> Burcu Esmer, PhD Academic Co-Director, Harris Family Alternative Investments Program; Academic Director, Wharton-AltFinance Institute; Senior Lecturer of FinanceResearch Interests:Research Interests: Empirical corporate finance, alternative investments About Burcu Burcu Esmer is the academic co-director at Wharton’s Harris Family Alternative Investments Program and senior lecturer of finance at the Wharton School. Professor Esmer earned her BSc in Economics and a minor in Mathematics from the Middle East Technical University (Turkiye) with highest honors (summa cum laude), as well as her MA in Economics and PhD in Finance from the University of Iowa. Professor Esmer’s primary areas of research are empirical corporate finance, banking, and private equity. She investigates agency conflicts and their impact on corporate policies. Her articles have appeared in leading academic journals such as the Accounting Review, Journal of Banking and Finance, and Applied Mathematical Modelling. Professor Esmer has presented her work to different audiences at various academic and practitioner conferences and workshops, and she frequently serves as a reviewer for academic journals and conferences. Professor Esmer is a member of the American Finance Association and European Finance Association. Professor Esmer teaches private equity and corporate finance in Wharton Executive Education and degree programs. She is the recipient of the Wharton Teaching Excellence Award for the academic year 2018–2019. Professor Esmer works closely with various nonprofit organizations that aim to increase diversity in asset management industries. She is the academic director of the Wharton-AltFinance Institute and the Girls Who Invest (GWI) Summer Intensive Program. Professor Esmer also serves on the advisory board of GWI. Executive Education Programs TaughtInvestment 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 ValueDiscover 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.
