M&A Science

Dr. Tianyi Jiang, CEO at AvePoint   Raising capital is only half the battle. The real challenge is fostering strong relationships with investors while ensuring your business continues to grow. It's easy to focus on securing funds, but investors look for more than just short-term returns. Without that clarity, it's harder to build lasting trust and keep things moving forward.   In this episode of t...

Davis Thacker, Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Development at Carta   The M&A process is notoriously tricky—everyone loves talking about getting the deal done, but few focus on the real work that comes after. Integration, valuation shifts, and cultural alignment often prove to be the biggest roadblocks to a successful acquisition. How do you avoid the common pitfalls that derail so many deals...

Todd Henrich , SVP Head of Corporate Development at Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)   Today's M&A market conditions are volatile, regulatory scrutiny is high, and the pressure to find value is greater than ever. The risks of entering a deal without a firm understanding of today's market dynamics have never been more pronounced. How do you ensure your strategic acquisitions stay on course? In this...

Charles Webb , Lead Antitrust Counsel at FedEx (NYSE: FDX)   When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, everyone loves to talk about synergies, growth, and market share. However, these enticing prospects can quickly dim if regulatory compliance risks are overlooked. While not the most glamorous aspect of M&A, compliance forms the bedrock that ensures deals are legally sound and smoothly executed....

Henry Ward, CEO and Co-founder at Carta   M&A has become a critical tool for companies to stay competitive in today's fast-changing market. But success in acquisitions now requires more than just speed—it demands a strategic approach that aligns with long-term goals and adapts to industry shifts.   In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Henry Ward, CEO and Co-founder of Carta, shares his insi...

Camilo Franco , Director of M&A Integration and Operations and Matt Arsenault , VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf (NASDAQ: JAMF)   Too often in M&A, diligence and integration operate in separate lanes. Diligence focuses on uncovering risks, while integration is left scrambling to make everything fit once the ink is dry. It's a classic case of working in silos, and it's leav...

Jann Lau, Senior Director, Corporate Development at PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL)   A well-crafted deal thesis is the cornerstone of any successful M&A transaction. It outlines the strategic rationale and anticipated value creation from the acquisition. However, a strong thesis alone isn't enough. To ensure the deal delivers on its promise, it's crucial to rigorously validate its assumptions and projectio...

Gregg Albert , Managing Partner - Corporate Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions at Accenture (NYSE: ACN)    Companies are facing immense pressure to stay agile, seize new opportunities, and maintain a competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving business environment. One key strategy to achieve this is portfolio rebalancing, a critical initiative that helps businesses optimize their asset mix...

Anson Lau , Deputy General Counsel at LONGi Solar (SHA:601012)   In M&A, it's not just about the deal—it's about who's at the table. In-house and external counsel both play key roles in a deal, bringing unique expertise and advantages. Knowing how to strategically utilize both can help you manage risks, secure favorable terms, and ensure smooth post-deal integration.   In this episode of the M&A S...

Kevin Lynch , CEO and Board Member at Optiv   Beyond the boardroom battles and billion-dollar deals, mergers and acquisitions present a unique set of challenges and opportunities for CEOs. From strategic planning to post-merger integration, it takes essential skills and qualities for CEOs to excel in this high-stakes arena.   In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Kevin Lynch, CEO and Board M...

Sanjay Poonen, CEO & President of Cohesity   M&A isn't just about signing a deal and popping the champagne. Every CEO knows the entire process is a minefield of cultural clashes, integration headaches, and occasional unexpected challenges that could blow up your strategy. But while M&A can be a high-stakes game, it's also one that can be mastered with the right playbook.    In this episode of the...

Jerome Combes-Knoke, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Dotmatics (Insight Partners)   Strategic focus is a prerequisite to strong corporate performance.  Yet, without proactive efforts to maintain focus, companies can "drift" and become weighed down by misaligned business units.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jerome Combes-Knoke,  Senior Vice President...

