Integration Starts with Hiring, Not the Deal with Brandon Batt
M&A Science
– Chief People and Transformation Officer at Quadient joins us to discuss how successful M&A integration starts long before you sign an LOI. Brandon shares how Quadient built M&A capability across the organization through strategic hiring, created a transformation office that breaks down traditional silos, and executed portfolio transformation through dozens of acquisitions and divestitures. Learn why the secret to integration success isn't just about playbooks—it's about building M&A muscle into your team from day one. Things You'll Learn Why hiring for M&A experience...
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Strategic M&A Framework: IFS's Acquisition Playbook with Rachel Hindley
M&A Science
, Vice President of Corporate Development, IFS oversees transformative acquisitions for the global leader in industrial AI and enterprise software. In this episode, Rachel shares how IFS navigates the unique dynamics of having three major private equity backers—EQT, HG, and TA Associates—while executing strategic deals that enhance their portfolio. She breaks down IFS's four acquisition archetypes (product bolt-ons, customer migration, market entry, and new platforms), explains why integration and value creation must be separated, and reveals how the company is adapting its...
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Mastering Carve-Out Transactions with Keith Crawford
M&A Science
, Global Head of Corporate Development and M&A at State Street Corporation , Global Head of Corporate Development and M&A at State Street Corporation, brings over 20 years of expertise executing some of the most intricate custody business carve-outs in financial services. In this episode, Keith breaks down the realities of carve-out transactions—from proactive deal sourcing and dependency mapping to navigating TSAs and post-close integration. He shares hard-won lessons on avoiding common pitfalls like scope creep, third-party contract renegotiations, and employee retention challenges...
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Integration-Led M&A: Cisco's Approach to Deal Success Part 2 with Johanna Jaakola and Tesia Hostetler
M&A Science
– Integration Lead, Corporate Development Integration Team, Cisco – Leader, Acquisition Integration Practice, Cisco , Integration Lead on Cisco's Corporate Development Integration Team, and , Leader of Cisco's Acquisition Integration Practice, continue their deep dive into Cisco's integration-led M&A framework. In Part 2, they reveal how integration planning shapes diligence, how value drivers guide surgical execution, and what it takes to coordinate a 180-person M&A community. From day one employee experience to go-to-market complexity and the Splunk mega-deal, this episode...
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Integration-Led Diligence: Cisco's M&A Approach with Johanna Jaakola & Tesia Hostetle
M&A Science
– Integration Lead, Corporate Development Integration Team, Cisco – Leader, Acquisition Integration Practice, Cisco , Integration Lead on Cisco's Corporate Development Integration Team, and , Leader of Cisco's Acquisition Integration Practice, share how one of the world's most prolific acquirers structures deals for success. This episode breaks down Cisco's integration-led diligence model, where integration leads orchestrate due diligence from the deal thesis stage, ensuring strategic alignment and execution readiness before ink hits paper. Learn how Cisco's structured approach to...
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When Integration Beats Roll-Ups with Tim Hall
M&A Science
- Managing Partner and Founder, brings 29 years of private equity experience to this conversation about what actually works in buy-and-build strategies. After launching Brenton Point in 2024 following a 20-year run at CI Capital Partners, where he completed 200+ acquisitions across 12 platforms, Tim breaks down the independent sponsor model and why integration—not just aggregation—is the real value driver. He walks through building platforms from scratch, the executive-first strategy for fragmented markets, and how standardized integration playbooks turn acquired companies into...
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Buyer-Led M&Aâ„¢ Strategy at Snowflake with Stefan WIlliams
M&A Science
Vice President of Corporate Development and Snowflake Ventures at Snowflake , Vice President of Corporate Development and Snowflake Ventures at Snowflake, leads the company's acquisition strategy, corporate venture capital, and startup accelerator programs. In this episode, Stefan takes us inside Snowflake's disciplined, culture-first approach to M&A—from building the corporate development function from scratch to executing 20+ acquisitions while maintaining breakneck organic growth. He shares hard-won lessons on integration accountability, why relationships matter more than auctions,...
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Corporate Development Strategy: Notion's M&A Approach with Hilary Shirazi
M&A Science
- Head of Corporate Development at Notion , Head of Corporate Development at Notion, brings over a decade of M&A experience from LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Zendesk to discuss building corporate development strategy at high-growth tech companies. She shares her proven deal thesis methodology, the "Four T's" framework for categorizing acquisitions, and why integration without an IMO might be the better approach for agile teams. Things you will learn: The Deal Thesis Framework – How to crystallize strategy before identifying targets using Hilary's proven document template The Four T's...
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How Corporate Venture Capital 2.0 is Reshaping M&A with Jennifer Miller
M&A Science
- Senior Director of Corporate Development, Oshkosh Corporation , Senior Director of Corporate Development at Oshkosh Corporation, brings over 24 years of M&A experience spanning investment banking, boutique advisory, and corporate development. In this episode, she reveals how Oshkosh evolved their corporate venture capital approach from CVC 1.0's financial focus to CVC 2.0's strategic innovation partnerships. Jennifer shares practical insights on managing 400+ deal flow annually, structuring IP agreements, and balancing minority investments with traditional M&A within a single...
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M&A Integration Reality: Deal Economics vs Human Dynamics with Nicole Markowski
M&A Science
- Former Director of Business Integration and Operations, Wipfli Join Nicole as she shares unvarnished truths from managing 30+ transactions. Nicole reveals how integration-led diligence prevents value destruction, why traditional deal economics often miss critical human factors, and practical strategies for maintaining the human touch while scaling M&A programs from 3 to 16 concurrent deals. Things You'll Learn Why integration leaders must be involved in deal economics discussions to prevent value destruction How to scale M&A operations from 2-3 to 16+ concurrent deals without...
info_outlineArash Attar-Rezvani - M&A Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
In part two of this masterclass conversation, Arash Attar-Rezvani gets into the execution challenges that separate successful M&A practitioners from the rest. From deconstructing French labor consultation myths to revealing how AI will reshape legal advisory models, this segment delivers actionable frameworks for advanced deal execution.
Things You'll Learn
- How to structure aggressive workforce reduction plans within French labor laws and turn compliance into deal terms
- The psychology of cross-cultural deal-making and why listening trumps being the loudest voice in the room
- How AI will reshape M&A legal services and why success fees may replace hourly billing
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Episode Chapters
[00:33:00] French Labor Law Reality – Why employment consultation is easier than American buyers think
[00:36:00] Aggressive Cost Synergy Planning – How to structure 40% workforce reductions within European frameworks
[00:40:00] Cross-Cultural Negotiation Mastery – Reading the room and adapting communication styles for French business culture
[00:47:00] Defining High-Stakes Transactions – Why people's livelihoods matter more than dollar amounts in deal significance
[00:51:30] First-of-Kind Deal Innovation – Creating the Luxembourg/Hong Kong take-private structure when no legal path existed
[00:55:30] AI's Impact on Legal Advisory – How automation will force fee model evolution and reshape junior lawyer training
[01:01:30] Deal Structure Evolution – From SPACs boom-bust to emerging PE club deals and earnout complications
[01:06:30] Partnership Career Strategy – Why obsessing over partnership tracks derails early career development
[01:10:00] Integrity Under Pressure – Handling government interference and corruption while maintaining client relationships
Questions, comments, concerns?
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