Build a Career in M&A: Lessons from Intel's Todd Manley

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 integrations at Cisco, Symantec, and now Intel, Todd has seen it all. He opens up about what it really takes to thrive in M&A—from career pivots and networking to managing divestitures and leading with empathy.

This episode is packed with career insight, integration best practices, and practical leadership advice for anyone navigating—or trying to break into—the fast-paced world of M&A.

Things you will learn:

• How to break into M&A without a finance or banking background

• The critical leadership traits that matter in integration roles

• Why networking and curiosity matter more than job titles

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Episode Chapters

Intro & Background – [00:01:00]

First Career Steps in IT & Oracle Work – [00:05:00]

Early Passion for Startups & Joining WebEx – [00:06:30]

Getting into M&A via Cisco's Acquisition of WebEx – [00:08:30]

Integration Lessons from Cisco & Career Growth – [00:10:00]

Experience in Divestitures vs. Acquisitions – [00:14:30]

The Value of Empathy in Integration – [00:16:30]

Skills That Translate into M&A Success – [00:19:00]

How to Break into M&A & Structuring Career Moves – [00:22:30]

Why Leadership & Communication Are Non-Negotiable – [00:28:00]

Networking Tips, Playbooks, and Mentorship – [00:39:30]

Questions, comments, concerns?
Follow Kison Patel for behind-the-scenes insights on modern M&A.