> David Wessels, PhD Adjunct Professor of Finance, The Wharton School About David David Wessels is an Adjunct Professor of Finance, a Director of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as the Academic Director for Wharton’s CFO Program on Strategic Leadership. David teaches courses on corporate valuation, venture capital, and performance management to undergraduates and MBA’s in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and executive audiences globally. Professor Wessels has been recognized by his students with the school’s MBA excellence in teaching award, and has been acknowledged nationally for his research on organizational structure and financial performance. His co-authored book, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, is accepted as the seminal text for students of corporate valuation and investment banking. Before joining the Wharton School, David served on finance faculty of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Prior to Emory, he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and a technology analyst for Boston-based Harbourvest Venture Partners. David holds a PhD in finance from UCLA Anderson School of Management, a BS in economics and a BAS in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania. Read full faculty bio on Wharton websiteExecutive Education Programs TaughtAdvanced Management ProgramWharton’s flagship leadership program is a transformational and immersive program for senior executives who are at the peak of their careers. This intellectually rigorous and highly experiential program will define you as a leader and strengthen your strategic prowess. Upon completion, you will be granted highly sought-after Wharton alumni status. Mergers and AcquisitionsOur interdisciplinary faculty and industry speakers help you select, assess, and evaluate potential opportunities. Examine acquisition strategy, valuation techniques, tax issues, due diligence, and post-acquisition integration. Scaling Business for Profitable GrowthSuccessfully navigate your company toward revenue-producing growth while strengthening strategic, financial, marketing, and leadership initiatives. Leave with an immediately deployable and financially viable plan for scalable expansion. The CFO: Becoming a Strategic PartnerAcademic DirectorThis program helps you refine your leadership style, communicate your financial knowledge to other leaders, and extend your influence across the organization. You will enhance your ability to impact your organization's strategy and value creation. Venture CapitalThis 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 Nursing Leaders ProgramThe primary focus of this program is to assist nursing leaders in the effective management and implementation of strategic and tactical plans. The program includes identifying the key stakeholders and influencing their behavior, learning to manage resources, and knowing when to terminate a task force or health care project. Wharton/ASIS Program for Security Executives: Making the Business Case for SecurityThis program covers the core concepts of business to broaden your managerial and strategic perspectives, enhance your business instincts, and sharpen your ability to tackle management challenges. It will help you work more effectively with other leaders in your organization and communicate the bottom-line impact of security decisions.
