> Bilge Yilmaz, PhD Wharton Private Equity Professor; Professor of Finance; Academic Director, Harris Family Alternative Investments Program, The Wharton SchoolResearch Interests:Corporate finance, alternative investments, game theory, political economy About Bilge Bilge is the Wharton Private Equity Professor and Professor of Finance at the Wharton School. He also leads the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program. Prior to his current appointment, he was a faculty member at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. He received his first degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Boğaziçi University, and his PhD in Economics from Princeton University. Bilge’s research focuses on corporate finance, alternative investments and political economy. Recently, he has written on corporate governance, credit rating agencies, hedge funds, private equity, security design, short-selling constraints, corporate bankruptcy, and banks’ internal risk models. His earlier articles appeared in leading academic journals including the top three in the field; Econometrica, American Economic Review and Journal of Political Economy. Bilge has designed a number of courses in corporate finance and a new curriculum on alternative investments for Wharton’s degree programs as well as Wharton Executive Education. He currently teaches mergers and acquisitions, private equity, hedge funds, shareholder activism, corporate bankruptcy and leads the Advanced Finance Program at Wharton Executive Education. Outside of Wharton, he is the founding partner of a boutique financial consulting firm. More recently, he joined the opposition against President Erdogan of Turkiye and serves as the Deputy Chairman of the second largest opposition party. Read full faculty bio on Wharton websiteExecutive Education Programs TaughtAdvanced Finance ProgramAccelerate your career by mastering multiple in-demand disciplines within the finance industry. This comprehensive, tailored learning journey takes you through six open-enrollment programs — each led by Wharton’s renowned Finance faculty. Upon completion, you will be granted highly sought-after Wharton alumni status. Distressed Asset Investing and Corporate RestructuringCo-Academic DirectorLearn how to assess the long-term value of and investment opportunities in companies that are financially distressed. Become knowledgeable about the integral roles that business managers, professional investors, and banking advisors can play in restructuring corporate debt. Family Wealth Management: Advanced Financial StrategiesCo-Academic DirectorA historic intergenerational wealth transfer of $84 trillion is underway. This period presents a unique opportunity for wealth advisors to enhance services for family offices and ultra-high-net-worth clients. This program offers advanced strategies to manage financial assets while addressing diverse family needs, empowering advisors to capitalize on a growing market. Hedge-Fund Shareholder ActivismAcademic DirectorLearn how corporate boards and C-suite leadership prepare for activist campaigns directed at their company, and discover effective solutions for managing the process when it occurs. Develop the fundamentals for both value investing and value-based management. Private Equity: Investing and Creating ValueAcademic DirectorDiscover how to secure returns that outperform other asset classes by honing your expertise on private equity investments. Delve into the effects of the pandemic; explore current strategies; and leave with the ability to confidently evaluate, structure, and build profitable investments within the private equity space. Private Wealth ManagementExperience the rigorous Wharton wealth management curriculum in a confidential setting with other affluent families. High net-worth investors from more than 50 countries have attended this five-day program offered in conjunction with the Institute for Private Investors (IPI) since 1999. Venture CapitalAcademic DirectorThis program will provide participants with a rigorous framework both to evaluate investment opportunities and to manage a multi-stage investment process in an innovative firm. Learn how to evaluate venture capital investment opportunities and do due diligence that will uncover pitfalls and mitigate risk. Wharton Family Office Program: Balancing Family Harmony and Financial ProsperityCo-Academic DirectorIn a dynamic financial era, ultra-high-net-worth families must create enduring legacies. Establishing or joining a family office helps preserve and grow wealth while maintaining harmony. Wharton Family Office Program empowers families with critical knowledge on forming, operating, and managing family offices.
