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 hi...
Mastering M&A Integration Through Leadership Development and Cultural Alignment
Jason Lippert, CEO of LCI Industries (NYSE: LCII) M&A integration is notoriously challenging—cultural misalignment, disengaged leaders, and high turnover often derail even the best-laid plans. How do you overcome these obstacles and ensure a seamless integration that drives long-term success? In this episode, Jason Lippert, CEO of LCI Industries, shares his proven playbook for mastering M&A integration through leadership development and cultural alignment. Things you will learn: Correlating culture metrics with financial performance Investing in leadership development for a stronger frontline Proactive culture development for new team members Exploring AI to enhance customer service Identifying strong leadership during diligence ******************* This episode is sponsored by S&P Global. S&P Global Market Intelligence has private companies covered. Whether you’re looking for your next investment or M&A target, conducting peer comparisons, assessing counterparty credit risk, or monitoring your supply chain, S&P Capital IQ Pro's extensive private company data can give you the insights you need for a competitive edge. Uncover tangible insights on private companies by visiting spglobal.com/privatecompanydata This episode is also sponsored by DealRoom. Harness the power of Buyer-Led M&A™ with DealRoom's proven framework. Streamline your acquisitions, from sourcing to integration, for smarter, more strategic deal-making that drives growth and value. Visit DealRoom.net to learn more. ******************* Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 07:37 Evolving from seller-led to buyer-led M&A strategies 10:43 Capital allocation and acquisition strategy in a public company 13:08 Defining and measuring company culture through core values 15:56 Culture as a driver of value in M&A integration 19:50 Assessing and transforming culture in M&A pre-LOI 21:45 Leveraging culture as a competitive advantage post-LOI 22:52 Building a playbook for culture and leadership integration 25:25 Fostering personal and professional growth plans for employees 33:23 Measuring success through culture and leadership metrics 37:30 Using culture to build trust and drive post-acquisition success 40:31 Correlating culture metrics with financial performance 42:14 Proactive culture development for new team members 43:53 Identifying strong leadership
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56:12
Expert Insights into Building an Empire through Strategic M&A (Part 2)
Adam Coffey, Founding Partner of The Chairman Group Many M&A deals fail to deliver their promised value due to gaps in deal sourcing, diligence, and integration. Without a clear strategy and the right tools, even the best opportunities can turn into liabilities. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, hear all the expert insights from Adam Coffey, Founding Partner at The Chairman Group, on how to source the right targets, structure deals for sustainability, and integrate acquisitions seamlessly. Get your blueprint for building an empire through strategic M&A. Things you will learn: • How to find and close proprietary deals for business growth • Building relationships and effective outreach strategies • Structuring deals with financial levers for sustainable growth • Mastering integration and building M&A expertise through experience • Strategic exit points and the value of partnering for growth ******************* This episode is sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Find insight at every data point with the enhanced S&P Capital IQ Pro platform. It’s the leading data solution for strategics and investors alike. Visit spglobal.com/proinsights. DealRoom AI also sponsors this episode. DealRoom AI accelerates the due diligence process by automating the extraction and analysis of key information from M&A documents, reducing contract analysis time by up to 80%. Trusted by leading M&A practitioners, this tool streamlines reviews, minimizes risk, and saves legal costs significantly. For more details, visit the DealRoom AI page today. ******************* Episode Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 04:13 How to find and close proprietary deals for business growth 10:28 Building relationships and effective outreach strategies 23:14 Structuring deals with financial levers for sustainable growth 28:34 Mastering integration and building M&A expertise through experience 35:01 Strategic exit points and the value of partnering for growth 45:20 How to perform diligence on private equity buyers as a seller 48:23 Craziest thing in M&A
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52:07
Expert Insights into Building an Empire through Strategic M&A (Part 1)
Adam Coffey, Founding Partner of The Chairman Group Scaling a business from good to great often feels like an uphill battle. Organic growth alone can be painfully slow, leaving you far from achieving your dream of building an empire. But how do you supercharge growth without losing control or falling into costly traps? Building an empire takes more than just passion—it requires a clear, strategic playbook. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Adam Coffey, Founding Partner of The Chairman Group, shares his proven framework for transforming businesses into empires, from meticulous buyer-led diligence to flawless integration strategies. Things you will learn: • The framework for building a resilient and profitable business empire • The strategic role of software in scaling M&A operations • The power of buy and build for exponential business growth • Building relationships and effective outreach strategies • Structuring deals with financial levers for sustainable growth ******************* This episode is sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Find insight at every data point with the enhanced S&P Capital IQ Pro platform. It’s the leading data solution for strategics and investors alike. Visit spglobal.com/proinsights. This episode is also sponsored by DealRoom's BI Reporting tool. DealRoom's BI Reporting tool revolutionizes M&A reporting with real-time, interactive data management. Utilize Looker BI to customize, automate, and export detailed M&A lifecycle reports, enhancing strategic decision-making. For more details, check out the DealRoom BI Reporting page. ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:09 Simplifying business growth and private equity for everyone 11:48 The framework for building a resilient and profitable business empire 19:11 The strategic role of software in scaling M&A operations 24:11 Building a scalable business through smart acquisitions 30:00 The power of buy and build for exponential business growth 39:23 Strategically structuring growth and valuation for maximum exit potential
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48:50
How a Tech Founder Transformed into a CEO Championing M&A Growth
Art Papas, CEO at Bullhorn Growth through M&A is about strategy, timing, and bold leadership. The stakes are high, but the rewards are transformative for those who get it right. In this episode, Art Papas, CEO of Bullhorn, shares his journey from tech founder to M&A leader, and how he turned acquisitions into engines of growth. Things you will learn: • The role evolution from tech lead to CEO • The case for buyer-led M&A • Leveraging customer insights to identify strategic opportunities • Balancing control and growth with private equity sponsorship • Building M&A strategies and handling private equity transitions ******************* This episode is sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Find insight at every data point with the enhanced S&P Capital IQ Pro platform. It’s the leading data solution for strategics and investors alike. Visit spglobal.com/proinsights. This episode is also sponsored by DealRoom AI, the latest innovation from DealRoom designed specifically for M&A professionals. DealRoom AI automates the analysis and extraction of key information from due diligence documents, empowering teams to save up to 80% of their time on document analysis and focus on what really matters—closing the deal. Ready to streamline your M&A process? Visit dealroom.net today. ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:29 The role evolution from tech lead to CEO 10:21 Lessons in Discipline and Growth 16:27 The case for buyer-led M&A - We were buyer-led 20:30 Leveraging customer insights to identify strategic opportunities 25:27 Balancing control and growth with private equity sponsorship 31:30 Building M&A strategies and handling private equity transitions 32:31 The right way to integrate acquired businesses 40:22 Ensuring smooth M&A integration through detailed planning 43:48 Integration and risk planning post-LOI 46:07 Best practices for handling overlapping products in M&A 49:53 First M&A deal with Vista 54:14 Evaluating deal timing and product-market fit early 55:32 Staying close to core competencies in M&A 58:55 Expanding internationally with organic growth and M&A 1:00:43 Building relationships in early M&A conversations 1:02:14 Craziest thing in M&A
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1:07:00
What Elite Investment Bankers Do Differently in M&A
Avinash Patel, Partner at PJT Partners (NYSE: PJT) Investment bankers aren't always seen as trusted advisors; some see them as deal-pushers, prioritizing fees over friendships. The skepticism is fair, but many miss the point of what they actually bring to the table. In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Avinash Patel, Partner at PJT Partners, offers an insider’s view on what investment bankers really do in M&A, from guiding strategic vision to wielding influence in complex transactions. Things you will learn: • Why investment bankers face a reputation challenge • Building influence and shaping strategy through relationship investment • Working with public vs. private companies as an investment banker • Evaluating the right private equity partner • Finding the right advisory partnership ******************* This episode is sponsored by S&P Global. S&P Global Market Intelligence has private companies covered. Whether you’re looking for your next investment or M&A target, conducting peer comparisons, assessing counterparty credit risk, or monitoring your supply chain, S&P Capital IQ Pro's extensive private company data can give you the insights you need for a competitive edge. Uncover tangible insights on private companies by visiting spglobal.com/privatecompanydata This episode is also sponsored by DealRoom AI, the latest innovation from DealRoom designed specifically for M&A professionals. DealRoom AI automates the analysis and extraction of key information from due diligence documents, empowering teams to save up to 80% of their time on document analysis and focus on what really matters—closing the deal. Ready to streamline your M&A process? Visit dealroom.net today. ******************* Episode Timestamps 00:00 Intro 08:37 Why investment bankers face a reputation challenge 13:29 The role of investment bankers 17:21 Building influence and shaping strategy through relationship investment 21:36 Tailor advice and introductions for big-company impact 23:31 Example of companies turning strategic advice into growth 30:08 Working with public vs. private companies 32:21 Role play: Scaling through organic growth and strategic acquisitions 44:19 Leveraging investment bankers to identify strategic carve-out opportunities 48:29 Building selective PE relationships for carve-out deals 50:54 Evaluating the right private equity partner - willing to answer 55:47 The importance of buyer-led M&A integration planning 1:06:29 Finding the right advisory partnership 1:08:18 Craziest thing in M&A
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