Based on the best-selling book, The Partnership Economy, by David A. Yovanno. In this course, discover how modern partnerships are transforming business growth in today’s dynamic market. You'll explore how trust-based collaborations, optimized customer journeys, and strategic alliances can drive sustainable revenue. Learn to design and scale high-impact partnerships across influencer networks, SaaS ecosystems, and cross-industry collaborations. With actionable frameworks and real-world insights, you’ll transform how your organization leverages collaboration for long-term success.

Partnership Strategy for Growth: The Partnership Economy

Partnership Strategy for Growth: The Partnership Economy

Instructor: Wiley-Expert Edge Course Instructors
Included with
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
For business leaders, marketing strategists, and growth professionals seeking to scale revenue through collaboration with a foundation in marketing.
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
For business leaders, marketing strategists, and growth professionals seeking to scale revenue through collaboration with a foundation in marketing.
What you'll learn
Identify and leverage modern partnership models to accelerate business growth.
Design customer journeys that integrate and amplify partnership impact.
Build trust-based referral networks to strengthen customer loyalty and retention.
Details to know

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March 2026
17 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 17 modules in this course
In this section, we explore how modern partnerships drive sustainable growth by aligning resources, expanding market reach, and enhancing customer lifetime value through collaborative, customer-centric value propositions.
What's included
2 videos4 readings1 assignment
2 videos• Total 2 minutes
- Course Overview• 1 minute
- Unlock Unexpected, Lasting Growth with Modern Partnerships - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 40 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Sunbasket and Rastelli's Partnership: Several Thousand Percent Revenue Growth in One Week• 10 minutes
- Why Do Referral Partnerships Work So Well?• 10 minutes
- Imagine What's Coming• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Modern Partnerships and Sustainable Growth• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how referral partnerships drive growth by aligning with customer behaviors and trusted networks. Strategic collaborations enhance customer experience, increase brand value, and enable enterprises to compete at a systems level.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Trust Is the New Black and Other Reasons Why Referral Partnerships Work - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 50 minutes
- Introduction• 20 minutes
- Referral Partners Generate Demand• 10 minutes
- Warm or Cold Invitation• 20 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- The Strategic Power of Trust and Referral Networks• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how strategic partnerships enhance customer journeys by leveraging domain expertise, optimizing conversion paths, and enabling agile, scalable growth through collaborative ecosystems and shared innovation.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- How Partnerships Can Help You Meet Critical Business Goals - Overview Video• 1 minute
5 readings• Total 40 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Change Strategy Quick• 5 minutes
- Who Will Make This Growth Happen?• 5 minutes
- What Customer Behaviors Do You Want to Catalyze?• 10 minutes
- Customer Journeys Are Changing• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Leveraging Partnerships to Enhance Customer Journeys and Business Success• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how strategic partnerships enhance customer engagement across touchpoints by identifying key roles in customer journeys, mapping opportunities via journey maps, and aligning partner strategies with business objectives like acquisition, retention, and reengagement.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Engage Customers Wherever They Are on Their Customer Journeys - Overview Video• 1 minute
5 readings• Total 45 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Social influencers• 10 minutes
- Introduce and Influence Partner Role• 10 minutes
- Link Partner Roles with Business Objectives• 10 minutes
- Journey Maps Reveal Partnership Opportunities• 5 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Engaging Customers Across Touchpoints and Journeys• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore the six building blocks of effective partnerships, emphasizing aligned incentives, shared customer experiences, and measurable outcomes to drive mutual value and long-term collaboration in real-world business ecosystems.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Six Building Blocks of Today's Partnerships - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 50 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Harry's, ACME, and the Six Building Blocks• 20 minutes
- Competitor Status• 20 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Six Building Blocks of Effective Business Collaborations• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how cashback and loyalty partnerships like Ibotta drive revenue by aligning incentives across enterprises, affiliates, and consumers. It demonstrates strategic customer acquisition and engagement through commission-based, incentive-driven journeys.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Coupon, Cashback, and Loyalty Partners: Reach New Audiences, Drive More Sales - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 35 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Popular Then and Now• 5 minutes
- Enterprises, Affiliates, and the Customer Journey• 10 minutes
- There Is More Than Meets the Eye• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Evaluating the Strategic Impact of Digital Rewards Ecosystems• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how authentic influencer collaborations drive consumer engagement through real-life content. It highlights the strategic use of vanity URLs and organic integration to build trust and amplify brand visibility.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Creators, Influencers, and Brand Ambassadors: The Powerful New Word-of-Mouth Play - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 30 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Light in the Box Taps Micro-Influencers for Content• 10 minutes
- Savage X Fenty Succeeds with an Influencer-First Model• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Influencer Partnerships• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how mass media publishers like ZMG integrate commerce content with editorial independence, using referral links and the primed consumer framework to align content with user intent across the purchase funnel while maintaining trust and authenticity.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Mass Media Publishers: When Old-School Advertising Doesn't Work Anymore - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 30 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Why Does Commerce Content Work?• 10 minutes
