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
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.
67 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.
Jul 7, 2025 • 33min
Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A with Harrison Thomas
In this conversation, Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, discusses how his company is revolutionizing M&A with AI. He explains the formation of an AI committee to enhance every phase of the deal lifecycle, including sourcing and integration. Harrison shares insights into early AI pilots aimed at improving due diligence and planning. Furthermore, he addresses the practical challenges of integrating AI in a people-centric industry, shedding light on the innovative future of healthcare M&A.
33 snips
Jul 3, 2025 • 46min
How to Break Into M&A: Lessons from Todd Manley Part 2
In this insightful discussion, Todd Manley, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Intel, shares valuable strategies for breaking into mergers and acquisitions, particularly for those from diverse backgrounds. He emphasizes the importance of intentional networking and active listening in building strong professional connections. Todd also discusses key leadership traits he seeks when hiring and why learning from one’s career journey is crucial. With practical advice on team dynamics and career growth, he offers listeners a roadmap to success in the M&A landscape.
63 snips
Jun 30, 2025 • 50min
Build a Career in M&A: Lessons from Intel’s Todd Manley
Todd Manley, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Intel, shares his unconventional journey from IT consultant to M&A expert. He emphasizes the importance of networking and curiosity over traditional qualifications. Todd discusses critical leadership traits for integration roles and the value of empathy in M&A processes. He reflects on career milestones, including Cisco's acquisition of WebEx, and highlights how teamwork drives success. This engaging conversation is packed with practical advice for aspiring M&A professionals.
59 snips
Jun 26, 2025 • 58min
Buyer-Led vs. Seller-Led M&A with Matthew Person
Mathew Person, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at QuickBase, shares his extensive experience in buyer-led mergers and acquisitions. He explains how to proactively structure acquisitions and align internal stakeholders for success. Discussions include the importance of creating a 'box of preference' for deal criteria and assessing cultural fit. Mathew emphasizes strategic sourcing and the need for effective integration, revealing insights on managing stakeholder engagement and optimizing M&A processes.
13 snips
Jun 23, 2025 • 54min
From Loom to Trello: How Atlassian Scales Through Smart M&A with Sarah Hughes
In this engaging discussion, Sarah Hughes, the Head of Corporate Development at Atlassian, shares her journey in M&A from Google to Atlassian. She delves into the art of sourcing deals and building long-term relationships with founders. Sarah reveals Atlassian's three strategic pillars for acquisitions and the push-pull alignment between corporate development and product teams. The conversation highlights the crucial role of cultural diligence and integration planning, emphasizing how empathy and transparency foster successful post-acquisition outcomes.
16 snips
Jun 20, 2025 • 55min
Building Trust in Acquisitions with Dan Pollock
Dan Pollock, Vice President of Corporate Development at SAM Companies, shares his journey in building a robust M&A function. He discusses the balance of disciplined diligence with relationship-first sourcing and how culture and seller alignment are just as crucial as price. Dan highlights the importance of integrating small firms while preserving their legacy and using innovative strategies like earnouts. This conversation provides tactical insights for those looking to refine their corporate development playbook and scale M&A effectively.