Court Carruthers, President and CEO at TricorBraun   Cultural integration is the often overlooked key to long-term M&A success. It's about creating a shared identity, values, and purpose that unites employees from different backgrounds. When done right, it can transform a merger from a transactional event into a strategic partnership.   In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Court Carruthers,...

Thomas Le, Vice President, Corporate Development at Ziff Davis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZD)   The M&A landscape is constantly evolving, making it difficult to predict future trends and identify new opportunities. How can companies maintain a competitive advantage? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Thomas Le, Vice President of Corporate Development at Ziff Davis, Inc., shares his VC-backed strategi...

Karen Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress Achieving exponential growth through M&A requires more than signing agreements. It's about balancing cultures, systems, and people. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Karen Williams, Vice President of Corporate Development at Progress, provides a roadmap for a balanced M&A integration.   Things you will also learn from th...

Successful M&A is more than just closing deals. To drive growth and achieve strategic goals, companies must have a deep understanding of the process and a clear strategy. Strategic acquisitions are key to unlocking growth, innovation, and market expansion.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Fred Heller, VP of Nuance, Corporate Development and Integration at Microsoft, shares his experi...

Tom Hearn, VP, Architecture at Insight   In the world of M&A, understanding and managing technical debt is crucial for seamless technology integration.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we'll explore the concept of technical debt, its impact on IT infrastructure, and strategies for better integration with Tom Hearn, VP, Architecture at Insight.   Things you will learn in this episode:...

Pablo von Siebenthal, Global Head of M&A at Swissport   The global landscape offers exciting growth opportunities that make business expansion a strategic move. M&A can be a powerful tool for this, but global deals often come with cultural complexities and regulatory intricacies that require a strategic approach.   In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Pablo von Siebenthal, Global Head of M&...

Wolfgang Schenk, VP of M&A at Belden   Opportunistic M&A can lead to bad acquisitions that don't align with the company's overall strategic goals. This creates a disjointed portfolio and integration challenges that could cause massive value leaks.    In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Wolfgang Schenk, VP of M&A at Belden, discusses the art of executing programmatic M&A to increase chances...

Tobias Gwisdalla, Head of Group M&A at GEA Group ( G 1A:FRA) Transformative M&A is becoming increasingly critical in today's business landscape, especially for industries facing significant regulatory and market pressures.  In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we will discuss how to execute transformative M&A to change business models, featuring Tobias Gwisdalla, Head of Group M&A at GEA Gr...

M&A processes can vary from country to country, making cross-border deals extremely challenging. Understanding the cultural differences is crucial for a smooth transaction.  In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we focus on how to do M&A deals in Germany, featuring Frank Tepper-Sawicki , Partner, Corporate M&A, Private Equity, and Venture Capital at Dentons.  Things you will learn: • How dea...

Artificial Intelligence has taken the world by storm, and there seems to be no way of stopping it. Every industry in the world has adopted AI, and M&A is no different. The integration of AI is revolutionizing how deals are sourced, evaluated, and executed. In short, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for M&A professionals.  In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, we discuss how to make AI pr...

Steve Lucas, CEO of Boomi The technology industry is currently experiencing significant growth, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence. This trend has not only attracted significant investments but has also intensified the competition among tech companies striving to lead the market. This has made the tech space a prime area for M&A. Boomi is one of those companies who have rec...

Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital.  Here at M&A Science, our goal is to bring you the best and most effective techniques to improve your M&A practice. In light of our 300th podcast episode, we have compiled the top 10 things that make M&A successful, together with Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner of Trajectory Capital.  Things you will learn: Alignmen...

Jeremy Segal, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at Progress (NASDAQ: PRGS) When it comes to M&A, time is of the essence. As a buyer, it's best to identify whether to pursue the deal or not as soon as possible, to avoid wasting money and time. Also, if the seller is a good target company, procrastinating could lead to more competition.  In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Jerem...