Best Audit Committees Podcasts (2025)

Jock Lennox is Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair at Barratt Developments plc, and Chair of Johnson Service Group plc and Clarion Housing Group. Listen to his thoughts on: the three most definitive experiences in your board career (2:01); approaching uncertainty in the boardroom (6:59); shifting boardroom thinking to focus on wha…

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Strategic M&A at Scale: Insight Partners' Buyer-Led Approach with Byron Lichtenstein 59:04

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9m ago59:04

59:04

Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners Byron brings over a decade of experience scaling M&A operations across one of the world's leading software investors. In this episode, Byron breaks down how Insight executes buyer-led M&A at scale, supporting CEOs across their 500+ portfolio companies from sourcing through integration. He sh…

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137. Baroness Dido Harding: NHS Test & Trace & the TalkTalk Cyber Attack — Board Leadership in the Public Eye 37:04

5d ago37:04

37:04

Baroness Dido Harding is a former Chair of NHS Improvement, Executive Chair of NHS Test & Trace, NED at the Bank of England, and CEO of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc. In this conversation, we cover: • How Dido handled Ofcom scrutiny after taking on her first CEO role at TalkTalk (01:50) • Lessons learned from the TalkTalk cyber attack (08:21) • The va…

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Think Like a Buyer: Valuation & Deal Structuring with Javier Enrile 53:43

7d ago53:43

53:43

Javier Enrile, Managing Director of M&A at TIAA In this episode, he breaks down the art and science of thinking like a strategic buyer—from building proprietary deal pipelines through relationship-first sourcing to using sophisticated valuation techniques that separate intrinsic value from market noise. Javier reveals why patient relationship build…

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Founder Exit Strategy: Xavier Gury on M&A Deal Terms vs Valuation 1:06:13

14d ago1:06:13

1:06:13

Xavier Gury, Founding Partner at Wind Xavier Gury, founding partner at Wind venture capital firm, brings a unique triple perspective to M&A: serial entrepreneur, acquisition target, and now investor. In this episode, Xavier unpacks the critical lessons from his three successful exits, including one transformative deal with Publicis, where he struct…

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135. Dr. Margaret Heffernan (2/2): How boards make the best decisions: agendas, wilful blindness and super chickens 33:21

19d ago33:21

33:21

Dr. Margaret Heffernan is author of seven books, including Wilful Blindness, Uncharted and Embracing Uncertainty. A former CEO of InfoMation Corp, ZineZone Corp, and iCast Corp, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode, we discuss: Balancing rigidity with flexibility in board meetings (1:35) What great board agenda…

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M&A Execution: Strategy from Skadden Expert Arash Attar 38:40

21d ago38:40

38:40

Arash 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 se…

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134. Dr. Margaret Heffernan (1/2): How boards make the best decisions: cooling-off periods, embracing uncertainty and deep hanging out 35:44

26d ago35:44

35:44

Dr. Margaret Heffernan is author of seven books, including Wilful Blindness, Uncharted and Embracing Uncertainty. A former CEO of InfoMation Corp, ZineZone Corp, and iCast Corp, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode, we discuss: What uncertainty does to board decision-making (2:47) Practical ways boards can miti…

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Cross-Border M&A Strategy: Navigating Complex International Deals with Arash Attar-Rezvani 42:25

28d ago42:25

42:25

Arash Attar-Rezvani - M&A Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Arash Attar-Rezvani, M&A Partner at Skadden based in Paris, brings over two decades of cross-border M&A strategy experience to this in-depth conversation. From billion-dollar telecom deals across Latin America to luxury brand acquisitions spanning multiple jurisdictions, Ar…

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133. Peter Clark: 200 years’ growth - inside the Clarks’ family business 42:34

1M ago42:34

42:34

Peter Clark is a NED at Clarks. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What makes a great i-NED on a family board? (2:15) What should you look for when recruiting NEDs in a family business? (5:27) What questions do you ask when interviewing a NED candidate? (8:07) What mistakes have you made when hiring NEDs in the past? (11:18) How has Clarks remained a…

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Building Successful Buy-and-Build Platforms: Alpine's Blueprint for Strategic M&A with Haley Van Cleve 58:42

1M ago58:42

58:42

Haley Van Cleve, Partner at Alpine Investors Haley joins us to decode the art of building successful buy-and-build platforms from the ground up. In this episode, Haley walks through Alpine's proven methodology for transforming small $3M EBITDA businesses into $100M+ platforms through strategic M&A and operational excellence. Learn how Alpine's uniq…

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132. Carl-Peter Forster: Forget Governance. Great Boards Focus on Strategy, People, and Execution. 43:32

