Oct 20, 2025 • 1h 13min
When Integration Beats Roll-Ups with Tim Hall
Tim Hall, Managing Partner and Founder of Brenton Point Capital, shares nearly 30 years of private equity wisdom. He dives into why integration, not just aggregation, drives real value in buy-and-build strategies. Tim explains the power of the independent sponsor model, contrasting it with traditional funds. He highlights the importance of cohesive cultural integration and how to build platforms from the ground up. Listeners discover insights on recruiting operators, structuring management incentives, and avoiding common pitfalls in M&A.
74 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 56min
Buyer-Led M&A™ Strategy at Snowflake with Stefan WIlliams
Stefan Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Snowflake, shares insights from his extensive M&A experience. He discusses the importance of starting small with acquisitions to build integration capabilities. Stefan emphasizes accountability in post-acquisition integration and the necessity of strong relationships with CEOs. He dives into the balance between proactive deal-making and the fast-paced AI landscape, highlighting how culture fit is crucial for successful mergers. Lastly, he reflects on strategic investments that align with Snowflake's growth.
42 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 2min
Corporate Development Strategy: Notion's M&A Approach with Hilary Shirazi
Hilary Shirazi, Head of Corporate Development at Notion, offers insights from her impressive M&A background at LinkedIn and Pinterest. She details her deal thesis methodology, emphasizing clarity before targeting acquisitions. Hilary introduces the 'Four T's' framework—Talent, Tech, Traction, and Terrain—to refine acquisition strategies. She advocates for integrating processes more fluidly, arguing that a CorpDev-led approach enhances agility. Hilary also discusses leveraging AI in M&A and building community support for corporate development.
52 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 51min
How Corporate Venture Capital 2.0 is Reshaping M&A with Jennifer Miller
Jennifer Miller, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Oshkosh Corporation, shares her extensive expertise in M&A and corporate venture capital. She discusses the evolution from financial-focused CVC 1.0 to the strategic innovation partnerships of CVC 2.0. Jennifer reveals how to efficiently manage over 400 deals annually, emphasizing thematic prioritization and rapid technical assessments. She also provides insights into structuring IP agreements to foster collaboration while safeguarding both corporate and startup interests.
Sep 16, 2025 • 58min
M&A Integration Reality: Deal Economics vs Human Dynamics with Nicole Markowski
Nicole Markowski, former Director of Business Integration and Operations at Wipfli, shares her insights from managing over 30 transactions. She discusses the importance of integrating human factors into deal economics to prevent value destruction. Markowski highlights the need for integration leaders to be involved early and the challenges of maintaining a human touch in scaling M&A operations. The conversation delves into the critical differences between project managers and true integration leaders, emphasizing collaboration and cultural diligence in successful integrations.
13 snips
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.
52 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.
