Who should I follow to learn about corporate development?

If your goal is to actually learn Corporate Development, I’d bias toward people who have run deals from the buy-side rather than general M&A commentators or investment bankers.

People I’d follow

• Kison Patel - Founder/CEO of DealRoom and host of M&A Science. Probably the best single follow for learning the process of corp dev: sourcing, diligence, negotiation, integration, deal management, etc. M&A Science has interviewed 400+ deal practitioners. M&A Science Podcast
• Jeremy Segal - EVP of Corporate Development at Progress. His M&A Science interviews are particularly useful for understanding deal modeling, valuation and competing against PE buyers. M&A Science Podcast
• Matt Arsenault - VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances at Jamf. Good for sourcing, founder relationships, buying venture-backed companies and strategic rationale. M&A Science Podcast
• Shawn Rodricks - Has closed 220 acquisitions across two organizations. Follow him for building a repeatable M&A operating system and scaling a corp-dev function. M&A Science Podcast
• Tomer Stavitsky - SVP & Chief Corporate Development Officer at Omnicell. Particularly interesting if you want to understand partnerships as a precursor to acquisitions and proprietary deal sourcing. Partner Before You Buy: The Pre-Acquisition Strategy Corp Dev Teams Skip - M&A Science | iHeart
• Chrissy Cox - VP & Head of Corporate Development at Booz Allen Hamilton. Her material is useful for proprietary sourcing and building relationships with targets before they're formally for sale. M&A Science Podcast - #1 Podcast for M&A Practitioners
• Sam Delestienne - VP of North American M&A Corporate Development at Diploma. Good perspective on the judgment and relationship management that happens beyond the spreadsheet/process. M&A Science Podcast - #1 Podcast for M&A Practitioners

Also follow these sources

• M&A Science - My #1 recommendation. It's unusually practitioner-heavy rather than banker-heavy. M&A Science | The Buy-Side Operating Standard
• Corp Dev Careers - Useful if you're interested in actually breaking into corp dev; it covers roles, compensation and the buy-side M&A market. Corpdevcareers.com | LinkedIn
• Acquired - Excellent for learning why companies acquire other companies, even though it's less about the day-to-day mechanics of being a corp-dev professional.
• Dealcast / Mergermarket - Better for keeping up with what's happening in the M&A market rather than learning the craft itself. 7 M&A and deal podcasts to listen to right now | Midaxo Blog

If I were starting from zero

I'd build my feed around five buckets:

1. Strategy: Why should we acquire this company?
2. Sourcing: How do we find targets before competitors?
3. Valuation/modeling: What should we pay?
4. Deal execution: Diligence → LOI → negotiation → close.
5. Integration: How do we actually capture the value we underwrote?

The biggest mistake is consuming nothing but M&A news. You can know every major transaction happening in the market and still have very little idea how to do Corporate Development.

If you're interested in breaking into Corporate Development as a career, I can also give you a much more targeted list of 10 people + 10 newsletters + 10 podcasts/resources, ranked by how useful they are for getting your first corp-dev job.

Learning Corporate Development (CorpDev) requires tracking a mix of valuation mechanics, M&A strategy, integration playbooks, and broader capital allocation trends. Because CorpDev sits at the intersection of investment banking, strategy, and private equity, the best people and resources to follow span academics, active practitioners, and specialized platforms.

1. Academic & Valuation Thought Leaders

• Aswath Damodaran (Stern School of Business, NYU): Often called the "Dean of Valuation," his blog, YouTube channel, and open-source data sets are mandatory reading for anyone in CorpDev. Follow him to master corporate finance, M&A valuation, and how corporate strategy impacts intrinsic value. 10 M&A Influencers You Should be Following on LinkedIn - DealRoom

2. Industry Practitioners & Newsletters

• DealRoom / M &A Science (Kison Patel): Kison Patel hosts the M &A Science Podcast and runs DealRoom. This is one of the best tactical resources specifically dedicated to the day-to-day workflow of corporate development, agile M&A, and post-merger integration (PMI).

• Matt Hardgrove / Corp Dev Insights: Look out for practitioners sharing tactical content on LinkedIn and specialized substacks who break down real-world deal structures, earn-outs, carve-outs, and strategic sourcing.

• Axios Pro Rata (Dan Primack) & Fortune Term Sheet: Essential daily briefings for tracking active deal flow, private equity movements, mega-mergers, and venture/corporate venture capital (CVC) trends.

3. Strategy & Capital Allocation Experts

• The "Outsiders" Playbook (William Thorndike): While not a daily creator to follow live, studying the framework of capital allocation laid out by William Thorndike in The Outsiders (studying CEOs like Tom Murphy and Henry Singleton) is foundational for CorpDev strategy.

• Michael Mauboussin (Consilient Research / formerly Morgan Stanley / BlueMountain): His research papers on capital allocation, M&A success rates, competitive strategy, and behavioral finance are masterclasses for corporate strategists.