1M ago43:32

43:32

Carl-Peter Forster is Chair of Vesuvius plc and Keller Group plc. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What experiences from your executive career have shaped your non-executive career? (2:09) How would you counsel a new CEO coming into a business looking to set up their own team? (7:06) What lessons did you learn from the General Motors crisis? (10:12…

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M&A in Healthcare with John Palusci 56:46

1M ago56:46

56:46

John Palusci, Former Vice President of Transformation and Strategic Finance, BAYADA In this episode of M&A Science, John Palusci, former Vice President of Transformation and Strategic Finance at BAYADA, joins Kison Patel to discuss how to build a repeatable, Buyer-Led M&A™ engine within a nonprofit structure. John walks through his journey from IT …

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The Secrets to Sourcing Proprietary Deals in Private Equity with Ryan Gable 1:02:28

2M ago1:02:28

1:02:28

Ryan Gable, Managing Partner, BW Forsyth Partners Ryan discusses how his team uses a hybrid private equity model backed by Barry-Wehmiller to execute people-first, long-term acquisitions. With over 55 deals and zero exits, Forsyth has developed a sourcing and integration playbook that challenges traditional PE norms, focusing instead on trust, cult…

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Clean power by 2030 40:17

2M ago40:17

40:17

Clean Power by 2030 - that’s the ambition set out by the Prime Minister as one of his five central missions. The Government says that means a secure and affordable energy supply, the creation of essential new energy industries and the need to limit our contribution to climate change. Chair of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee and h…

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131. Laurence Garrett: Featurespace - the board’s role in growth, pricing, US expansion and sale to Visa 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Laurence Garett is General Partner at Highland Europe, a VC firm, and NED at Wirepas, hyperexponential, Modulr, Featurespace Ltd and Goodlord. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What strategic contributions did the board make to Featurespace’s growth? (2:01)How should board members think about pricing? (9:44) How can board members help organisations …

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Why Pendo Buys Startups (And It’s Not for Revenue) with Todd Olson 1:02:31

2M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Todd Olson, CEO and Co-founder, Pendo From buying startups to speed up roadmap execution to preserving founder autonomy post-close, Todd breaks down the real levers behind successful acquisitions. This episode dives into how Pendo thinks about M&A without a corporate development team, why it rarely buys for revenue, and how Todd’s team avoids commo…

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Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A—and What They’re Testing Next (Part 2) with Harrison Thomas 43:41

2M ago43:41

43:41

Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, Inc. In Part 2 of our conversation, we go deep into how Beacon is operationalizing M&A. Harrison reveals how they reduced their request list by over 65%, why they require third parties to use their DealRoom, and how integration now begins before the deal is even signed. He…

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130. Ian Phillips: How to be a great GoaT (Governor or a Trustee) 46:43

2M ago46:43

46:43

Ian Phillips is Chair of Watling Park Primary, consultant at Clew Education and author of How to be a great GoaT, a guide to being a brilliant governor or trustee. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What does the role of governor or trustee involve? (1:57) Are there archetypal board member profiles that you think are most needed? (6:20) What question…

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Why Beacon Created an AI Committee for M&A with Harrison Thomas 33:16

2M ago33:16

33:16

Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, Inc. In Part 1 of our conversation with Harrison Thomas, Chief Growth Officer at Beacon Specialized Living Services, we dive into how one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services is rethinking M&A using AI. Harrison shares why Beacon created a ded…

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How to Break Into M&A: Lessons from Todd Manley Part 2 45:44

2M ago45:44

45:44

Todd Manley, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Intel In Part 2 of our conversation with Todd Manley, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Intel, we unpack how professionals from diverse backgrounds can successfully break into M&A and what it takes to build and maintain high-performing deal teams. Todd shares tactical advice on networ…

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The UK's role in protecting ocean life 36:19

2M ago36:19

36:19

“Intensely frustrating” – that’s how one guest describes the slow progress of the UK towards ratifying the UN High Seas Treaty. On this episode of Committee Corridor, host Toby Perkins MP explores how the UK could help tackle the threats facing the world’s oceans, following the UN Ocean Conference in June. Much of the world’s ocean is unregulated, …

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129. Karen Blackett CBE: The board’s role in transformation 48:43

2M ago48:43

48:43

Karen Blackett CBE is NED at Diageo plc and Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Where have boards added most value for you as a CEO or a president? (2:21) What advice would you give to CEOs going through a transformation? (7:07) What does good internal communication look like? (14:11) What questions should b…

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Build a Career in M&A: Lessons from Intel’s Todd Manley 50:24

2M ago50:24

50:24

Todd Manley, VP of Corporate Development Integration at Intel In this episode, Todd Manley joins Kison Patel to share his non-traditional path into the world of M&A. Starting his career in IT and organizational behavior, Todd brings a unique lens to integration and leadership in corporate development. From his early consulting days to overseeing in…

