The Best M&A Deals Start Long Before the Deal: A Conversation on Networking, Trust, and Playing the Long Game
Thu Jan 22 2026
In this episode of The Transaction Abstract Podcast, Joe Hellman sits down with Lee Koury, Managing Director at Smart Business Network, to talk about the role networking really plays in M&A and business transitions.
Drawing from decades of experience building relationships with founders, CEOs, and investors, Lee shares how trust, transparency, and long-term connection shape better outcomes... often long before a deal is ever discussed.
In this episode, you'll hear insights on:
Why the strongest M&A outcomes are built on relationships, not transactions How long-term networking creates trust that carries deals through pressure points The role transparency plays in attracting the right buyers, partners, and advisors Why peer networks and shared learning environments lead to smarter decisions How founders can approach networking without forcing the "deal conversation" Listen to the full episode of The Transaction Abstract Podcast to hear Lee's real-world perspectives on networking that matters, relationship-first leadership, and why playing the long game leads to better deals.
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In this episode of The Transaction Abstract Podcast, Joe Hellman sits down with Lee Koury, Managing Director at Smart Business Network, to talk about the role networking really plays in M&A and business transitions. Drawing from decades of experience building relationships with founders, CEOs, and investors, Lee shares how trust, transparency, and long-term connection shape better outcomes... often long before a deal is ever discussed. In this episode, you'll hear insights on: Why the strongest M&A outcomes are built on relationships, not transactions How long-term networking creates trust that carries deals through pressure points The role transparency plays in attracting the right buyers, partners, and advisors Why peer networks and shared learning environments lead to smarter decisions How founders can approach networking without forcing the "deal conversation" Listen to the full episode of The Transaction Abstract Podcast to hear Lee's real-world perspectives on networking that matters, relationship-first leadership, and why playing the long game leads to better deals.