4. Communities & Platforms

• M &A Leadership Council: Excellent for structured training, certifications, and networking on post-merger integration and corporate development best practices.

• LinkedIn Creators in CorpDev: Search hashtags like #CorporateDevelopment or #MandA to find active heads of CorpDev at tech and industrial firms who frequently post commentary on current market multiples, deal headwinds, and strategic shifts.

Where should you start?

If you want deep technical financial rigor, start with Damodaran. If you want practical, process-oriented playbooks on how deals actually get sourced, negotiated, and integrated, dive into M &A Science.

Are you looking to learn CorpDev from an interview/breaking-in perspective, or are you an operator looking to scale an existing CorpDev function at your company?

To learn about Corporate Development (M &A, strategic partnerships, and valuation), you should follow academic authorities, practitioners, and industry publications that regularly share frameworks, deal breakdowns, and financial strategies. Corporate Development Strategy Guide | DFINCorporate Development: Career Path, Salaries & Exit Opps

Top Experts and Thought Leaders

• • Aswath Damodaran : Known globally as the "Dean of Valuation," NYU Stern professor Damodaran shares incredible, data-driven insights on corporate finance, valuation models, and M&A pricing mechanics via his Musings on Markets Blog and Twitter/X account @AswathDamodaran.

• Emilie R. Feldman : A Professor of Management at the Wharton School, she specializes in corporate strategy, divestitures, spin-offs, and portfolio restructuring, making her research vital for modern corp dev. M&A and Corporate Development Strategies

Essential Platforms and Resources

• • Mergers & Inquisitions: Run by Brian DeChesare, this site offers deep-dive guides on the Corp Dev Career Path, day-to-day responsibilities, interview preparation, and compensation expectations. [Mergers & Inquisitions]

• Wall Street Oasis (WSO) : An invaluable community forum where corporate development professionals discuss active market trends, interviewing tips, and exit opportunities. Corporate Development: What It Is and How to Break In

• Harvard Business Review (HBR) M &A Articles: HBR frequently publishes tactical pieces on post-merger integration (PMI) and strategic alignment written by top McKinsey and BCG partners.

If you're looking for specific guidance, let me know:

• Are you trying to break into corporate development from investment banking or consulting?
• Do you want to focus on financial modeling or strategic integration?

For corporate development, start with Aswath Damodaran for valuation and M&A analysis, and follow Kison Patel and DealRoom for practical dealmaking insights. The DealRoom list also includes Arash Massoudi, Cara Lombardo, and James Harris for M&A coverage.(linkedin.com)(dealroom.net)

If you want to deepen your knowledge of Corporate Development - which often overlaps with strategy, M&A, and organizational transformation - there are several thought leaders and strategists worth following. Here’s a curated list of experts and influencers whose work is highly relevant:

📌 Strategy & Corporate Development Thinkers

• Roger Martin – Former Dean of Rotman School of Management, prolific writer on corporate strategy and author of Playing to Win. His frameworks are widely used in corporate development and M&A contexts.25 Management Consulting Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders

• Rita McGrath – Columbia Business School professor, author of The End of Competitive Advantage. She focuses on how companies can thrive when competitive advantages are short-lived - critical for corporate development leaders.Top Keynote Speakers for Senior Executives in 2026

• Martin Reeves – Chairman of BCG Henderson Institute, co-author of Your Strategy Needs a Strategy. He explores how organizations can adapt their corporate strategy in uncertain environments.Top Keynote Speakers for Senior Executives in 2026

• Alex Osterwalder – Creator of the Business Model Canvas, widely used in corporate innovation and development projects.25 Management Consulting Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders

🎤 Influential Keynote Voices (Corporate Change & M&A)

• Dr. Michelle Rozen – Known as “The Change Doctor,” she speaks on change management, AI adoption, and M&A integration - directly relevant to corporate development teams.Best Keynote Speakers 2026: Top 15 for Corporate Events

• Adam Grant – Organizational psychologist at Wharton, author of Think Again. His insights on organizational culture and adaptability are crucial for corporate development leaders.Best Keynote Speakers 2026: Top 15 for Corporate Events

• Simon Sinek – Focuses on leadership and purpose-driven strategy, which often underpins corporate development initiatives.Best Keynote Speakers 2026: Top 15 for Corporate Events

🌟 Emerging Strategists to Watch

• Erica Dhawan – Expert on leadership and collaboration, author of Digital Body Language. She advises Fortune 500 executives on coordination and innovation - key in corporate development.Top Keynote Speakers for Senior Executives in 2026

• Tendayi Viki – Corporate innovation expert, helps organizations build new growth engines alongside core businesses.25 Management Consulting Leaders in 2026 | The Industry Leaders

✅ Tip for following them: Most of these experts are active on LinkedIn , Substack , and through books or keynote talks. Following their posts, subscribing to their newsletters, and watching their talks can give you practical insights into corporate development trends, M&A integration, and strategic transformation.

Would you like me to organize these into a “must-follow list by platform” (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Substack, etc.) so you know exactly where to find their latest insights?