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Buyer-Led vs. Seller-Led M&A with Matthew Person 58:09

2M ago58:09

58:09

Mathew Person, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Quikbase In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Kison Patel interviews Mathew Person, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Quickbase. Mathew brings a unique blend of operator, banker, and corp dev experience, making him a strategic leader in buyer-led M&A. Together, …

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128. Yvonne Bajela: Founder breakups, deciphering moats, and the new role of governance 45:47

2M ago45:47

45:47

Yvonne Bajela is Partner at LocalGlobe and Latitude. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: What value can a board bring to startups? (1:28) What is a North Star metric for startup boards, and should they be looking for one? (5:28) How do you effectively challenge a founder as a NED? (8:58) How do boards navigate hypergrowth, with the associated challeng…

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From Loom to Trello: How Atlassian Scales Through Smart M&A with Sarah Hughes 54:19

2M ago54:19

54:19

Sarah Hughes, Head of Corporate Development and Product Partnerships, Atlassian Uncover the inside workings of Atlassian’s M&A strategy—from how Sarah’s team sources deals and aligns with product to the importance of relationship-building and a structured, founder-first integration approach. With over seven years of experience leading corporate dev…

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Building Trust in Acquisitions with Dan Pollock 54:30

2M ago54:30

54:30

Dan Pollock, Vice President of Corporate Development/M&A at SAM Companies Dan shares how he built SAM Companies’ M&A function from the ground up—executing over 30 deals and transforming M&A into a strategic growth engine. Backed by Peak Rock Capital, SAM Companies focuses on acquiring founder-led geospatial and infrastructure services businesses. D…

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Why is our water sector broken? 36:07

2M ago36:07

36:07

Is our water system broken? The interim report from the Independent Water Commission says so. “Irresponsible owners, poor leadership, low investment and ineffective prioritisation,” reports the House of Commons’ Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The scale of the challenge facing regulators is huge, says the National Audit Office. And c…

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127. Rita Clifton CBE: What boards get wrong about brand 45:33

3M ago45:33

45:33

Rita Clifton CBE is Chair of Simplyhealth and Deputy Chair of the John Lewis Partnership. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Why should boards care more about brand? (1:52) What framework do you use to assess brand when joining a board? (5:49) How should CEOs think about return on brand investment? (8:03) How should boards manage the lag between inte…

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How Blackstone is Unlocking Lasting Value Across Private Equity with Viral Patel 39:01

3M ago39:01

39:01

Viral Patel, CEO of Blackstone Private Equity Strategies Viral Patel unpacks how the firm is reshaping private equity for the next era. From launching new fund structures to leading thematic investments in sectors like electrification and AI infrastructure, Viral shares how Blackstone builds enduring value—and why alignment, data, and management fi…

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M&A Lawyers vs. Bankers: What’s Changed and What Still Matters with Rob Kindler 57:53

3M ago57:53

57:53

Rob Kindler, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP In this episode of the M&A Science podcast, Kison Patel sits down with Rob Kindler, a uniquely positioned dealmaker whose career has spanned both sides of the M&A table—law and investment banking. Rob previously led global M&A at Morgan Stanley and is now a senior partner at Paul …

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126. Fred Destin: How start-up boards create & destroy value (and whether we should be thinking about value at all) 50:16

3M ago50:16

50:16

Fred Destin is founder of Stride VC and was lead investor at Cazoo, Deliveroo, Integral Ad Science and Zoopla. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Where have you seen start-up board members add most value to their organisations? (1:39) How did the Zoopla board get comfortable with giving away 30% equity in one go? (6:16) How did you manage having cust…

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Budget and Audit Committee - CANCELLED - Jun 10, 2025

3M ago

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CEO Growth Strategy: How Culligan Scaled 300+ Acquisitions with Scott Clawson 59:12

3M ago59:12

59:12

Scott Clawson, CEO of Culligan International Scott Clawson turned Culligan from a legacy water treatment business into a $3.3 billion global platform operating in over 50 countries—powered by a programmatic M&A engine that has executed 300+ acquisitions. In this episode, he sits down with Kison to share exactly how that machine works. From beachsid…

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Fixing Broken Companies Through Smart Deals with Marc Bell Part 2 30:11

3M ago30:11

30:11

Marc Bell, CEO of Marc Bell Capital Marc Bell has taken 17 companies public, rebuilt distressed businesses, and invested across industries most wouldn’t dare touch. In this follow-up to Part 1, he’s back with sharp insights on what it really takes to run high-stakes deals—and survive them. Marc and Kison cover everything from building a rock-solid …