- Perfect Your Conversion Experience• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Modern Mass Media and Performance-Driven Content Strategies• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how API-driven mobile partnerships embed ride services into third-party apps, enhancing user experience, increasing engagement, and generating revenue through seamless, on-demand transportation access.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Mobile Partnerships: Be Where Your Customers Are All the Time - Overview Video• 1 minute
1 reading• Total 30 minutes
- Mobile Partnerships: Be Where Your Customers Are All the Time - Reading• 30 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Optimizing Mobile Partnerships for Customer Relationships• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how strategic brand-to-brand (SB2B) partnerships enhance customer experience through product integration, shared customer overlap, and loyalty program incentives, using Qantas and Airbnb as a real-world example of mutual growth and seamless service delivery.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Strategic Business Partnerships: When Two Work as One - Overview Video• 1 minute
1 reading• Total 30 minutes
- Strategic Business Partnerships: When Two Work as One - Reading• 30 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Strategic Business Partnerships: Building Value Through Collaboration• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how cause-based partnerships using cashback incentives drive customer loyalty and brand advocacy. It demonstrates designing performance-driven campaigns that align business goals with social impact, enhancing engagement and measurable community outcomes.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Community Groups, Associations, and Cause-Based Partnerships: When the Higher Good Is Good Business - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 25 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- KidStart, Banks and Building Societies, and Thousands of Retailers• 10 minutes
- Tips for Finding Your Impact• 5 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Business and Social Impact: Building Purpose-Driven Partnerships• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore launching a data-driven partnerships program by identifying ideal partner profiles, designing dual campaigns for sales and lead generation, and establishing a scalable process with clear KPIs to ensure measurable growth and strategic impact.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- How to Get Your Partnerships Program Started - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 50 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Develop Your Strategy• 10 minutes
- To Whom Should Your Partnerships Program Report?• 10 minutes
- When Will You Show Results?• 20 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Building a Scalable Partnerships Program• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how partners use DealFinder to discover products, leverage shared performance and aggregate data, and design targeted promotions to enhance audience engagement and drive conversions through intentional collaboration.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- How Does It Feel? Creating a Beneficial Partner Experience - Overview Video• 1 minute
7 readings• Total 70 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Be Intentional About Your Partner Experience• 10 minutes
- Articulate Your Partner Value Proposition• 10 minutes
- Provide a Motivating Program• 10 minutes
- Welcome Aboard• 10 minutes
- Share Insights and Brainstorm Opportunities• 10 minutes
- Ask Your Partners About Their Experience• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Building a Beneficial Partner Experience• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how strategic D2C brand partnerships, facilitated by agencies like DMi Partners, drive growth through aligned incentives, complementary audiences, and integrated conversion funnels using content, coupons, and rewards.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- What About Agencies? Your Partners in Partnerships - Overview Video• 1 minute
3 readings• Total 35 minutes
- Introduction• 5 minutes
- Go It Alone or Go with an Agency• 10 minutes
- When Hiring an Agency• 20 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Evaluating and Optimizing Agency Partnerships• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how data-driven partnership strategies, diversified partner types, and optimized commission structures drive incremental sales and profitability by leveraging high-engagement content creators and trusted community platforms.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- What Is Partnerships Program Maturity and How Do I Get It? - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 35 minutes
- Introduction• 5 minutes
- Optimizing Partnership Performance• 10 minutes
- Maturity Is a Good Thing• 10 minutes
- Diversify the Company's Partnership Types• 10 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Evaluating Maturity in Partnership Programs• 10 minutes
In this section, we design a durable partnerships strategy using a maturity roadmap, assess partner performance and customer journey impact, and leverage competitive insights to build a scalable, data-driven framework for sustainable global growth.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- Next Steps: Envision and Plan a Durable Partnerships Program - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 45 minutes
- Introduction• 5 minutes
- Designing Your Partnerships Strategy• 10 minutes
- Identifying Your Top-Performing Partners• 10 minutes
- Create Your Partnership Maturity Roadmap• 20 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Building Resilient and Scalable Partnership Strategies• 10 minutes
In this section, we explore how enterprise ecosystems like HubSpot's enable scalable marketing technology through centralized data, unified interfaces, and certified integrations, empowering organizations to build resilient, customer-centric business models.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video• Total 1 minute
- What's Next? Prepare for the Future - Overview Video• 1 minute
4 readings• Total 35 minutes
- Introduction• 10 minutes
- Partnerships Ecosystems: They Are Not Your Father's Oldsmobile• 10 minutes
- Competitive Outlook• 10 minutes
- Reimagine Your Business Model as an Ecosystem• 5 minutes
1 assignment• Total 10 minutes
- Building and Sustaining Modern Partnerships Ecosystems• 10 minutes
Instructor

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