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 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.
23 snips
Jun 16, 2025 • 39min
How Blackstone is Unlocking Lasting Value Across Private Equity with Viral Patel
Viral Patel, CEO of Blackstone Private Equity Strategies, dives into the future of private equity, discussing innovations like perpetual fund structures. He emphasizes the importance of aligning investor and management interests and highlights thematic investments in electrification and AI infrastructure. Patel discusses the critical evaluation of management teams and the shift towards buyer-led M&A processes. He also shares insights on how individual investors are becoming central to private capital, pointing to the growing landscape of alternative investments.
50 snips
Jun 12, 2025 • 58min
M&A Lawyers vs. Bankers: What’s Changed and What Still Matters with Rob Kindler
Rob Kindler, a seasoned partner at Paul, Weiss and former head of global M&A at Morgan Stanley, shares his insights into the evolving landscape of M&A. He discusses why legal advisors have become the first call in deal-making, the impact of corporate development teams on sourcing, and how negotiation strategies have shifted. Rob emphasizes the crucial role of regulatory strategies in deal success and offers real-world examples of complex transactions, blending his extensive experience from law and banking to illuminate current M&A practices.
