advice on IB > strategy at FAANG or tech company

hey guys. Currently in investment banking and I have ultimately decided I want to do some sort of strategy / operations role instead of corp dev or PE.

Anyone have advice for this? So far I think my plan is just networking and reaching out to recruiters on linkedin. Anyone have any other advice / insights on this process?

Also, would appreciate if anyone has any input on how strategy vs corp dev is different. I’ve come across a lot of different arguing viewpoints.

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I can provide color on Corp Dev and strategy, but not how to get into strategy specifically. Most people in F500 companies that I see in strategy (which is just a sub-sector of Corp Dev) come from consulting roles. Corp Dev is the internal M&A and strategy department of a company. The same way Treasury and FP&A are both Finance. Strategy will do modeling and research to help determine the best direction for the company to deploy resources and what verticals to move into/out of. meanwhile "Corp Dev" in the way you're talking about it drives inorganic growth through M&A. They will go out and acquire competitors or vertically integrate by buying suppliers/customers that weren't already a part of the company's operating verticals. This could be like Disney buying Spectrum since Disney provides content and Spectrum broadcasts the content (hypothetical, but you never know). The M&A aspect of Corp Dev is very transactional and the strategy aspect of Corp Dev is more ideas driven. 

 

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