> 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 Yilmaz is the Wharton Private Equity Professor and professor of finance at the Wharton School. 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 Bogaziçi University and his PhD in economics from Princeton University. Professor Yilmaz'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. Professor Yilmaz has designed a number of courses in corporate finance and alternative investments. He currently teaches courses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, corporate bankruptcy, and European financial markets. He also leads the Wharton School’s Joshua J. Harris Alternative Investments Program. Outside of Wharton, he is actively involved in asset management. 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. Investment Strategies and Portfolio ManagementDevelop investment portfolios that generate the highest return for your level of investment risk. This program provides a solid foundation for building optimal portfolios and effective tools for making better investments. 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 Management ProgramExperience 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. Shareholder Activism and Corporate GovernanceAcademic 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. 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.