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Tackling twin crises: how can the Government deliver new homes while meeting climate goals? 42:35

3M ago42:35

42:35

1.5 million new homes and net zero by 2050: can the Government do both? A safe, secure and affordable place to live is the foundation of a healthy and prosperous life. But the UK is facing an acute shortage of homes. What is to be done, and how do we ensure environmental targets are still delivered? The latest episode of Committee Corridor, the pod…

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125. Elena Lytkina Botelho: The CEO Next Door: Why Boards Get CEO Succession Wrong—and how to get it right 47:23

3M ago47:23

47:23

Elena Botelho is co-author of the international best-seller, The CEO Next Door, and partner at ghSMART. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: What mistakes do boards most often make in CEO succession? (1:50) How should boards use external advice when evaluating CEO candidates? (6:23) What lessons can board members learn from failed CEO hires? (19:46) Ho…

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Budget and Audit Committee [Special Meeting] - Jun 03, 2025

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Fixing Broken Companies Through Smart Deals with Marc Bell 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

Marc Bell, CEO of Marc Bell Capital Marc Bell is a self-described “deal junkie” who’s built an empire across internet infrastructure, real estate, entertainment, defense, and private equity. In this episode, Marc breaks down his unconventional path—from turning around Penthouse into a $500M acquisition engine, to producing Tony Award-winning Broadw…

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Inside Soundtrack’s Roll-Up Strategy: Building a Global Leader in Background Music with Ola Sars 56:05

3M ago56:05

56:05

Ola Sars, Founder, CEO & Chairman of Soundtrack Your Brand In this episode of M&A Science, Ola Sars shares the story of his 20-year journey disrupting the music industry—first by co-founding Beats Music (later acquired by Apple), and now as the visionary behind Soundtrack Your Brand. Ola dives into the bold thesis that’s guided his career, why he’s…

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124. Malcolm John: How to get board roles and what boards get wrong about racial diversity 45:59

3M ago45:59

45:59

Malcolm John is Founder and CEO of Action for Trustee Racial Diversity, a trustee at the Association of Chairs, and former Vice-Chair of Anti-Slavery International. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What was your journey to the boardroom? (2:23) How do you add value to boards? (7:00) How do you gain confidence in the boardroom? (9:53) How do you mak…

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Budget and Audit Committee - May 27, 2025

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How to Build Better Deals: Sourcing and Integration with John Romeo 56:29

3M ago56:29

56:29

John Romeo, CEO of the Oliver Wyman Forum and Head of M&A at Oliver Wyman We sit down with John Romeo to explore Oliver Wyman’s disciplined, strategic approach to M&A. Romeo shares how his team sources deals through a bespoke pipeline, aligns incentives with founder-led businesses, and plans integrations that prioritize people and long-term value c…

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How to Get Investors Onboard: What Founders Need to Know Part 2 with Stew Campbell 52:20

3M ago52:20

52:20

Stew Campbell, Partner at The Chernin Group In Part 2, Stew Campbell returns to share tactical guidance for founders evaluating outside capital. We dive deep into how to run a founder-led investor process, what to watch for in term sheets, and how to build long-term wealth while scaling a founder-led business. Stew breaks down growth equity vs. pri…

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Aviation, economic growth and the climate crisis 37:47

3M ago37:47

37:47

What happens when the UK’s biggest issues meet environmental targets and commitments head-on? The Chair of the House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, hosts the first of five new episodes from the select committee podcast, Committee Corridor. Up first – airport expansion. Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independe…

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123. Christian Unger: Why experts beat generalists on investor-backed boards 47:02

3M ago47:02

47:02

Christian Unger is Partner at Partners Group. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What is the Partners Group approach to boards? (1:49) How do you attract CEOs to board roles? (5.23) What is the perfect board size? (10.18) How much ownership do individual NEDs have over specific strategies? (17:56) Where have you seen NEDs add the most value? (26:28) …

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Growth Equity vs. PE vs. VC: What Founders Need to Know Part 1 with Stew Campbell 45:34

4M ago45:34

45:34

Stew Campbell, Partner at The Chernin Group In this episode of M&A Science, host Kison Patel sits down with Stew Campbell to explore how growth equity supports founder-led companies beyond just capital. Stew shares lessons from his career helping businesses scale while preserving their culture and mission. They discuss how founders should think abo…

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How to Scale Global M&A with Culture, Strategy, and AI with Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International 57:52

4M ago57:52

57:52

Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International Explore how one of the world’s top M&A advisory firms scales through acquisition. Rob shares his leadership journey, reveals how Lincoln actively manages culture during growth, and explains why integration starts from Day 1. Rob and Kison also dive into cross-border M&A, the rise of buyer-led strategies, and …