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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 post-close? In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Davis Thacker, Chief of Staff and Head of Corporate Development at Carta, shares his expert strategies on executing successful M&A. Things you will learn: • Sourcing unbounded deals • Driving accountability for successful integration • Building consistency and early integration • Advice on building a collaborative relationship with your CEO • How to maintain a consistent people experience ******************* 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. Join us for a 30-minute demo to see how you can transform your Due Diligence process with DealRoom AI Analysis. Designed to help you drastically speed up document analysis, reduce manual effort, and lower external and internal legal costs, DealRoom AI Analysis will boost your team's efficiency in due diligence. ******************* Episode Bookmarks 00:00 Intro 07:38 Discovering unbounded deal opportunities 09:00 Sourcing unbounded deals 13:21 Deal execution lessons: Adapting M&A strategy based on business growth 15:22 Driving accountability for successful integration 17:34 Building consistency and early integration 20:28 Working with the CEO 22:08 Advice on building a collaborative relationship with your CEO 24:01 Cultural challenges of international deals 27:42 Creating a positive people experience in M&A 31:04 How to maintain a consistent people experience 35:22 Balancing cultural integration 37:30 Mapping international growth in venture markets 39:18 Key tips for transitioning from domestic to international M&A 41:20 Navigating valuations and stakeholder interests in deal negotiations 43:29 Aligning non-price factors in M&A - Come back to culture 44:17 Craziest Thing in M&A |