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    Who should I follow to learn about business partnerships and ecosystem?

    Updated October 20, 2026

    Key takeaway

    Jay McBain, Chris Samila, Asher Mathew and Jared Fuller are the most repeated names, and all five engines name Partnership Leaders as the community to join. The engines differ on whether to follow named analysts and operators or the lists and firms behind them, and Perplexity cites CiteGist pages as its sources. All five engines name Partnership Leaders or its leaders, Asher Mathew or Chris Samila, and ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity all name Jay McBain.

    Where they differ

    Who counts as a voice

      Affiliations and sourcing

        Verdict

        Treat Jay McBain, Chris Samila, Asher Mathew and Jared Fuller as the repeated names and Partnership Leaders as the community, noting that affiliations differ between answers and Perplexity cites CiteGist pages. The lists are unverified.

        What engines actually searched

        The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.

        Cited, but not mentioned

        3 sites cite this answer without naming anyone

        Full responses

        5 of 5 engines that answered. Full stored text as captured, with dashes shown as hyphens. Nothing is summarised.

        ChatGPT2,942 characters · October 6, 2026

        If you want to get genuinely good at partnerships + ecosystem strategy, I’d follow a mix of operators, ecosystem strategists, and communities - not just “partnership influencers.”

        My shortlist

        If you only follow 5

        I'd make it:

        Jared Fuller → Jay McBain → Asher Mathew → Chip Rodgers → Stuart Wilson

        And I'd pair the individuals with Partnership Leaders as the community/resource layer. Current industry research suggests ecosystem-led growth is becoming a central partnership thesis, while AI is changing where partners create value - from traditional delivery toward influence, orchestration, and advisory roles. IDC - Ecosystem Strategy in 2026: Why AI Is Rewriting Partner-Led Growth

        If you're learning this for a specific role (e.g. founder building partnerships, B2B SaaS partnerships, strategic alliances, developer ecosystem, AI ecosystem, or BD), tell me which one and I can give you a much tighter 10-person follow list + what to learn from each person.

        Gemini logo Gemini4,031 characters · October 6, 2026

        To truly master partnerships and ecosystem-led growth (ELG) , the best approach is to follow industry pioneers, community builders, and analysts who are actively shaping the space.

        1. The Thought Leaders & Community Builders

        • Chris Samila: VP of Partnerships at Crossbeam and Co-founder of Partnership Leaders (the premier professional network for partnership pros). He regularly shares deep insights on ecosystem operations, co-selling, and community building. 21 Partnerships People You Should Follow on LinkedIn - ELG Insider

        • Jay McBain: Principal Analyst at Forrester. If you want macro-level data, tech stack mapping, and future-of-the-channel forecasts, McBain is the definitive authority on B2B channel ecosystems. 21 Partnerships People You Should Follow on LinkedIn - ELG Insider

        • Sunir Shah: A foundational voice in the ecosystem movement, former CEO of Cloud Software Association, and a great follow for understanding SaaS ecosystems, cloud marketplaces, and co-selling mechanics.

        2. Operators & Practitioners on LinkedIn

        3. Essential Communities, Podcasts, and Newsletters

        • Partnership Leaders (Community): Joining or following their public insights is practically mandatory for networking and learning peer-tested strategies.

        • Crossbeam (Insider Blog & Research): Crossbeam essentially pioneered "Nearbound" and ecosystem data-sharing. Their content hub and newsletter are gold standards for tactical advice.

        • PartnerStack & Ecosystem Podcasts: Look up shows like Friends with Benefits (hosted by partnership experts) to hear real-world case studies on how modern tech companies scale partner programs. 10 Partnership Leaders to Follow on LinkedIn - PartnerStack

        Are you looking to learn more about a specific area, such as tech integrations/alliances , channel/reseller partners , or influencer/affiliate programs?

        Google AI Mode2,945 characters · October 6, 2026

        To master partnerships, channel sales, and ecosystem-led growth (ELG), the best place to look is LinkedIn, where the global community of partner practitioners and analysts actively share frameworks, data, and tactical advice.

        The top industry experts, analysts, and practitioners to follow include:

        Communities to Join:
        Aside from individuals, plugging into peer networks like Partnership Leaders (the premier industry association for partnership professionals) or reading insights via Crossbeam Insider will immediately expose you to dozens of other active practitioners sharing playbooks daily. 21 Partnerships People You Should Follow on LinkedIn

        Are you looking to focus on a specific type of partnership (such as tech integrations, channel/reseller programs, or affiliate/referral marketing), or a particular industry like B2B SaaS? Let me know so I can narrow down the best voices or resources for you.

        Perplexity566 characters · October 20, 2026

        Start with Jay McBain for ecosystem trends, Chris Samila for partner operations, and Jared Fuller or Asher Mathew for ecosystem-led growth. For practical program-building advice, follow Naomi Dreifuss and Nelson Wang; Partnership Leaders is useful for peer learning.(citegist.com)(citegist.com)

        Copilot logo Copilot3,650 characters · October 6, 2026

        If you want to deepen your knowledge of partnerships and ecosystems, here are some standout experts and thought leaders worth following:

        🌐 Partnerships Leaders

        📈 Executives Driving Ecosystem Growth

        🌍 Ecosystem Thought Leaders

        💡 Practical Access to Experts

        Platforms like Intro let you book sessions with top partnership experts such as:

        👉 If you’re just starting, I’d recommend following Marc Gaudett and Elena Verna for tactical and strategic insights, while keeping an eye on the Thinkers360 ecosystem leaderboard for broader thought leadership.

        Would you like me to organize these into a “must-follow list by platform” (LinkedIn, Twitter, newsletters, podcasts) so you know exactly where to find their content?